Since 2016, fans of Isaiah Rashad have anticipated and waited for the Chattanooga rapper’s next release. Debuting in 2014 with the classic Cilvia Demo mixtape, Rashad hit the ground running — his first release gaining him a cult following. Tracks like Heavenly Father and West Savannah became staples of the chill melancholic subgenre Rashad pioneered in. Two years later, Rashad released his first album, The Sun’s Tirade, which was met with nigh-universal praise. It seemed like Isaiah could do no wrong, that he would continue the trend of releasing phenomenal projects after phenomenal projects. Then without a word, he vanished. A year passed, and another. And another. And another. Rashad had gone dark; even his label had no idea when his next album would drop. 

Then out of nowhere, Rashad had descended once again, dropping singles teasing his next project. Hype mounted and mounted, until finally on July 30, 2021, The House Is Burning was released. 

The project is much what any seasoned fan of Isaiah would request; his trademark style a clear and focused measure within the projects. Every track seemingly made perfect to nod along to, though Rashad has not stagnated his craft. Certain tracks within the project embrace a more traditional trap and mainstream flavor without losing what makes Rashad special. A unique and cohesive sound is forged within, and every feature within the album strengthens the overall emotion and amazement of each track without miss. Notable features include St. Louis native Smino on the track Claymore, sliding in and adding the flairs of the modern Chicago underground scene upon the song. On the track Score, SZA offers a performance which simply shows how great of an artist she is.

Overall, I loved the project on release, with it being equal or if not better than his previous album. Many a song upon the record I would rate 10/10’s, notable favorites include Headshots, Claymore, Darkseid, Score, and HB2U. 

Final Rating: Strong 8, to a light 9