(This review was written a little while back and was used as a submission on an Application. I felt it was good to finally post and archive it here)
On July 30th of 2021, Isaiah Rashad released his second studio album, ‘The House is Burning.’ The album was Rashad’s first time releasing solo music since September of 2016. Safe to say fans of hip-hop, as well as fans of Rashad, were desperately awaiting the release of ‘The House is Burning.’ I happened to be one of those people.
During the near five years since Isaiah Rashad had last released music, he had to overcome many personal triumphs. Depression, addiction, and alcoholism are among some of the many triumphs. It even got so bad for Rashad that he had to call the head of his label, Top Dawg Entertainment, Anthony Tiffith, and let him know that he needed to be admitted into rehab immediately. Rashad had hit rock bottom, and he himself even knew it. Knowing of Rashad’s struggles prior to the release of this album, I was curious to hear if he would touch on any of these topics on the album, and Rashad very well did.
Rashad had released a single, “Why Worry,” back on April 22, 2020, as part of a promotional event during the start of the COVID-19 pandemic with his label, Top Dawg Entertainment. Other than that one promotional single, the last we had heard from Rashad at all prior to that came on songs in which he was featured in. Rashad actually happened to be featured on two other songs in 2020, but 2017 was the last time he was heard from prior to that. So when Rashad released the first single from his album titled “Lay wit Ya” on May 7th, 2021, the reception around Rashad’s long-awaited return was well accepted.
”Lay wit Ya” felt like a nonchalant return for Rashad after four and a half years, but he sounded like he was still in the prime of his career, even after his long layoff from creating music. He not only sounded no different and just as sharp as he did the last time we heard him, but the music video displayed things Rashad had spoken about in his music throughout his career: women, drugs, and finding an escape. It felt as if Rashad never experienced the hardships in which he did, including, of course, his addiction, which led to him entering rehabilitation.
Rashad returning with a single like this actually felt very calculated, though. He returned as if nothing ever happened and was using his vices to paint an image on the outside that was much different from what he had going on inside of him.
However, in the music video for his second single from the album, “Headshots (4r da locals),” Rashad did in fact allude to his addiction as well as his time spent in group rehabilitation.
The mainstream listener who is unaware of what Rashad had to deal with in the time following his previous album, “The Sun’s Tirade,” may not pick up on why Rashad does the symbolism that he does in the music video, but if you’re aware of what happened to him in his years spent away from music, then you can easily pick up on the imagery portrayed in the music video to his second single off the album.
The music video begins by displaying a number of pool balls preceded by visuals of a man who is playing pool in a tavern. As the man hits the pool balls, you can spot Rashad behind the bar at the tavern, and he spots whiskey in a glass and immediately recalls his time spent in group therapy. The camera pans from the top of a whiskey glass, spinning to the top of a group therapy circle. Throughout the video, Rashad is shown in many places other than the group therapy session, but smartly, we see many circular objects, calling back to how they remind Rashad of his time in the group therapy circle. We see the top view of a coffee cup, a circular flock of birds, the wheel of a car, the sun in a desert, and even the thirteen stars on the Betsy Ross American flag, which of course, are arranged in a circle. The visuals are off the charts in this video, and while, like mentioned earlier, they may just seem cool and hip to the average viewer, there is a deeper meaning there that people who are aware are able to pick up on.
The two singles that followed, “Wat U Sed” and “From the Garden,” contained the occasional lyrics referring to the situation around Rashad’s addiction, alcoholism, and rehabilitation, but nothing other than that. These two singles felt very similar to previous music from throughout Rashad’s career. This was because he touched on depression and personal issues casually while doing it over a tremendously upbeat beat or instrumental. This has been a constant throughout Rashad’s career.
These singles left fans, including myself, wondering how much more Rashad would touch on his personal issues and struggles on his upcoming album. Well, we certainly did hear more about the battles Rashad faced over the course of the 48-minute runtime on this album.
Like mentioned, finally on July 30, 2021, four and a half years following his 2016 debut album “The Sun’s Tirade,” Rashad finally released his second studio album, “The House is Burning,” to acclaim from music critics, the average listener, and fans of either hip-hop music or Rashad himself. The music on the album simply felt like Rashad was back in form with the great-sounding music he released on his debut studio album, as well as his debut mixtape, “Cilvia Demo,” in which he released back in 2014. While he did have lyrics referring to his addiction, depression, anxiety, and rehabilitation among other things on the album’s first fourteen songs, which took up the first thirty-nine minutes and forty seconds of the album, it wasn’t until the album’s final two songs that occupied the final eight minutes and twenty seconds of the album that Rashad had songs completely about what he dealt with following the release of his 2016 album through the time he spent in rehab.
The fifteenth and second-to-last song in the tracklist was the title track of the album titled ‘THIB,’ which of course stands for “The House is Burning.”
