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The underdog of the rap label Top Dawg Entertainment, Isaiah Rashad, has a polarizing and enchanting album called Cilvia Demo that has been out of the public eye for 10 years now.
Rashad is known for being one of the less successful rappers on the label, which includes the more popular Kendrick Lamar, SZA, SchoolBoy Q, Jay Rock, and Ab Soul. However, the rest of Top Dawg does not do what Isaiah does, as his blending of excellent storytelling, R&B hooks, and Southern hip hop flows creates some of the most beautifully humble tracks ever.
Rashad’s smooth flow and R&B-style hooks are the most prominent on the track “West Savannah” featuring SZA. Rashad and SZA sing a duet in the chorus about falling in love in the summer while an Outkast album is “bumping through the night.” This track has layers just like every other track on the album, with it telling a story, containing an amazing hook and chorus, and also having quite good bars from Rashad.
The track with the best storytelling is undoubtedly “Menthol,” which describes Rashad chasing a girl that he can’t have. The way Rashad describes the struggles of trying to get this girl who’s out of his league reaches levels beyond the usual mediocre droning baby rhymes about chasing a girl. What “Menthol” does best is put the listener in Rashad’s shoes, as his description of her makes the listener feel attached too.
The track with the best rapping is without a doubt “Heavenly Father,” as Rashad is able to flow over a pretty fast and choppy beat like a sailor braving through the waves. He finds a metaphorical clearing with the soft and melodic hook provided by SZA, only to once again be thrown back into the storm: Isaiah tackles his vices, coping skills, childhood traumas, and his relationship with his father, which is pretty prominent in his music.
But that chorus that has SZA almost praying to the “Heavenly Father” offers Rashad peace of mind, which echoes the religious themes he addresses in this track.
