Top Dawg Entertainment

Isaiah Rashad Albums, Ranked

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Isaiah Rashad has possibly had one of the most underrated three album runs of any artist of the last decade. The Chattanooga native is signed to Top Dawg Entertainment along with artists such as Kendrick Lamar, Schoolboy Q, and SZA. Rashad’s debut solo album, Cilvia Demo, was released in 2014, followed by his sophomore album, The Sun’s Tirade, in 2016. He went on a five-year hiatus from music before dropping his third album, The House is Burning, in 2021. Let’s examine how these three albums compare within Rashad’s discography.

3. The House is Burning (2021)

Rashad’s most recent album, The House is Burning falls at No. 3 on this list. It’s not because of its pitfalls but because of the strength of Rashad’s previous two albums. The House is Burning’s sound, like all of Rashad’s albums, is true to his Southern upbringing. The album is soulful, melodic, and trap-heavy. Rashad has become a savant when mixing these two elements, and The House is Burning features some of Rashad’s hardest songs to date.

Tracks such as “From the Garden” feat. Lil Uzi Vert and “Lay Wit Ya” feat. Duke Deuce diverges from the more mellow atmosphere of many of Rashad’s previous songs. It shows the Tennessee rapper’s range in different genres of Hip-Hop. Rashad also pays homage to veteran Southern MCs such as Goodie Mob and Three 6 Mafia. He even samples Project Pat’s “Cheese and Dope” on “RIP Young.”

The House is Burning’s pace does slow down within the middle of the project. Songs such as “Claymore” and “All Herb” feat. Amindi are more melodic and contain a sound reminiscent of R&B. However, Rashad ends the project with two of the strongest songs on the album, “THIB” and “HB2U”. The album also features fellow Top Dawg conglomerates SZA and Jay Rock, who have each been featured on Isaiah Rashad albums.

2. Cilvia Demo (2014)

Rashad’s debut album, Cilvia Demo, contains rawness and hunger. He established his signature sound and swagger throughout the record. Prior to Cilvia Demo’s release, many TDE fans were unsure of his placement on the label. He was seen as the odd man out due to his geographic location. In 2014, TDE’s growth in popularity was mainly due to the success of the members of Black Hippy: Kendrick Lamar, Schoolboy Q, Jay Rock, and Ab-Soul. All four artists hailed from Los Angeles, California. However, Rashad proved he belonged amongst the upper echelon of MCs and solidified his place.

Perhaps Rashad’s greatest consecutive six-track run follows the opening song, “Hereditary.” The first half of the album immediately put fans on notice. Rashad demonstrated his expertise in combining smooth flows, atmospheric beats, and Southern aesthetics. This Is heard on “Webbie Flow (U Like),” “Cilvia Demo,” and “R.I.P. Kevin Miller.” TDE newcomer at the time, SZA, appeared on “Ronnie Drake” and “West Savannah.” “West Savannah” is one of the most soulful and atmospheric tracks of Rashad’s entire discography. He references Outkast’s first album, Southernplayalisticadillacmuzik, in the duetted chorus with SZA.

Cilvia Demo is at times rough around the edges, as expected from a debut. Yet, it established Rashad as one of the most compelling voices in Hip-Hop and confirmed his place among the elite.

1. The Sun’s Tirade (2016)

Arguably, Rashad’s best album to date is his 2016 sophomore project, The Sun’s Tirade. During the time of its release, Rashad was struggling with drug addiction and was almost dropped from TDE. Though the album reflects his vices, it does so in an amazingly beautiful and poetic way. The Sun’s Tirade is definitely Rashad’s most lyrically profound album as he examines topics such as race, depression, and addiction.

The ninth track, “Tity and Dolla,” also shows Rashad at his hardest. The song features Hugh Augustine and Jay Rock and feels like a celebration of Southern rap from a previous generation. “Stuck in the Mud” featuring SZA is a seven-minute song that goes into detail about Rashad’s struggles. “Stuck in the Mud” is one of the most poetic songs on the album.

As with Rashad’s other albums, The Sun’s Tirade ends on a high note with “by george (outro)” and “Find a Topic (homies begged)”. Overall, The Sun’s Tirade is Rashad at his best and will arguably go down as a sleeper album turned classic. It is already extremely well-remembered only seven years after its release.

How Doechii’s Debut Coachella Performance Came Together In Two Weeks

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Doechii
Philip Cosores

Doechii has always been a phenomenal performer. After experiencing her pop out at Isaiah Rashad’s The House Is Burning listening in 2021 where I had to ask multiple people “Who is that?,” she dazzled at her own listening where she put on what can only be described as a performance art show for an eye-captivating performance of her song “Crazy,” complete with sticks and electrifying choreography.

