Laugh At The Small Moments

Isaiah Rashad “Brenda”

Isaiah Rashad mainly stays in one lane creatively – raspy, introspective rap over slow beats and melancholy guitar parts. It’s kinda like if Raewkon only ever did stuff like “Heaven & Hell.” This is not a complaint: This is one of my absolute favorite aesthetics for hip-hop, and Rashad is exceptional at it, and very brave in how open he is in rapping about addiction, depression, and failure. Any bits of raw ego on The Sun’s Tirade feel very hard-earned, and the sad vibes are genuinely soulful, not entitled and pouty like Drake. “Brenda” is the most overtly jazzy song on the record, and I love the way the crisp chords and distant sax runs frame his gravely voice with bright, elegant tones. That contrast makes his performance pop, and emphasizes his pride and dignity in the face of hard times.

Buy it from Amazon.