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This album was released on September 2nd this year. From what I can tell, a lot of people—especially in my generation—have been SUPER excited for this project. I was a lot more excited for Cilvia Demo before that came out than I am for this album tho. Cilvia Demo was fucking great, but the singles that he’s been releasing leading up to this album haven’t been that impressive to me. I mean, I like all of them, but it mostly just sounds like more of the same. If he doesn’t do anything different with this album, I’m sure I’ll still like it. I just don’t think I’ll like it as much as I liked Cilvia Demo. Part of my lack of enthusiasm probably has something to do with the Isaiah Rashad stans that I’ve discovered. It’s not really that big of a deal tho. There are much worse rappers that you could be stanning. I dislike stans in general, but I’ll take an Isaiah Rashad stan over a Drake stan or a Future stan, and DEFINITELY a Lil Uzi Vert stan. Isaiah Rashad is a good rapper. I’m expecting this to be good. I just don’t think I’ll like it as much as Cilvia Demo. I don’t know tho. Maybe he’ll surprise me.

Track 1: where u at? (Prod. Dave Free)

So, I wrote the preamble for this review all the way back on September 2nd. Today is September 10th. I’m sorry that I haven’t started this shit yet. I was planning on catching up last weekend, but I got really sick, and I’m still getting used to my new schedule since I started school. The main reason I haven’t really been reviewing shit is because of Childish Gambino tho. I seriously just can’t stop myself from listening to Because The Internet. Every time I get ready to start this review, I end up listening to Because The Internet instead. I’ve listened to it 11 times in the past 3 days. I’m literally listening to it right now as I type this. It’s just so good… Alright, I’m gonna start this album now. Just lemme get through a few more songs on Because The Internet… This is fucking ridiculous. I can’t stop listening to that album. This is the ONLY shit I’ve been listening to for like a week. I just can’t turn it off. Fuck, man. I just listened to the whole album. It’s SO GOOD. Okay, I guess I’ll start this album for real now. Here we go… Alright, I just listened to this whole track. It’s just Dave Free tellin’ Isaiah to hurry the fuck up ’cause TDE fans were waitin’ on this album for like 2 years. There’s no reason for me to really talk about this track.

Track 2: 4r da squaw (Prod. FrancisGotHeat)

I just can’t bring myself to listen to this shit. I have absolutely no interest in this project, and I don’t really know why. Cilvia Demo was fantastic, so I don’t know why this is a problem for me. Alright, I’m just gonna press play and see what happens. It’s starting now. This beat is dope af. If you’ve heard any of Zay’s music aside from Soliloquy and maybe Banana, then you should know what to expect from the production. It’s super laid back. This beat in particular sounds a little more dreamy than most of his other shit tho. The first verse was cool. I’m kinda indifferent towards it. He didn’t really say anything that stood out to me, but this is pretty dope sonically. The second verse was dope. The song just ended. It was pretty good. I feel the same way about this song that I did about all the singles. It’s good. I’m not that impressed ’cause he didn’t really step outside of his comfort zone, but it’s still an entertaining track. This is dope. 4/5

Track 3: Free Lunch (Prod. Cam O’Bi)

I’ve already heard this track before. It’s another good song. I like it, but I’m just not that impressed. The beat is dope. The hook is nothing special. The verses were cool. It’s just not that interesting of a track. It’s just a good Isaiah Rashad song. That line about having “real niggas in my condom” was pretty cool. I don’t know. I just don’t really have much to say. I like the song tho. It’s more of the same. The verses are pretty short. It’s a simplistic track. It’s good tho. It just ended. Yeah… I don’t know, man. It’s just not really doing much for me. I mean, I definitely like it. I just don’t really have much to say. It’s more of the same. It’s dope tho. 4/5

Track 4: Rope // rosegold Feat. SiR (Prod. J. LBS & The Antydote)