@uproxx

who’s been loving Crazy ✋🏾 @iamdoechii #doechii #crazy #newmusic

♬ original sound – UPROXX Music

Three years later, Doechii is impressing at Coachella and this time around I, along with the audience who for some may have been their first introduction to the TDE talent, got to know the rising star a little better. As the sun began to set, she opened up to thousands with not only her music but also some things about herself. Like, she’s from Tampa, Florida and that’s why she’s the Swamp Princess.

I got the blessing to speak to Doechii after her performance to learn even more about her and all the ingredients that came together for her Coachella debut.

“I went to a performing arts high school, so a lot of my background came from just my experience and my training there,” Doechii told Uproxx backstage. “So a lot of that kind of prepared me for Coachella right now. I had a dope high school experience. It was like High School Musical.”

And it makes sense. Everything Doechii does is with precision.

“I was in chorus, and I also did the jazz musical tech,” she added. “I learned how to write music and music theory.”

We also learn that “Crazy” is a song inspired by a few women in the music industry who people labeled as crazy when they were on the rise and a super meaningful.

“It was Missy Elliott, myself, and Nicki Minaj. I think just those women and how they came up in their careers, a lot of people didn’t really believe in them at first. That resonates with me because I feel like that was me in the beginning of my career. I just felt like it was nice to pay homage to them.”

Doechii
Philip Cosores

To prep for Coachella, Doechii and her team developed the concept months ahead and rehearsed for two weeks straight.

“My band and I, and my background dancers, we rehearsed every day for two weeks,” she said. “And we just prepared, worked hard, and that’s how we got the show.”

From her blazing energy to her coordinated outfit with the matching contacts, everything was immaculate about her show. The energy she shared with the audience was majestic and divined with the rhythms of her unreleased track “Pacer” (#droppacer) and a slower song titled “Stress,” to which she offered a short 3-breath meditation session after.

“Sometimes you just feel it in the moment, and you just need to take a breath,” she said. “That’s it. I feel like I do that all the time. Just take a breath. So why not do it on stage?”

As far as “Pacer,” apparently it’s coming but she wouldn’t tell me when (I tried ya’ll).

“I can’t tell you,” she asserted. “We haven’t announced the date yet.”

Of course, I probed about the album, and yet —

“Album? Can’t tell you.”

But, there’s a tour and 2023 is looking like that year.

“It’s going to come out this year for sure. It’s almost done. So it’s definitely going to come out this year. I’m just not going to release the date,” she reiterated to me. “Look forward to the album, look forward to a tour this year, and I’ll actually be on Pharrell’s festival (Something In The Water).”

On “Stress,” we get to experience Doechii’s vocal abilities, and on her latest single “What It Is (Block Boy),” which is quite different from what we’re used to getting from her and serves as a digestible tidbit for those who have yet to catch on yet. The crowd went up for this one and so did I.

“I just thought it would be a really nice summer anthem to put out,” she said. “It’s something universally known. A lot of people know it. So that’s really how the song came about. It was just fun and upbeat, and I thought it would be a great song to perform.”

But, that was just for fun. Doechii is a rapper, period. Expect her to do what she wants musically, but always expect her to rap.

“I don’t know if we’re going to get more of that particular sound,” she told me of “What It Is.” “I just wanted to try it, vibe out. But after that, we’re back to rapping.”

As someone who admittedly didn’t get it at first, but am naturally intrigued by anything outside the box, I do know Doechii will never leave me (or the audience) empty-handed when she hits the stage. For Coachella, her intentions were clear.

“My intention for myself is to just release,” she told me. “But ultimately, I believe that when people come to events like this, they’re coming because they need something. They’re looking for something. You don’t know who’s in the crowd or what they’re going through. So whatever they’re looking for, that feeling of love and connection is what I want to leave them with.”

Reason Is “At It Again” On his New Single

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Though Kendrick Lamar is gone, the future of TDE is still looking bright. 2022 was a magnificent year for the label, which saw the release of two albums from its biggest artists. Still, fans want more from Top Dawg Entertainment, especially the signees who joined the roster over the past five years. Reason, for example, has left fans begging for a follow-up to 2020’s New Beginnings. Though he hasn’t announced a project yet, he’s certainly setting the tone for what to expect with his latest offering.

This morning, Reason returned with a celebratory anthem titled, “At It Again.” With production handled by COLEMAN, Motif Alumni, and Tariq, the Carson-born MC brings high energy to match the triumphant production. As the victorious horn-like synths and bright piano chords emerge, Reason comes through with infectious quotables as he combats his haters and basks in the glory. “Top Dawg, check the creditin’, so much money, it feel like we embezzlin’,” he raps on the record.

