It's Been Awful
2026 studio album by Isaiah Rashad
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It's Been Awful (stylized in all caps) is the third studio album by American rapper Isaiah Rashad. It was released through Top Dawg Entertainment (TDE) and Warner Records on May 1, 2026. Production on the album was handled by numerous record producers, including Julian Sintonia, Kal Banx, Hollywood Cole, and Jansport J, among others. Guest appearances include frequent collaborator and labelmate SZA, as well as Dominic Fike and Julian Sintonia.
| It's Been Awful | ||||
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| Studio album by | ||||
| Released | May 1, 2026 | |||
| Recorded | 2022–2026 | |||
| Length | 54:17 | |||
| Labels | ||||
| Producers |
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| Isaiah Rashad chronology | ||||
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| Singles from It's Been Awful | ||||
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Background and promotion
In February 2024, rumors of Isaiah Rashad's upcoming third album first arose through a leaked photo of Top Dawg Entertainment's release schedule for the year, in which Rashad was included.[1] Rashad would then confirm a new album was on the horizon and hinted that it was almost finished in October 2024.[2] During his performance at the Lollapalooza festival in August 2025, Rashad teased a new song from the upcoming album and once again affirmed to fans his album was almost complete.[3]
In March 2026, another Reddit user posted a notecard that was received alongside their order from Top Dawg's website. The notecard read "It's Been Awful" on the front and "Everybody wants to see you crash out, fall off, and burn out for their entertainment. I just want to see you smile" on the backside. Rashad would repost these notecards on his Instagram account.[4] The album was officially announced with a trailer posted to Rashad's YouTube and social media accounts on April 7.[5]
Rashad is embarked on the North American Lil Sunny's Awful Road Trip Tour with support from Alemeda in 2026 in support of the album.[6] He performed a NPR Tiny Desk Concert in support of the album, which released on August 25, 2026.[7]
Critical reception
It’s Been Awful was met with widespread critical acclaim. According to the review aggregator Metacritic, It's Been Awful received "universal acclaim" based on a weighted average score of 83 out of 100 from 9 critic scores.[8]
Track listing
| No. | Title | Writer(s) | Producer(s) | Length |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1. | "The New Sublime" |
|
| 2:43 |
| 2. | "M.O.M" |
| 2:45 | |
| 3. | "Same Shit" |
|
| 3:13 |
| 4. | "Boy in Red" (with SZA) |
|
| 3:09 |
| 5. | "Supaficial" |
|
| 4:44 |
| 6. | "Scared 2 Look Down" |
|
| 3:36 |
| 7. | "Happy Hour" |
|
| 4:07 |
| 8. | "Do I Look High?" (with Julian Sintonia) |
|
| 3:02 |
| 9. | "Ain't Givin' Up" |
| 3:56 | |
| 10. | "GTKY" |
|
| 2:32 |
| 11. | "Cameras" (featuring Dominic Fike) |
| 3:48 | |
| 12. | "Act Normal" |
| 4:12 | |
| 13. | "10 States Away" |
|
| 2:35 |
| 14. | "Nuthin 2 Hide" |
|
| 3:50 |
| 15. | "Superpwrs" |
|
| 3:32 |
| 16. | "719 Freestyle" |
| SyedSounds | 2:23 |
| Total length: | 54:17 | |||
Track notes
Sample and interpolation credits
- "Ain't Givin' Up" contains a sample of "White Gloves" as performed by Khruangbin.[10]
Personnel
Credits are adapted from Tidal.[16]
Musicians
- Isaiah Rashad – lead vocals
- Julian Sintonia – additional vocals (tracks 1, 4, 5), programming (1, 5–7, 9, 14), additional programming (2, 3, 11, 12, 15), lead vocals (8)
- KTC – programming (1, 4, 5, 8, 9, 11, 12), additional programming (2, 14)
- Henry Was – programming (1, 5, 9)
- Nina Woods – additional vocals (1, 14)
- Yari McClain – additional vocals (2)
- Hollywood Cole – programming (2)
- Cheyenne Chaves – additional vocals (3, 4)
- Lauren Santi – additional vocals (3)
- Pamela Rentz – additional vocals (3)
- Don Oskar – programming (3)
- Mario Luciano – programming (3)
- Nate Hobden – programming (3)
- SZA – lead vocals (4)
- Carlos Acosta Concha – additional vocals (4)
- Claudia Regalado – additional vocals (4)
- Henry Anguiano – additional vocals (4)
- Langston Griffith-Siebens – additional vocals (4)
- Rhea Chadha – additional vocals (4)
- Fantom Power – programming (4)
- Ayush – additional programming (5, 8, 9)
- David Young – additional programming (5, 8, 9)
- Devyn Sawyer – additional vocals (5, 9)
- Blake Straus – programming (5, 13, 14)
- Mihji Grey – programming (5)
- Pete Nebula – programming (5)
- Koii – programming (6)
- Lucho – programming (6)
- Sader – programming (6)
- Kembe X – additional vocals (7)
- D. Sanders – programming (7)
- Amaire Johnson – additional programming (8, 11, 12)
- Oma – additional programming (8, 11, 12)
- Rory Behr – programming (9), additional programming (12)
- Free P – programming (9)
- Kal Banx – programming (9)
- Rascal – programming (10)
- Will Gell – programming (10)
- Wu10 – programming (10)
- Dominic Fike – lead vocals, programming (11)
- Henry Kwapis – additional programming (11)
- Devin Workman – programming (11)
- Jansport J – programming (13)
- Alé Araya – additional vocals (14)
- Avara – additional vocals (14)
- Cole Hardwick – additional vocals (14)
- Rehma – additional vocals (14)
- Rowan – programming (14)
- Wizzle – programming (14)
- Saxon – programming (15)
- SyedSounds – programming (16)
Technical
- Julian Asuaje – engineering (1–15), mixing assistance (all tracks)
- Rory Behr – engineering (1, 9, 14, 16)
- Rob Bisel – engineering (4)
- Devin Ragsdale – engineering (9, 14)
- Devin Workman – engineering (11)
- Josh Kay – engineering assistance (4)
- Madeline Donahue – engineering assistance (4)
- James Hunt – mixing
- Nicolas De Porcel – mastering
- Demetrius Lewis II – mastering assistance