Isaiah Rashad

Isaiah Rashad, full name Isaiah Rashad McClain, is an American rapper and producer from Chattanooga, Tennessee. He began rapping seriously in high school and later co-founded a hip-hop collective with fellow Chattanooga artist YGTUT, releasing his early mixtape Cilvia-era material before signing to Top Dawg Entertainment in 2013, joining a roster that included Kendrick Lamar, SZA, Jay Rock, and ScHoolboy Q.

His 2014 EP Cilvia Demo introduced his laid-back, introspective style, blending soulful production with candid, often melancholic songwriting. Despite a widely publicized struggle with substance abuse and depression that nearly cost him his TDE deal, he returned with the acclaimed 2016 debut album The Sun's Tirade, featuring collaborations with Kendrick Lamar, SZA, and Zacari among others.

Rashad's music stands out within the TDE camp for its hazy, southern-tinged production and unfiltered honesty about mental health and addiction, earning him a devoted following and critical respect as one of hip-hop's more introspective voices.