Oh shit… Huh… I don’t know why, but I’m actually REALLY enjoying this track so far. The production is still pretty laid back, but it doesn’t really sound the same as the other beats so far. I really like the way Zay sounds singing this hook too. He doesn’t have the best singing voice, but it sounds really dope over this beat. Hmm… It sounds like he’s singing about hanging himself with a rope. Pretty dark stuff. This is the kinda shit I like hearing from Zay tho. That simpler shit that he was rhyming about on the first couple of songs is cool, but I’ll always prefer the more personal, introspective side of Zay. He sounds smooth as fuck singing this first verse. Goddamn. He sounded so good just now when he said “I don’t know why I feel all in grey.” Okay, this shit is dope af so far. This kinda reminds me of Heavenly Father, except it sounds less happy. Heavenly Father is definitely a much better song tho. The content is similar, but the actual lyricism on Heavenly Father was far more interesting to me. It sounds like SiR is just helping with some background vocals. Alright, Rope just ended. Rosegold is starting now. This beat is real smooth. He’s actually rapping on this track. This shit is smoother than a motherfucker. It just ended. Yup. This is easily my favorite song on the album so far. I definitely like Rope more than rosegold, but they’re both very good. This is dope af to me. 5/5

Track 5: Wat’s Wrong Feat. Kendrick Lamar & Zacari (Prod. D. Sanders & Al B. Smoov)

Alright, here we go. This beat is dope. This is the first track where it really feels like Zay is rapping his ass off. All of his other verses on this album have been really laid back and short. He really stepped his flow up for this one tho. His verse was dope. Goddamn. This Zacari guy is singin’ his motherfuckin’ ass off on this hook. He sounds great. Dot’s goin’ in now. He fuckin’ killed it. No surprise there. I don’t wanna be a dick or anything, but I kinda feel like the features outshined Zay on this track. It’s not like he didn’t do a good job, but if it weren’t for Kendrick & Zacari I don’t think I’d like this song that much more than any of the other tracks. He definitely had a dope verse tho. I also liked the way he was singing on the last verse too. This is dope af to me. 5/5

Track 6: Park (Prod. Park Ave. & D. Sanders)

This is another song that I’ve already heard before. This beat is cool I guess. So far all of the production sounds way too similar for me. The only beat that really sounded different was the one on Rope. This song feels kinda like an interlude. It’s just one verse and then a long ass outro. The verse was cool. I don’t know. I mean, I DO know that I like the song, but… This is just so laid back. I’m really hoping that he kinda steps things up soon with a more energetic, uptempo track. This is still good tho. It’s just really smooth. 4/5

Track 7: BDay Feat. Deacon Blues & Kari Faux (Prod. Deacon Blues & Tiggi)

Isn’t Kari Faux the girl that made that No Small Talk song that Childish Gambino remixed? That’s cool I guess. It’s kinda funny that I somehow found a way to talk about Childish Gambino again in this review. Alright, this song is starting now. This beat is really dope. Wow. I’m almost halfway through this song right now. I’m enjoying it, but… Zay sounds damn near unconscious on this shit. Is this whole album really about to be like this? Am I about to listen to ten more of these super chill, laid back songs? Jesus Christ, man. Zay’s about to put me to sleep. It’s still entertaining, but I don’t know if I’ll be able to make it all the way to the end of this project… I’ve only been listening to this song for 3 minutes, but it feels like it’s been 7 minutes. I’m bored as fuck right now to be honest. I like the beat, but aside from that this isn’t really doing anything for me. Deacon Blues & Kari Faux only contributed background vocals to this song as far as I can tell. I’m not really feelin’ this song. I don’t think it’s that bad, but it’s just too drowsy for me. 3/5

Track 8: Silkk Da Shocka Feat. Syd Tha Kyd (Prod. Steve Lacy)

This beat is dope af. This kinda reminds me of West Savannah. It’s a love song, and Zay’s harmonizing with Syd, just like how he did with SZA. The title of this song seems really random. Yeah, I know Zay’s from the South and there were some lyrical references to him, but this song sounds nothing like anything Silkk Da Shocka has ever been involved with. That’s not really a bad thing for me tho, and I guess it’s not the first time Zay’s done something like this. The song just ended. I liked it. It was nice to hear him talk a little bit about his drug use, even if it was very surface level. It’s better than nothing. This album is far less impressive than Cilvia Demo lyrically. You can tell he was focusing more on the sonic quality than the lyrics. It’s still good tho. This song is dope to me. 4/5