Reason Begins A New Chapter

The release of Reason’s new single is a strong signt hat his album is on the way. Earlier this week, Anthony “Top Dawg” Tiffith hosted a brief Q&A on Twitter where he shared some promising signs of what to expect from the label. He confirmed Reason would be dropping this year, along with ScHoolboy Q, Jay Rock, and other members of TDE. “Reason , rayvaughn , doechii , Q , jay rock , zac and a compilation .. if everybody do their part …  when they turn them in I will release em,” he said.

At this point, Reason could be the first from the roster to slide through in 2023. Though “At It Again” marks his first official release of the year, he recently debuted “Dawg Forgotten” on Instagram at the top of the month. Meanwhile, he also contributed to Dreamville’s Creed III soundtrack, for “Burn Bridges” ft. Lute Cozz and Arin Ray, and “Culture” ft Mez, Symba & 8AE. We’ll keep you posted on anymore updates from Reason. Check out his new single above. 

Quotable Lyrics
Phone calls, I got SZA my cellular
Moms good, pops good, that’s a level up
Why you ain’t winning? ‘Cause you ain’t good enough
My success is a big lesson, you bitch
Wild n***a, I been reckless, bitch
Coming straight for your necklace, bitch

Top Dawg Gives Update on Potential 2023 TDE Releases, Says Black Hippy Owes Fans Music

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TDE Top Dawg Entertainment to Release New Albums in

The Black Hippy watch is back on. After hope for a group project from Kendrick Lamar, Ab-Soul, Schoolboy Q, and Jay Rock seemed to dwindle, TDE CEO Anthony “Top Dawg” Tiffith seemed to throw gas on the group collaborating again.

Responding to a fan, Top answers a request about a future Black Hippy remix, stating, “I think they we will….. they owe y’all an album or Ep ..”

Replying to a message about giving hope. Top answered, “I hope for shit everyday.”

Top would also reveal that much of the roster from Reason to Doechii to Jay Rock are working on their albums. You can see the updates below.

The post Top Dawg Gives Update on Potential 2023 TDE Releases, Says Black Hippy Owes Fans Music appeared first on The Source.

Top Dawg Teases Black Hippy Reunion In 2023: “They Owe Y’all An Album”

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Despite Kendrick Lamar’s departure from Top Dawg Entertainment, the label’s roster continues to hold significant weight. However, the hopes for a Black Hippy album died when Kendrick left the label. Still, it seems like there’s a bit of hope left, at least, that’s what Top Dawg suggested on Twitter. During a Q&A, he said that a Black Hippy project could come at some point this year. “I think they we will….. they owe y’all an album or Ep,” he tweeted. 

The original Top Dawg Entertainment roster, Kendrick Lamar, ScHoolboy Q, Ab-Soul and Jay Rock, emerged in 2008 as the label began to form. In the following years, they’d deliver posse cuts, jump on each other’s record, and continue to tease an album from the supergroup, though those plans were ultimately sidelined when Kendrick and ScHoolboy Q began reaching commercial success. Q, specifically, made it clear that tthe possibilities were “slim.” Still, they linked up on records like Jay Rock’s “Vice City” remix and ScHoolboy Q’s “THat Part,” which further fanned the flames among their dedicated fanbase. 

Black Hippy & TDE Plans

Along with the possibility of a Black Hippy reunion, Top Dawg confirmed that the majority of the label would drop this year, including ScHoolboy Q and Jay Rock. After a fan asked how many TDE projects we’d see this year, Top Dawg replied, “Reason , rayvaughn , doechii , Q , jay rock , zac and a compilation,” he wrote. “if everybody do their part … when they turn them in I will release em ..” Hopefully, we won’t be waiting too long for any of those projects, especially Jay Rock, who hasn’t released a project since 2018’s Redemption. 

Though Ab-Soul was missing from the list of TDE projects, Top Dawg said that the Carson-born artist has even more music in the cut that he’s preparing to unleash. “Deluxe and hopefully a new album in December,” he wrote before confirming that an Ab-Soul tour is also on the horizon. We’ll keep you posted on any further updates surrounding the potential Black Hippy reunion and upcoming releases from Top Dawg Entertainment. Who are you looking forward to dropping this year?

Top Dawg Tweets

Discovering The Easter Eggs In SZA’s Dreamy ‘S.O.S Tour’

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sza sos tour 2023
Getty Image/Ralph Ordaz

Thursday night (March 23), I went to the first evening of SZA’s sold-out Los Angeles tour dates at the Kia Forum where she performed songs from her No. 1 hit album SOS and her critically acclaimed debut album Ctrl. It was truly an ethereal experience filled with oceanic splashes of glowing reds, yellows, oranges, soft purples, and pretty pinks, intertwined with bright sparkling lights.

While many were in attendance to simply watch Solana perform “Kill Bill” or her soon-to-be-hit-record “Snooze,” I wanted to see how all the Easter eggs she’d been placing into her music videos since 2014’s “Babylon” video aligned with her show. Puzzles are my thing, what can I say?

