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" You hear them callin' my name But know it's hard for me here I'm left at home by myself I chose the world in the end “ - Isaiah
Like a million others i'd been dying to rip the digital plastic from this album for many moons now, it was the only return of real music that i was interested in for the past 3 years. Pause pause pause. I had heard Cilvia Demo more than a thousand times and it was enough. While Zaywop turned us into feins for new music i could see the hold up. Apparently he was dealing with some of his own demons - the drugs had taken over and slowed his process resulting in him being admitted for alcohol and opiate addiction. Top Dawg, his manager , had an ultimatum to get himself together or be kicked from one of the biggest label of the 2010′s shoutout to TDE for breeding genius’, his album would never get out - lucky for him he stuck in there lucky for us we get to hear more of his story. Not too many rappers touch base on suicidal thoughts as poetic as those that do, you cant help but feel close and familiar to the situations he speaks on if you have your own hellians to cage. Admitting in his debut Cilvia to his wrist cutting and long silent phone conversations with his estranged father who calls crying in the wee hours apologizing for leaving him for another family, best part is he's never afraid to get mushy over his exes and family members. His son’s mom which we were introduced to 4 years ago, Tori , is out of the picture now. We now hear him spill guts about his one year old daughter’s mom Sasha
“Sasha why you gotta leave me? We was like forever life is so confusin', fuck it”
the hook for the song Bday a song that's been on repeat lately. Its clear his frigid and conservative attitude towards his own feelings and addictions roll with each other almost in a jekyll hyde fashion. His confidence still outshines his woes and that's a good thing because when he does spill his heart out it's clear that being a troubled 25 year old man is as hard as it looks. It's been getting mixed reviews since its release in comparison that it doesn't hold up to his debut. I disagree they are head to head. I still would definitely call it a grower. I'm assuming due its laid back smooth drifting chorus’ and jaded voiced as the theme it comes off a bit hazy and drugged out. It's a different segment from the usual shit talking loud mouthed young blooded guy from Cilvia - we still have the love songs, we just have skits and weird ad libs like randomly through the album you will hear “i'm in a padded room” “don't fucking ignore me rashad” assuming he's talking to himself for no reason at all, it adds a comical relief to the album. Isaiah has majestic powers to rap like he doesn't even have to write anything down we still have the ice hearted lyricist, the occasional side chick, hoes, cadillac talk, gold digging woman he sleeps with because “ I got a face only your bitch could love, your type niggas don't mix with us” while that's a lifestyle he deals with its obvious being in love has made and broke him. He’s the same just a bit more mature and standoffish this time around. Sharing a label with Kendrick it's hard to stick out, but Isaiah can forever hold his own. His features include, Sydney from The Internet in a late night cruise sounding duet, SZA , Jay Rock, and also of course a murderous Kendrick verse. After about the 10th listen you should be able to appreciate what it’s worth. Pure southern boy hip hop, not that fake southern fast food rap that New York has been force feeding over the past few years. It’s straight out of Tennessee - live bands and sampled to perfection singles. Its obvious this 2nd release from him has been dipped in fish, grits, heartbreak juice and then gold. Southern rap gains another classic.
“ Mama I just wanna shine, pussy ass niggas go lean on the ref Nigga I woke up this mornin', feeling like I won't be needing myself ”
The realest album and i'm positive this will be judged as one the greatest underestimated releases this year. Only to be highly favored 15-20 years down the road. Ahead of its time since day numero uno.
