Album of the Year 2016 #32: Isaiah Rashad – The Sun’s Tirade - HipHop | HipHop Channel

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Album of the Year 2016 #32: Isaiah Rashad – The Sun’s Tirade - HipHop

Album of the Year 2016 #32: Isaiah Rashad – The Sun’s Tirade - HipHop

Album of the Year 2016 #32: Isaiah Rashad – The Sun’s Tirade

Posted: 31 Jan 2017 07:01 AM PST

Artist: Isaiah Rashad

Album: The Sun's Tirade

Listen:

YouTube

Spotify

Apple Music

Background by /u/ItsBigVanilla

Isaiah Rashad didn't always want to be a rapper, but he always had the makings of one. Born in Chattanooga, TN, Rashad originally had dreams of becoming a preacher. Said the rapper in a 2014 Pitchfork interview, "When I used to go to church when I was little, I liked the way the preacher would excite people. He'd get a rise out of them and make them feel good at the same time". While he soon lost these ambitions after discovering Outkast's ATLiens, the scope of his new dream took on a similar quality: to touch people from the stage, to "get a rise" out of them through his words, to preach at them not through the gospel, but through hip-hop. Citing not only Outkast but Erykah Badu, Jay-Z, Lil Wayne, and Gorillaz as early influences, Rashad began recording music while attending Middle Tennessee State University.

He began gaining attention, releasing music through Soundcloud and making connections playing shows with other up and coming rappers, including Joey Bada$$. While either declining offers from or remaining ambiguous about label involvement, his following increased, and in 2013 he officially signed to Top Dawg Entertainment, home to Kendrick Lamar, Schoolboy Q, and Jay Rock, among others. Now in the spotlight of the hip-hop community, Rashad released his first official project, a mixtape EP titled Cilvia Demo, in early 2014.

The project showcased Rashad's talent not only as a rapper, but also as a multi-faceted musician, alternating between aggressive tracks such as "Banana", laid back, introspective tracks like "Heavenly Father", and "West Savannah", a somber love song in which he decides to sing his verse instead of rapping it. Cilvia Demo was met with critical acclaim, cementing Rashad's position in the community as a talented lyricist and collaborator, as guest artists SZA, Schoolboy Q, and Jay Rock delivered memorable contributions to the project. Most notably, the EP demonstrated Rashad's willingness to write honestly about his life and experiences, including his troubled relationship with his estranged father and his growing dependence on drugs. He was named a member of XXL's 2014 freshman class, signaling his nearness to fame.

However, Rashad's growing popularity ran parallel to his growing alcoholism and Xanax habit. While recording Cilvia Demo and touring to promote it, he became an addict, affecting his relationship with his peers and his family, which now included his son, who was born in 2013. He has admitted that his behavior during this time almost resulted in him being dropped from TDE, but eventually he was able to overcome his demons while working on his debut album. His addictions remain a prevalent topic in his music, and while he has been successful in his self-improvement, the memories of his past condition still loom over him as both an artist and a person.

With enormous pressure on him follow up his successful debut EP, Rashad set out to record his first album, The Sun's Tirade. In promotion for the release, he released two singles, "Nelly" and "Smile", at the end of 2015 and the start of 2016. While neither of the tracks made it to the album, they both exemplified a mellow, self-assured sound that excited both fans and critics alike, and further upped the pressure for his upcoming album.

Review by /u/ItsBigVanilla

"I got the music for the vibers", proclaims Isaiah Rashad on "Rope//rosegold", the fourth track off The Sun's Tirade, and over the course of the highly anticipated debut album, he backs up that statement with 16 tracks both mellow and masterfully done.

The album opens up with "4r Da Squaw", setting the tone and immediately distinguishing the project from Rashad's acclaimed EP, Cilvia Demo. Whereas Cilvia showcased the rapper's raw flow, sometimes aggressively dark and other times trippy and melodic, The Sun's Tirade is a much more subdued experience, floating listeners along from track to track while keeping each song distinct enough to stand on its own. In fact, it isn't until "rosegold", the second half of the album's third song, that Rashad even raps at all, and when he does, it isn't a grand return to the spotlight but rather a perfectly confident, unshowy display of his skill. However, the three tracks that follow are much closer to the artist's previous material, but with their own unique flavor. On "Wat's Wrong", Rashad holds his own alongside labelmate Kendrick Lamar on one of the year's most impressive tracks, at once addictive and intriguing, with lyrics hinting at drug dependency and the pressure to record new music, while Lamar not only brings braggadocio to the mix, but delivers one of the best guest verses of his career.