This particular puzzle started on December 8, 2022, the day SOS was released. It was a full moon, which is said to be the perfect time to set intentions of releasing things that no longer serve you. That had to mean something, right?

The day she shared her tour dates, I immediately noticed that it was set to take place right in the bosom of Pisces season on February 21 while the new moon was in Pisces (her moon sign) and wrapping on March 19. The original final date of the tour was March 22, during the Aries full moon. The full moon is said to be the best time to manifest fresh intentions. From there I got lost in a rabbit hole of discovery.

Aware of these connections, I was better able to understand her tour performance — which could be seen as something like a Broadway play where SZA is acting out the journey of saving herself with help from the stars. When the show began, SZA sat on the ledge of a board, mimicking her cover art, as she rapped the unreleased “PSA.” Then, she took a dive into the ocean.

That moment reminded me of the “Babylon” video when she fully immersed herself in a lake, leaving behind $7 (a number that is significant for many reasons) and a note that read, “Gone fishin’,” an idiom for checking out of reality. Fishing for what? Wisdom.

sza babylon video
YouTube

As she got into “Seek & Destroy,” “Notice Me,’ “Love Galore,” and “Broken Clocks,” I noticed her performing on a boat dock.

It’s reminiscent of her “Broken Clocks” video where the kids from Camp SZA are shown running to a lake to hang out. TDE’s own Jay Rock is there too and he holds a lifesaver.

sza broken clocks video
YouTube

When she spit the words to her title track “SOS,” it looked like she was on the side of a ship or a submarine. Then she eased into, “Blind,” a song about discovering that everything you need to be great is already inside of you. ”It’s so embarrassing / All of the things I need living inside of me / I can’t see it,” she crooned. “It’s so embarrassing / All of the love I seek living inside of me/ I can’t see, I’m blind.”

Although there’s no music video, I peeped that the lighthouse she was singing in front of was from her Saturday Night Live performance. Lighthouses guide ships safely to the harbor, especially when the weather is difficult and dangerous.

Next up was the Darkchild-produced banger “Shirt,” a song that was well worth the wait — as was the live performance for it. Now, at the end of the “Broken Clocks” video, she gets beat up at a strip club, causing her nose to leak and putting a bloodstain on her shirt, while her friend yells “Sis! Wake up!” Jay Rock’s music plays in the background. In the “Shirt” video, she tells LaKeith Stanfield, “Color is light, light is energy, everything is energy.” Also, while she dissociates n another part of the video, we witness SZA attempting to grab a fish.

sza broken clocks and shirt video
YouTube

Following “Shirt,” she got into “Smoking On My Ex Pack” while impressively doing a full-on costume change. Then, boarded a ship named SOS, and on the back, it read “Ctrl Fishing Co.” Appearing in a flowy black outfit, a beautiful performance of “All The Stars” took place along with Ctrl goodie “Garden (Say It Like Dat).” So far, the ride on her ship appeared to be pretty tranquil even as she rocked out to “F2F” alongside her glorious, stand-out guitarist.

Suddenly the ocean wave patterns became turbulent with rain pouring down as she performed the choreography to “Low” upon the deck of her ship. After wowing us all with the splits, SZA disappears into a sea of darkness.

Then, a bright light circulated the stadium, and to my left, a lighthouse resurrected in the middle of the audience. My eyes followed the light until it landed on SZA, who was adorned in a fairy-like yellow dress and floating in an orange lifeboat while singing “Supermodel.” Fans below were blessed with a rain of flowers sprinkled over their heads. With each song she performed, the closer to the lighthouse she got.

Once she returned to the stage for performances of “Kiss Me More” and “Love Language,” however, she was underwater with fish and a large anchor. Then, a large red shipping crate appeared to emerge from the ocean at the beginning of her “Kill Bill” performance and into “I Hate U,” where streams of water cascaded behind her. According to an interview with Rolling Stone, SZA originally envisioned herself sitting atop a shipping crate for her cover art.

SZA wrapped with “Good Days.” Back into her golden fairy-like dress, she was peacefully seated on the same board from the start of the show but instead, she glowed with the sun. “Half of us chasin’ fountains of youth and it’s in the present now,” she sang as a final reminder to the thousands of supporters who came out in the rain to see her.

SZA’s SOS Tour was indeed an immersive experience based on the Easter egg hunt alone (and I didn’t even detail all of the eggs!). At the end of the show, she teased the visual for “Low” which is expected to drop “soon.” The way SZA utilized her power to steer herself into a massively successful album that has touched people across the globe coupled with holding down the No. 1 spot for 10 weeks straight and a sold-out tour is absolutely inspiring. And if my intuition is correct, SOS could be making a return to No. 1.