79. Isaiah Rashad - “Wat’s Wrong (Feat. Zacari & Kendrick Lamar)”
Isaiah Rashad made his return to music in 2016 after having been on hiatus for substance use that had spiraled into abuse and then addiction. It was a shame on multiple levels, with one of the most poignant being because of what he represented. Isaiah had emerged onto the scene as a conscious young emcee full of potential, unafraid to tackle many of the issues that modern Hip-Hop all too often shirks. He was a breath of fresh air in a genre that is growing increasingly noxious, and as a result his presence was dearly missed.
He’s been through a lot since his debut, and although the subject matter of his songs has changed, the skill and raw talent that he possesses has not. None of the tracks on this album are as heady or conscious as his first, however, that’s to be expected, and I think it only adds credence to the journey that he’s been on. The mind has a tendency to narrow its scope when confronted by trauma, shrinking one’s world until it fails to reach beyond the echoing confines of their skull. This album is looser and more intoxicated than the first, his voice more syrupy and always on the verge of incoherency, and yet somehow he holds on, eyes closed and head bobbing as he continues to push forward.
Nowhere is this more evident than during this track. Every piece of this song is perfection, with Isaiah, Kendrick and Zacari all managing to bring their best to the table. Isaiah spits his soul, laying bare everything that he’s been through, from the blurring of his thoughts to the desperation, the fear, the failure, and the haunting allure of his past life. You can hear it in his voice, in the confidence that’s constantly on the verge of breaking down. It’s as real as it gets, and then enters in Kendrick, who heaps even more realness onto the track. He spits the advice of an older brother, full of braggadocio, but also love. He’s speaking straight to Isaiah, telling him that he can do it, to keep pressing on, to get his shit together and to not squander everything he has going for him. The dynamic is then held together and wrapped within Zacari’s hazy and self-reflective hook, equal parts anxiety and relaxation, both reassuring and unraveling as it dissipates into the ears. It’s a beautiful thing to witness and I can’t wait to hear where Isaiah’s journey will take us next.
