Isaiah Rashad Has Announced His New Album Titled ‘It’s Been Awful’

Isaiah Rashad is set to return next month with his first album in five years. The Tennessee artist has announced his new album, It’s Been Awful, scheduled for release on May 1 through Top Dawg Entertainment and Warner Records.

In conjunction with the announcement, he has shared a cinematic trailer depicting him limping across a field after an attack and has launched pre-saves for the lead single “Same Sh!t,” which will be released soon. Additionally, Rashad appears to be planning an accompanying tour, as indicated by an interactive website featuring a poster for the It’s Been Awful Tour. Visitors to the site can also listen to a snippet of an unreleased instrumental, likely from the upcoming album.

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Earlier this week, Rashad hinted at the new album by posting a cryptic card on his Instagram Stories, which read: “Everybody wanna see you crash out, fall off, and burn out all for their entertainment. I just wanna see you smile.” The back of the card displayed the phrase “it’s been awful,” now recognized as the title of his forthcoming project.

Other TDE artists, including Doechii, ScHoolboy Q, and SiR, have shown their support for Rashad by promoting his album title on social media.

In a previous interview with VICE, Rashad discussed the creative direction of his third studio album, citing OutKast, Prince, and Fousheé as significant influences. He stated that Fousheé was a major source of inspiration, along with Prince, whose song “If I Was Your Girlfriend” he had been playing repeatedly. He also mentioned inspiration from other artists like PLUTO from Atlanta and BunnaB.

Rashad characterized the album’s sound as a blend of styles, describing it as “a sultry southern mix mixed with a deep sense of intimacy,” incorporating elements from rock, psychedelia, and southern hip-hop.

It’s Been Awful follows Rashad’s 2021 album The House is Burning, which was released after a five-year hiatus from music following his acclaimed album The Sun’s Tirade.