Breaking Down Isaiah Rashad’s It’s Been Awful Tracklist: Inside the TDE Veteran’s Long-Awaited Return

If you have been following the modern West Coast rap scene for the last decade, you already know that an Isaiah Rashad album rollout is never a straightforward affair. The Chattanooga-raised, TDE-reared wordsmith operates on his own timeline. Fans waited five long years following the widespread critical acclaim of 2021’s The House Is Burning wondering when—or if—we would get another full-length project.

Then came the drop that shifted the conversation across social media: the official tracklist and cover art for his third studio album, It’s Been Awful.

Clocking in at 16 tracks, the project balances a very tight circle of guest features with heavy, unfiltered solo introspection. Let’s dive deep into the It’s Been Awful tracklist, look at the standout collaborations with artists like SZA and Dominic Fike, and break down why this release matters so much for contemporary alternative hip-hop.

The Official It’s Been Awful Tracklist

True to his style of keeping collaborations meaningful rather than chasing streaming algorithms, Isaiah Rashad keeps the guest list selective. Here is the full 16-track lineup for It’s Been Awful:

1. THE NEW SUBLIME

2. M.O.M

3. SAME SH! T

4. BOY IN RED (feat. SZA)

5. SUPAFICIAL

6. SCARED 2 LOOK DOWN

7. HAPPY HOUR

8. DO I LOOK HIGH? (feat. Julian Sintonia)

9. AIN’T GIVIN’ UP

10. GTKY

11. CAMERAS (feat. Dominic Fike)

12. ACT NORMAL

13. 10 STATES AWAY

14. NUTHIN 2 HIDE

15. SUPERPWRS

16. 719 FREESTYLE

Deep Dive: The Standout Collaborations

1. The TDE Reunion We Needed: “Boy in Red” Featuring SZA

Hands down, the most heavily discussed moment of the tracklist reveal is track number four, “BOY IN RED” featuring SZA. Longtime supporters of Top Dawg Entertainment have spent years watching these two evolve side-by-side. Seeing them link up again on an official track feels like a full-circle moment.

Instead of a high-octane banger, “Boy in Red” leans heavily into a dreamy, alt-R&B atmosphere. SZA’s signature vocal delivery meshes seamlessly with Rashad’s laid-back, conversational cadence. It’s smooth, emotionally complex, and easily one of the most replayable cuts on the entire project.

2. The Indie Crossover: “Cameras” Featuring Dominic Fike

Another major surprise that sent waves through fan forums is track eleven, “CAMERAS” featuring Dominic Fike. Fike’s breezy, genre-bending style feels right at home over Zay’s warm, atmospheric production. The song tackles themes of memory, distance, and the strange nostalgia of looking back at past relationships. It proves once again that Rashad knows how to pick collaborators who complement his internal, confessional songwriting style rather than overpowering it.

What the 16-Track Structure Tells Us About Zay’s Headspace

With only a handful of outside features—including a standout vocal appearance from Julian Sintonia on “DO I LOOK HIGH?”—It’s Been Awful is very much an internal journey.

• Navigating the Cyclus: Tracks like “SAME SH! T” and “HAPPY HOUR” explore the repeating loops of daily life, coping mechanisms, and the push-and-pull of personal growth.

• The Weight of Success: On “SCARED 2 LOOK DOWN,” Rashad confronts the anxiety of leveling up. Rather than offering cheap motivational platitudes, he addresses the genuine fear, homesickness, and mental hurdles that accompany sustained success.

• Production and Sonic Landscape: Musically, the album leans into the warm, soulful, and jazz-inflected grooves that define Isaiah Rashad’s catalog. With production contributions from heavy hitters like Kal Banx, Hollywood Cole, and Jansport J, the soundscape feels cohesive from front to back—bridging the gap between the hazy nostalgia of Cilvia Demo and modern maturity.

Why It’s Been Awful Resonates in Modern Hip-Hop

In an era where many mainstream artists rush to drop bloated deluxe editions and recycled concepts every few months, Isaiah Rashad takes his time. It’s Been Awful feels heavy because it carries the literal weight of five years of life—mistakes, growth, isolation, and redemption.

It’s an album meant to be digested late at night with headphones on, driving down an empty highway or sitting in a dimly lit room. Zay doesn’t try to be the loudest voice in rap; he aims to be the most honest, which is precisely why his audience connects so deeply with his work.

Your Turn

Have you had a chance to let It’s Been Awful play through from start to finish? Which track has been on repeat for you since the release? Drop a comment below and let’s talk about it!