Isaiah Rashad | |
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 Isaiah Rashad performing in 2014 | |
| Background information | |
| Born | Isaiah Rashad Joel McClain (1991-05-16)May 16, 1991 (age 34)[1] Chattanooga, Tennessee, U.S. |
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| Years active | 2009–present |
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| Children | 3 |
| Website | isaiahrashad |
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Isaiah Rashad Joel McClain (born May 16, 1991) is an American rapper and singer. He first gained recognition following his performances on the 2012 Smoker's Club Tour alongside rappersJuicy J,Joey Badass andSmoke DZA. He is a founding member of theChattanooga, Tennessee-based hip hop collective The House, which he formed with rappersYGTUT, Michael Da Vinci (MikeyD), Chris P, and Brian Brown.[citation needed]
McClain signed with theCarson, California-based record label,Top Dawg Entertainment to release his debut mixtape,Cilvia Demo (2014). Met with universal acclaim, it marked his first entry on theBillboard 200 and foresaw McClain's inclusion as part ofXXL Magazine's 2014 Annual Freshman Class issue. His debut studio album,The Sun's Tirade (2016) was met continued praise and peaked at number 17 on the chart. McClain signed withWarner Bros. Records to release his long-delayed second album andmajor label debut,The House Is Burning (2021).
Isaiah Rashad Joel McClain was born on May 16, 1991, inChattanooga, Tennessee. He was raised primarily by his mother, who is a hairdresser. When he was young, Rashad's father would let him stay up late while they listened toToo $hort andScarface.[3] His father left the family when Rashad was three.[4] Rashad briefly had ambitions of becoming a preacher. After his stepbrother lent him a copy ofOutKast'sATLiens in junior high, Rashad started spending most of his timerapping.[3] In his youth, Isaiah's mother and stepfather were part of theFive-Percent Nation and he recounts going to a mosque with them.[5]
Rashad first began rapping seriously in tenth grade, while he and his friends would record on laptops.[6] The first stage name he used was Zay Taylor.[7] After high school, he went toMiddle Tennessee State University.[8] Then, his friend who went to school for music production introduced Rashad to a friend who had a recording studio. As it turned out, the man happened to be his cousin and he let Rashad record there for free. Once his cousin moved on to a different job, Rashad bounced around a couple of local studios. He stopped going to school and lived wherever he could record.[6]
He began getting industry connects, forging relationships with DJ Z and Max Pete from DJBooth.net and Jeff Weiss who writes forRolling Stone.[9] From that his music began getting passed around to variousA&R's.[9] From July 13 to August 23, 2012, Isaiah Rashad toured withJuicy J,Joey Badass andSmoke DZA among others, on the 2012 Smoker's Club Tour.[10] In December 2012, Rashad began getting attention from various record labels, most of which he showed no interest in. He also released many free singles on SoundCloud using beats from well known producers such asMF Doom andFlying Lotus, which helped increase his popularity.[11]
In March 2013, Rashad met production teamDigi+Phonics' Dave Free, who then introduced him to Anthony Tiffith, the CEO ofCarson, California-based independent record labelTop Dawg Entertainment (TDE).[11] On June 3, 2013, it was reported that Rashad was the recent buzz about signing to Top Dawg Entertainment, home to rappers such asKendrick Lamar,ScHoolboy Q,Ab-Soul andJay Rock. However, the label did not release an official statement.[12][13] Over the following months the label and Rashad remained coy about the signing, not confirming anything.[14]
Then on September 20, 2013, Top Dawg Entertainment made the signing official with Top Dawg announcing it overTwitter.[15] However, he revealed he had been signed to the label since March.[3] Following the signing, Rashad moved toLos Angeles, California, and began living and recording at the TDE Red Room Studio.[16] To celebrate the signing announcement, a music video for a new song titled "Shot You Down" was released.[17] It was his first new song released in over a year.[14] The video had been recently shot in his hometown of Chattanooga, Tennessee.[3] On October 1, 2013, a video was released of Rashad signing his contract with TDE.[18]
On October 15, 2013, Isaiah Rashad made his national television debut when he participated in the TDE Cypher during the2013 BET Hip Hop Awards, alongside his label-mates Kendrick Lamar, Ab-Soul, ScHoolboy Q and Jay Rock.[19]XXL praised the verse as strong, even through the high pressure Rashad had to impress the masses.[20]Entertainment Weekly also praised his verse during the cypher.[21] On October 18, 2013, the remix to "Shot You Down" featuring ScHoolboy Q and Jay Rock was released viaSoundCloud.[22] On November 7, 2013, Rashad toldRevolt that he would be releasing his very first official projectCilvia during December 2013.[23][24] Closing out 2013,HipHopDX named Rashad a runner-up for their award for "Rising Star of the Year".[25] In early January 2014,Complex named him one of the new rappers most likely to "blow up" during 2014.[26] In mid-January 2014, Rashad revealed that the mixtapeCilvia would now be his debutextended play (EP) and would not contain many featured artists.[27] On January 17, CEO Top Dawg revealed the cover artwork for the EP and thatCilvia Demo would be released digitally on January 28, 2014. It revealed features from TDE's SZA and Jay Rock and ScHoolboy Q on the remix of "Shot You Down".[28][29] The day before the EP's release, Rashad released the music video for theCilvia Demo song, "Soliloquy".[30][31]
As promised,Cilvia Demo was released on January 28, 2014, via digital download retailers and was made available inCD format exclusively from Top Dawg Entertainment's website.[32]Cilvia Demo received widespread acclaim upon its release and debuted at number 40 on the USBillboard 200 chart, selling 8,500 copies in the United States during its first week of release.[33]
From March 1 to June 1, 2014, Rashad toured withScHoolboy Q for the entirety of his international tour supporting his third studio albumOxymoron.[34] On May 5, 2014,XXL revealed Rashad was included in their annual freshman class, alongside fellow up-and-comersChance the Rapper,Ty Dolla $ign,Rich Homie Quan,Vic Mensa,August Alsina,Troy Ave,Kevin Gates,Lil Bibby,Jon Connor,Lil Durk andJarren Benton.[35][36] On July 18, 2014, Rashad performed at thePitchfork Music Festival.[37] The following year, it was announced that Rashad will be included in a docu-series by Sprite, which will support the brand's "Obey Your Verse" Lyrical Collection.[38]
On August 30, 2015, Rashad tweeted that he had completed and turned in his anticipated follow-up project toCilvia Demo, and that it would be released soon. On September 20, 2015, Anthony "Top Dawg" Tiffith stated that new material from Rashad would arrive by the end of 2015. On September 23, 2015, Rashad released a new single entitled "Nelly", to critical acclaim. It was later confirmed by Rashad through a deleted tweet, that his upcoming follow-up project would be his debut studio album. On January 14, 2016, the album's second single, "Smile", was released on the internet to positive reception.
