is one of the youngest members of the label Top Dawg Entertainment, the imprint of artists like Kendrick Lamar, Schoolboy Q, SZA and Ab-Spu;. After landing a coveted spot on the 2012 Smoker’s Club Tour, the Chattanooga, TN-born Rashad became a stand-out performer alongside Juicy J, Joey Bada$$ and Smoke DZA. He released “Cilvia Demo” in 2014 after spending a year as the newest signee at TDE. He was named and has been making moves in the music industry since then.
Fans have been clamoring for a full-length project from Rashad and the MC says his new album is on the way. Perfect timing for his inclusion in the program, a project designed to break music. He’ll be in Denver tonight at Cervantes Masterpiece Ballroom performing alongside Bishop Nehru and Sur Ellz for the Souls in Action Entertainment-curated RBSS stage. Tickets are .
We caught up with Isaiah Rashad to talk making new music, Schoolboy Q’s new album and what itap like to have artists like Kendrick Lamar listening to his music.
Reverb: Itap been almost two years since “Cilvia Demo” came out. What are you doing when you’re not releasing new music?
Isaiah Rashad: I listen to people who are around me and get feedback from them about the music I’m working on. Sometimes I have friends send me beats and instrumentals and I just go off the vibe I’m feeling. If I have something in mind, I’ll go with that to try and create a sound I’m going for.
Since you perform live so much, is it hard to work on the new album while you’re on the road?
Well itap a process but I’m inspired by the crowds and they respond to certain songs so I know more about what works and what doesn’t. It helps to be able to connect with the fans and they show me a lot of love on the road.
What do you think of your label mate Schoolboy Q’s new album “Blank Face LP”?
Itap personally my favorite. I always love that Q goes for the darker cuts and he gets more introspective on whatap going on in his life. Itap just honest and shows how in tuned he is with himself and the kind of music he makes.
Since you’re working on your studio debut album, how does TDE come together to get behind artists on the label?
The first thing is for me to be ok with the music I’m making first. We let everybody in the camp hear what I’m recording first and then we come together in an agreement about it. I wanted to start focusing on getting it out but for a long time it wasn’t done. Now that I have all the pieces together, we’ll listen to it and then put it out for the fans.
Programs like Red Bull Sound Select seem to work well for artists like you who have a fan following regardless of release dates. How does being involved with RBSS elevate your art?
I think itap dope. Not just anybody can play a Red Bull show. There’s more opportunity every time you step into something with them. The lineup is pretty diverse and it shows there’s all kind of music people can be into. You have artists who perform all the time and when itap a Red Bull show, it just elevates.
You’ve been here in Denver before but this will be a different kind of show with you as headliner. What should we expect?
You know, itap going to get weird. Sometimes people see me perform and if they haven’t before, it can seem kind of weird but thatap for the people. Itap going to be energetic and we’re going to get live. It might get weird, but itap going to be live.