Trak 9: Tity & Dolla Feat. Hugh Augustine & Jay Rock (Prod. Crooklin & Pops)

This beat is dope. It’s still really laid back. The first verse from Zay was dope. This is another one of the few tracks where he actually raps a decent length verse. The hook is dope. This Hugh Augustine guy sounded really dope on the second verse. He kinda sounds like Cozz to me. I’m not saying he’s as good as Cozz or anything. He just kinda has a similar voice. Jay Rock fuckin’ killed that last verse. He stole the show. I’m still not blown away by this song tho. Honestly, if Jay Rock wasn’t here I don’t even know if I’d like this. This album is just way too laid back so far. I’m super bored right now. I liked this track tho. I’m just still not that impressed. It’s cool tho. 4/5

Track 10: Stuck In The Mud Feat. SZA (Prod. D. Sanders & Crooklin)

This beat is dope af. The hook is pretty good. The first verse was cool I guess. The second verse wasn’t bad. I’m enjoying this, but… I don’t know. It’s just more of the same. I kinda feel like I’ve been listening to the same song for half an hour. The beat just switched up. It’s dope. I’m not really in love with what Zay is doing tho. He sounds like he’s barely awake. Jesus fucking Christ. I’m about to pass out. Maybe I’d like this more if I was high. I mean, I’m enjoying the song, but this is just too much of the same thing. Also, I know I said this a little earlier, but… What the fuck happened? This album is so much less interesting than Cilvia Demo lyrically. Did he just not have anything to say? The song just ended. It was good. I don’t want y’all to get the wrong impression and think that I don’t like this album so far. It’s good. It’s just super underwhelming. I like it tho. This song is dope to me. 4/5

Track 11: A Lot (Prod. Mike WiLL Made It & Pluss)

Yes. YES. FINALLY. This beat is dope af. I don’t even really even fuck with Mike WiLL like that, but this beat is hard as fuck. Zay still has a super laid back delivery tho. What the fuck… Why is he rapping like this? He sounds half asleep on this shit. WHY? The first verse was decent I guess. Wooow. Of course the ENTIRE song is like this. Fuck my life. I feel like Zay has consistently been getting outshined by the features and producers. I don’t really feel like he’s doing anything that any other above average rapper couldn’t do on this project. I’m enjoying the song tho. Fuck, man… I don’t even know if I like this song. The only thing that really stands out is the beat. This album is super disappointing so far… I don’t even really think this song is that bad. I just don’t think it’s good either… 3/5

Track 12: AA (Prod. DZONYBEATS & D. Sanders)

This beat is dope I guess. Zay’s words are really slurred to give the impression that he’s drunk as he’s singing. I’m not really feelin’ it. The first verse didn’t really do anything for me. The second verse was cool tho. I just listened to the whole song… Nah… Nah, I didn’t like this one. It’s not the worst song I’ve ever heard, but I wouldn’t ever have the desire to listen to it again. He’s singing the entire song. It’s just another super underwhelming song. I’m bored as fuck right now. This might actually be my least favorite song on the whole album so far. I really didn’t like this. It’s still not really that bad tho. It just didn’t do anything for me. It’s alright. 3/5

Track 13: Dressed Like Rappers (Prod. DK The Punisher)

This beat is dope. Wow he’s actually rapping. I don’t know why, but I feel like I haven’t heard him rap in forever. The first verse was dope. The second verse was even better. The hook lasts a little too long for me. It’s not bad tho. I kinda wish the verses were a little longer. It’s still good tho. I fuck with this song. This is dope to me. I… I just don’t have anything to say. I’m so unbelievably bored right now. This is good tho… 4/5

Track 14: Don’t Matter (Prod. The Antydote & Carter Lang)