In August 2016, he released the single "Free Lunch" to wide acclaim, and later confirmed his debut studio album's release date.[39] After releasing two new tracks, "I Mean" and "Park", Rashad released his debut studio album, titledThe Sun's Tirade, on September 2, 2016, to widespread critical acclaim.[40] The album debuted at number 17 on the USBillboard 200, selling 19,000 copies its first week.[41]
On October 24, 2016, Rashad announced his first U.S. headlining tour, theLil Sunny Tour, via Twitter, stopping in 22 cities and set to begin in January 2017.[42] In response to several sold-out shows, Rashad announced that his tour would extend into 24 additional cities, as well as adding second shows in Chicago, Boston and New York.[43]
On October 23, 2017, Rashad issued several tweets hinting at a new album coming.[44][45] The album, which would be the second studio album and third full-length project coming from Rashad and Top Dawg Entertainment, would follow successful releases by fellow TDE artists SZA and Kendrick Lamar. In May 2019, Rashad played excerpts of various unreleased tracks. During anInstagram livevideo on June 20, 2019, he played a new excerpts of a song produced byKenny Beats and announced the title of his upcoming studio album to beThe House Is Burning.[46] On April 22, 2020, Rashad released the song "Why Worry" as part of TDE's Fan Appreciation Week.[47]
In an interview forThe Fader, Rashad announcedThe House Is Burning was slated for release in June 2021.[48] On May 7, 2021, Rashad released the albums first single, "Lay wit Ya" featuringDuke Deuce, alongside a music video directed by Omar Jones. It was also announced on all digital platform credits for the song that Rashad also signed a joint venture withWarner Bros. Records. After signing withWarner Bros. in 2021. On June 17, 2021, Rashad released the album's second single "Headshots (4r da Locals)." A music video for the song was released six days later, directed by Jack Begert andMez Heirs. On July 7, 2021, Rashad revealed the album's cover art and a July 30 release date, via his social media platforms.[49] Pitchfork rated this release a 7.6 out of 10.[50]
Rashad's music is characterized by its woozy, often nostalgic tone and conscious lyrics that touch on topics ofdepression,drug addiction, andfamily. Jason Moore ofComplex said, "Rashad spits thoughtfully, intelligently, and with precision, morphing his delivery to fit different production styles and making each line count."[51]
Rashad's debut EP,Cilvia Demo, is aconcept album. According to Rashad, it sums up his adolescent life and mindset in a short period of time.[citation needed] His albumThe Sun's Tirade details his experiences in overcoming drug addiction and depression.[citation needed]
Rashad has creditedOutKast, namelyBig Boi,Scarface, andJay-Z,[16] as well asErykah Badu,Gnarls Barkley,ScHoolboy Q,T.I. andLil Wayne as the biggest influences to his music.[36] Rashad also namesNas,Snoop Dogg,No Limit Records,Cash Money Records,The Fugees,KRS-One,Dead Prez,Kanye West,Little Brother,Three 6 Mafia,8Ball & MJG,UGK,George Clinton,James Brown,The Temptations,Smokey Robinson,Gorillaz andDanger Mouse among artist he grew up influenced by or still listens to.[16][52]
Rashad has three children.[53] Upon signing with Top Dawg Entertainment, he got a tattoo of the label's logo to commemorate the partnership.[36]
During promotion ofThe Sun's Tirade in 2016, Rashad revealed that he had been addicted toXanax andalcohol, and was suffering fromdepression,anxiety andisolation during the time between the release ofCilvia Demo andThe Sun's Tirade. He further stated that due to his behavior, he was almost dropped from Top Dawg Entertainment three times during the recording of his album. He stated that he was no longer taking Xanax and only drinks socially.[54][55][56]
In a 2014 interview withVice, Rashad revealed that at age 19 he had suicidal tendencies and attempted suicide multiple times.[57]
On February 9, 2022, twosex tapes of Rashad and other men wereleaked, including one in which Rashad said he had been paid, which sparked discussion online about his sexuality.[58][59][60] Rashad acknowledged the leaks during hisCoachella 2022 performance in April, saying that fans' positive messages had "kept [him] alive these last couple of months".[61] In May 2022, in an interview withJoe Budden, Rashad revealed that he identifies assexually fluid after exploring his sexuality in the past couple of years, and was "still learning about it myself."[62][63]
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