The best, most perfect piece of music on the planet lately. The only song you need to hear. Until tomorrow.
I’ve been telling everyone I know to check out Isaiah Rashad’s new album, The House Is Burning, even my friends who don’t like rap very much. It’s a truly eclectic record that immediately feels relatable because of how many different styles it encompasses. Now, many listens in, my favorite tracks are probably “Headshots (4r Da Locals)” and “Claymore” (Smino is just toooo good) but “From The Garden” was actually the song that pulled me in. I love the epic intro, that’s more of a bait and switch, then the frenzied beat and chaotic refrain — that almost sounds like Rashad doing a Lil Uzi style flow — and further flexing his versatility. For all the credit Kendrick gets for his multiple flows, I’ve counted Zay doing about ten (!) on this album. Maybe everyone bemoaning the lack of new Kendrick should listen to this one and suddenly find themselves doing fine.
Unlike Uzi’s verse here, which is more drug, sex and fashion punnery, Isaiah actually goes into storytelling mode when he’s not on hook duty. And even if these two don’t totally make sense as collaborators on paper, the song really works, especially as a moment of mayhem during a relatively laidback album (sonically speaking). The House Is Burning is just as bleak as the title makes it out to be, but told gently and couched in enough R&B impulses that all the anxiety goes down easy. Anyway, if this song pulls in some Uzi Vert fans who then listen to the rest of the album and get up on artists like Isaiah and Smino, well that’s a win for everyone. Rashad being in TDE always makes me think he’s west coast, but the southern influences come through strong on his second album. It might’ve taken five years, but it was worth the wait.
Listen above or on Spotify here. Cinnamon’s new Song of the Day playlist is on Spotify here.