Oh. Oh thank God. This is probably the most uptempo song on the whole album. Zay actually sounds like he’s awake too. The first verse was alright. The subject matter on this song isn’t really for me. I’m not sure about this hook… “Pimps, hoes, fingertips, masturbate.” I did like the uncredited vocals from Lance SkiiiWalker tho. Man… I’m sorry y’all, but I really didn’t like this song as much as I wanted to. It was nice to finally get a more energetic track, but aside from that I didn’t really like anything about this. I’m not feelin’ this one. This is wack to me. 2/5

Track 15: Brenda (Prod. Chris Calor)

Okay, only 3 more songs. Here we go. This beat’s fine. Uuuuuuh… I feel like I’m dying. I’m so fucking bored right now. The first verse was cool. The hook is alright I guess. Jesus, man. I feel like this is probably an above average song objectively, but I’m just so tired of this laid back music. I’m gonna have to listen to some Waka Flocka after this review. I’ve really had enough of this sleepy ass chill ass music. I don’t think this is a bad song, but it’s just not doing anything for me. I didn’t really enjoy this track, but it’s not bad. 3/5

Track 16: by george (outro) [Prod. Jowin]

Why the fuck is this album so long? Half the songs sound the same anyway… Okay, this song is starting now. Ummmmm… What the hell is happening right now? This beat sounds dope af so far, but what the fuck are these vocals on the intro? Is that Zay? Why does he sound like that? I guess it’s not that big of a deal since it doesn’t last that long. The hook is cool I guess. He starts singing the way he was singing on the intro towards the end of the hook, but I don’t really mind it anymore. I like it. I guess it just takes some getting used to. As a whole, the hook is a little too slow for me. Umm… Has the verse started yet? What the hell? The song’s about to end… This is it? This is the whole song? He’s singing this whole thing? Jesus fucking Christ… This is how he chose to end the album? I don’t know why I’m acting like I’m surprised. This isn’t even bad. It’s just… I don’t know man. It’s more of the same. He sounds like he was singing in his sleep and Dave Free recorded it on his iPhone and put it over a beat. He was singing throughout the whole song. It’s another sleep inducing track. I like the beat, but aside from that this song didn’t really do anything for me. 3/5

Track 17: Find a Topic (homies begged) [Prod. Free P & J. LBS]

This beat is cool I guess. I just listened to this whole song. I don’t even wanna talk about this shit anymore. This track is more of the same. I have absolutely nothing to say about it. I don’t really like it. Pretty much everything I said about track 15 applies to this one. It did nothing for me. It was decent tho. I’m so fucking bored right now. I’m done with this album, man. 3/5

Final Thoughts:

This is a good album. I liked it. BUT HOLY FUCK THAT WAS BORING. I mean, as a whole I think I enjoyed this project, but it was just WAAAAY too similar. It should go without saying that Cilvia Demo was miles ahead of this album. This project is super underwhelming to me lyrically too. I’m just super unimpressed right now. I mentioned this earlier, but I really feel like the features and producers outshined Zay 99% of the time on this album. Nothing that he said stood out to me at all. Also, this album is long as shit. Since the majority of these songs sound the same, he probably could’ve cut this bitch down to like 10 tracks. 12 tracks at most. I’m struggling to find anything positive to say, but I DID enjoy this album. It’s dope sonically, but after a while it starts feeling like I’m listening to the same song on repeat. None of these tracks are super memorable unless they have a standout feature or different sounding beat. Nothing Isaiah Rashad did on this album really impressed me at all. It was good tho. I enjoyed the album. I just think he can do better than this. He needs to start rapping over more varied production, and focus on writing more interesting lyrics. It was good tho. I think the reason I started disliking more of the songs towards the end was mainly because I was just way too bored. The length of this album really held it back for me, and he never really took any risks on this project. But it was good tho. I still think this project is worth listening to. Maybe listen to it in short bursts tho. It’s difficult to listen to this whole album in one sitting.

Favorite Song: Rope

Least Favorite Song: Don’t Matter

Verdict:

72%

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