The Story behind Isaiah Rashad’s New Album ‘The House Is Burning’

Five years ago, Isaiah Rashad released his critically acclaimed studio debut, The Sun’s Tirade. 

Now fans are rejoicing as his long-awaited new album The House Is Burning is set to arrive on July 30. Ahead of the album release date, he has detailed the track list and features.

The Top Dawg Entertainment artist revealed in a post on Instagram that his new album features many heavy-hitters, including SZA, Lil Uzi Vert, Smino, 6Lack Doechii, Kal Banx, and YGTUT. On the production side of things, there’s Kenny Beats, Devin Malik, and Kal Banx, among others.

Rashad has already released the first three singles. In May, he released the first track- ‘Lay Wit Ya’ an anthemic song that samples Three 6 Mafia and features Memphis superstar Duke Deuce. In his second single, ‘Headshots (4r Da Locals),’ the artist raps about his inner demons.

The last track, ‘Wat U Sed,’ is a lighthearted summer anthem that features Iamdoechii and Kal Banx.

With a lot to say about everything he went through the last five years, Rashad’s got a lot of momentum heading into his second album release. 

Inspiration For His New Album

Speaking with Fader this past May, Rashad talked about why he ghosted the music industry for the last 5 years. He revealed he almost lost his career because of the pressures of being a rising twenty-something in the rap game, which eventually led to substance abuse. 

One time he was so drunk boarding a flight that the cops nearly arrested him (he still isn’t sure why they didn’t), and then there were car wreckages. He wrecked his Jeep and his label boss, Top Dawg’s, Honda. 

I was doing whatever I could to escape. I admittedly liked the feeling of being numb. Everything that ain’t good for me. Being out in L.A. with nothing anchoring me down [messed] me up. You can float off out here and can get lost. 

According to Billboard, Rashad’s battle with drug addiction almost led to getting dropped from the label not once but twice. However, his boss Top Dawg’s CEO and founder Anthony Tiffith used tough love and sent him to rehab. 

After 30 days of detoxing in an Orange County rehab facility, the newly turned 30-year-old was on a mission to make his team proud and had a renewed sense and appreciation for life and his career. 

For the first time in his career, Rashad recorded every track on his new album sober. He noted that the experience challenged his confidence to put out good music, but he got through it.

And Instead of avoiding his struggles and imperfections, he embraced every flaw candidly and without hesitation.

His struggles have given him a newfound purpose and meaning, and he has come out the other side, strong, unbroken, and with a new album.