On "Park", Rashad spazzes out with the closest thing to an aggressive verse on the project, providing a stark contrast to "Bday", perhaps the most restrained track of the bunch, a remorseful look at the past from eyes that have never been so clear. This track exemplifies the album's brilliance, as it appears deceptively simple, spacey, and somber, but behind the veil of the vibe lies a truly introspective examination of black life in the South and the struggle of a person to break free of their surroundings. In a nod to Outkast, the group that served as a major inspiration for Rashad, "Tity and Dolla" references the iconic duo not only in its title but also in its hook, with references to "We Luv Deez Hoes" and "I'll Call Before I Come", both tracks from the group's legendary album, Stankonia. While Rashad and Hugh Augustine deliver fantastic verses on this track, TDE's own Jay Rock comes through with one of the year's best features, expertly closing up the track with extreme confidence and swagger.

All of these amazing tracks point towards the album's two quietest moments, "Silkk Da Shocka" and "Stuck In The Mud". The former is the spiritual successor to "West Savannah", one of the most popular tracks from Cilvia Demo, and the latter is something new entirely, featuring angelic guest vocals from SZA, and switching in tone from a lament of the hopelessness of ghetto life to the most personal moment of the album, a deliriously dreamlike look into Xanax addiction. Both of these tracks feature Rashad at his most vulnerable, writing about his wants, needs, and loves across beautifully understated production, and packing an emotional punch that a vast majority of hip-hop releases have been sorely lacking. Tracks like these, while not the type of catchy, infectious songs that become most listeners' favorites, are what set The Sun's Tirade apart from anything else to come out this year, and what give Isaiah Rashad a unique and comfortable place in the world of hip-hop, a world where artists release music at such a rapid pace that many projects get left behind and rappers must constantly fight to remain relevant. In this community, Rashad stands alone; he isn't at the forefront, but there's nobody else in his spot.

"Stuck In The Mud" marks the end of what a portion of listeners have referred to as the "good half" of the album, and from tracks 11 to 17, Rashad explores a variety of sounds that have alienated some critics and captured the eager attention of others. Despite its less cohesive range than the beginning of the album, The Sun's Tirade's back stretch is just as great, if not better, than what precedes it. "AA" and "Dressed Like Rappers" are among the album's most personal moments, and it's no surprise that they stand as two of Rashad's best songs yet, showcasing his ability to turn real-life issues into infectious music. "Don't Matter", bouncier and more carefree than anything else on the album, sounds like it could have come from Andre 3000 himself, embodying both the audacious spirit of Outkast as well as their knack for clever songwriting and attention-grabbing verses. The album's refusal to remain cohesive in its content is addressed in "Find a Topic (Homies Begged)", where the lyrics are purposefully scattershot, boldly stating that Rashad doesn't care about staying focused on one single thing, but rather writing about what he's feeling at the moment, and expressing himself through music that's a reflection of his ever-changing mind, body, and soul. It is this unwillingness to conform to expectations that is coming to characterize Isaiah Rashad, and if he continues to make such honest, compelling music, we will be witnessing an artist not only finding his niche, but dominating it.

Favorite Lyrics by /u/ItsBigVanilla

I got the music for the vibers, I got the music for the vibers,

And we don't usually talk about it,

It's like you debatin' with a bible, I'm really preachin' to the choir

• "Rope//rosegold"

Bitch, don't you know who you asking?

Bitch have you tutored the pastor?

I know the root and the master,

I know the coupe was a casket

• "Park"

Outside niggas always stuffin' a few,

Southside niggas always keepin' it there,

.45 trigger gave 'em somethin' to do,

We shoulda shot at the moon

• "Bday"

I ride around in your car, I put my weed in your blunt,

I am the sky to your star, I am the end of your month,

You are the start of my day, you brought the smile from my face,

I see the world from your eyes, you pulled a thorn from my side

• "Silkk Da Shocka"

Who is that nigga if I ain't that nigga?

It ain't thing poppin' if I ain't with Robert,

Gotta consider my liver my nigga,

Gotta get rid of my kidney my nigga

• "Tity and Dolla"

Little boys, dressed like rappers,

Can that road make them daddies?

