Isaiah Rashad Can’t Be Bothered. He Smiles Past the Haters (Video)
Come January 28, it will have been two years since Isaiah Rashad dropped his debut E.P. The Chattanooga, Tennessee spitter and TDE roster member showcased his Southern flavor all over Cilvia Demo, which earned him nearly universal acclaim and a spot in XXL‘s freshman class. In 2015, he mostly kept busy with guest appearances on works by others, but based on his most recent release, it’s evident he spent much of last year preparing for 2016.
Yesterday, Rashad dropped “Smile,” and today it’s got a video to match. The PANAMÆRA-directed joint is brooding and seductive like the song and stars a sexy vintage Caddy and a beautiful woman. All of these are stylistic clues for the song’s content, which deals mostly with the certain set of pitfalls faced by young men who’ve attained a certain level of fame. Elements of his regional influence are also apparent, with the inclusion of some flashy grills making an understated appearance. The video’s final few seconds are, despite being in total silence, some of the most striking.
Related: Isaiah Rashad Speaks on the Work Required to be a TDE Artist and More (Video)