Rashad immediately begins ‘THIB’ by speaking on his problems with substance abuse and alcoholism. Rashad also displays his problems by interpolating Goodie Mob’s classic track, “Cell Therapy.” “Who’s that creeping in my window? Who’s that? Who’s that? Who’s that f*cking with my conscience?” Rashad sings on the song’s hook.
While also paying homage to other artists who inspired him, such as Missy Elliott, and interpolating flows and lyrics from fellow rappers such as 21 Savage, Rashad speaks on still feeling empty inside, despite now having things he’s always wanted.
While interpolating 21 Savage, Rashad also speaks on how low of a point he was at, even having to turn to alcohol to cope with his emotions. Rapping, “I don’t even like Henny, f*ck it,” during the first verse of the song.
While paying homage to legendary artist Missy Elliott, Rashad raps, “Smoke a pound, stomach growl, let me feast. I need everything in my reach; that’s what we preach.” Clearly showing the addictive tendencies and vices that he was battling with.
Rashad placing a song where he speaks about his anxiety crippling him and feeling like someone is always watching him as the second to last song in the tracklist was clearly intentional. After having moments throughout the tracklist of this album that make it sound like Rashad had overcome his bad tendencies and had nothing to comment on, ‘THIB’ brings the listener back down to earth and lets everyone into Rashad’s psyche. It also beautifully sets up the closing track of the album, ‘HB2U.’
The acronym of the title holds two meanings. The first is “Happy Birthday to You,” while the second is “Human Being to You.” The song, fittingly enough, is split into two separate parts for each meaning.
The “Happy Birthday to You” section makes up the first portion of the song.
The song begins with a vocal sample of Rashad speaking to his daughter. Rashad’s daughter asks him, “Is there a heaven?” to which he responds, “Yes.” She follows that up with another question, asking, “How do you know that?” in which he responds with, “You don’t.”
This definitely reflects an underlying message of the song, especially with Rashad making biblical references and consistently referring to his upbringing on this song. The vocal sample of Rashad and his daughter certainly indicates a perspective shift from Rashad as a result of his newfound sobriety. The biblical references following the vocal sample make it clear, though, that Rashad will still remain optimistic and persevere despite his struggles in dealing with sobriety.
“Ain’t nothing stoppin’ me but parking fees,” Rashad raps, showing there are no longer any obstacles in Rashad’s way, aside from something like parking tickets. The final lyrics of the ‘Human Being to You’ portion of the song hear Rashad saying, “It’s all for you, babe,” a clear reference to Rashad finding deep purpose and meaning in living for his daughter and setting an example for her.
Lyrics such as these shine light on the fact that Rashad really does see the light at the end of the tunnel, and in finding purpose and meaning in setting an example for his daughter, he found purpose in his own life.
The “Human Being to You portion begins with Rashad singing a refrain to himself from the third person, saying, “You are now a human being.” Rashad admitted prior to this album’s release that he had recorded all of his previous work while drunk. This refrain makes it clear that Rashad now views himself as a human being and is proud of his work to become completely sober.
Rashad continues to speak on his struggles with alcohol and drugs on the song, stating, “I should just pack up my bags and get loaded.” As well as, “This isn’t the time of my life, but I’m still on drugs.” Showing yet another look into his psyche and how, despite being on drugs, Rashad was still struggling.
The song ends, though, with beautifully done singing of the earlier refrain from this portion of the song and really feels like a beautiful ending and a sort of light at the end of the tunnel to end both the track and this album on.
As somebody who dealt with struggles following the death of my mother, including but not limited to, grief and depression, this album, and especially the final track, certainly drew heavy emotion from me and hit close to home.
HB2U feels like quite possibly the most introspective and honest track in all of Rashad’s music catalog, and for that reason, it means a lot to me still to this day. The track feels like a sigh of relief from Rashad and him recognizing that even through all his personal struggles, everything’s going to be okay.
The album might not be for everybody, and honestly, I don’t think all music is supposed to be. If you’ve dealt with some kind of struggle in your life, which it seems all of us do at some point, then you can probably understand and find the beauty in this album, as well as in its introspective and personal lyrics.
This album is almost certainly my favorite album of 2021, due to its creativity, personal lyrics, and star-filled feature list as well. Rashad’s ability to speak on such personal topics and issues on very hi-tempo and upbeat production makes this such a unique and enjoyable listen, where sometimes, if you’re not paying close enough attention, you can miss out on some of the deeper meanings.
This album certainly connected to me more than any other album has in quite a bit of time, and I think there’s a certain unique beauty in introspective and soulful hip hop like what Rashad has presented with this album. This is an album that I recommend everybody at least give a listen to, especially if you’re a fan of hip hop or Rashad’s prior work. Certain songs on the tracklist cut deep for me, and I’m sure it will do the same for many others.
This is a truly beautiful album that I’m very appreciative of and hope can help anybody else who has dealt with any kind of struggle. Whether that be pain, grief, anxiety, depression, etc., over the course of their life.
SLOT 