I talked to God,

I got approved,

I got a life now,

If I should die,

While I'm awake,

I had a nice time

• "Dressed Like Rappers"

Discussion Questions by /u/ItsBigVanilla

• How has Rashad's style changed from Cilvia Demo to The Sun's Tirade? Which album do you prefer?

• Does the album feel cohesive to you? How does the variety of topics and sounds impact your overall feelings towards the album?

• How do you think the album would differ if Rashad hadn't gotten sober before recording it? What impact has his lifestyle made on his music, both lyrically and sonically?

• Where do you think Rashad will go from here? In your opinion, what direction do you think his music will take in the future?

• Which artists, if any, would you say have a similar style to Rashad? Who would you most like to see him collaborate with?

Well, this was supposed to be the last write-up, but with the way this thing has been going, who knows if we'll get another one this week. I hope you guys enjoyed my review and I'm genuinely excited to read your thoughts on it because I feel like these write-ups have been great for actual album discussions and not just memes and "It's lit" comments. I hope we can have another round of these write-ups next year and hopefully work out the kinks and have everything run smoothly, and I seriously hope that we're blessed with another year that's as good for music as 2016 was.

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Posted: 31 Jan 2017 06:18 PM PST

Apologies if this makes me look stupid but I'm really not familiar with a lot of legal jargon and it can be difficult to find definitions to some things.

I'm not sure how this works in other states, but in Florida you can basically check out online how an inmate's case is going online. I'm a big fan of X and every few weeks I check online (after some kind soul in /r/XXXTENTACION gave everyone a link to the criminal justice online system) to see if there have been any new developments people might not have noticed yet. Today I checked on my computer for the first time and saw this.

DEFENDANT IN JAIL: N

I'm not really familiar with too much legal lingo, but does this mean X isn't actually in jail right now? Has anyone noticed this yet?

I didn't photoshop this or anything by the way. You can check it out for yourself here. Just put in his name (Jahseh Onfroy) and his sex and you'll find it.

Does anyone know of anyone who is currently in jail in Broward so we can compare the two case files, or is there anyone around with some sort of legal knowledge? Does it maybe just mean he's been transferred to a real prison for now?

Jail. A building designated or regularly used for the confinement of individuals who are sentenced for minor crimes or who are unable to gain release on bail and are in custody awaiting trial.

From thefreedictionary.

EDIT: Also did anyone see in the Genius interview that the guy calls "X" and he picks up? It could have been jut for thematic effect, but... hmm.

EDIT 2: Apparently "Defendant in Jail: N" in NC means they were released. Hold on boys we're in for a ride

EDIT 3: Adam responds...kinda

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Daily Discussion Thread 01/31/2017

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Welcome to the /r/hiphopheads daily discussion thread!

This thread is for:

  • objective questions with right/wrong answers (e.g. "Does anyone know what is happening with MIXTAPE?", "What is the sample in SONG?")
  • general hip-hop discussion
  • meta posts...e.g. ideas for the sub

Thread Guidelines

  • Do not create a separate self post for these types of discussions outside of this thread - if you do, your post will be removed.

  • Please be helpful and friendly.

  • If a question has been asked many times before, provide a link to a thread that contains the answer.

Other ways to interact

There are a number of other ways to interact with other members of HHH:

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I made a website that uses machine learning to analyze rap lyrics and tell you which rapper you are. It's called Vocabulary Spills and I'd like to share it!

Posted: 31 Jan 2017 07:14 AM PST

Hi everyone - I shared this yesterday in the daily discussion thread and it got some positive reception so I figured I'd put this out there. I'm a CS student and I just recently finished a small personal project:

Vocabulary Spills

You enter your lyrics and it will tell you which of the 15 rappers in the model you are closest to, based on word frequencies and patterns. It gets up to about 80% accuracy when you have enough lyrics in there. With only a few lines, it will generally only give you a good answer if the lyrics are very specific. One problem with it is that it seems to like defaulting to Chance, and I haven't been able to figure out why.

Anyway, check it out and I'd love to hear any feedback you have! Thanks.

Edit: thanks for all the feedback from everyone! I'll try to get it up on github at some point. It's kinda sloppy right now so I'll need to clean it up a bit and also set it up so you can train it in a more usable way from the command line.

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