Perhaps the biggest obstacle an aspiring rapper must overcome on their climb to the throne is finding a unique voice and identity that lets them stand out from the dense crowds of would-be stars. Isaiah Rashad is one of the rappers who’s found his own sound. On Saturday, Rashad swung by The Sett for the fifth stop of his Lil Sunny Tour.
Fresh off the September release of his sophomore project The Sun’s Tirade, Rashad has been enjoying the success of the project which has been praised by fans and critics alike.
Joining Isaiah on the national tour are Maryland up-and-comer Jay IDK (the IDK stands for “ignorantly delivering knowledge”) and Chicago-born TDE signee, Lance Skiiiwalker. While Jay IDK did perform, Lance Skiiiwalker opted to stay in Chicago for the night instead of showing up for the low-key show.
Despite having to take on the responsibility of opening the show by himself, Jay IDK instantaneously captured the entire crowd’s attention when he stepped on stage wearing a rubber Ronald Reagan mask, leaving the audience awestruck. After a brief monologue explaining his name and what it means to him, Jay’s energy slowly spread to the docile crowd.
Jumping around the stage and performing with vigor, Jay finally got results from the crowd after a few songs. It wasn’t until he joined a miniature mosh-pit in the crowd that the entire audience felt explosive.
Eventually, Jay wrapped up his set by thanking the crowd for coming out to see the show.
While the whole audience anticipated Rashad's set, the DJ played YG’s anti-Trump anthem “FDT,” which led the crowd to letting out cathartic screams along with the lyrics.
After a long wait, Isaiah came rushing out on stage to start off the show with more energy than imaginable. Adorned head-to-toe in Adidas apparel, Isaiah fans erupted with intensity like a volcano that had been waiting to blow. Rashad's set was impeccably balanced between tracks from his breakout project Cilvia Demo and The Sun’s Tirade.
Just like Rashad’s previous projects, his set showcased raw, lively vehemence and mellow, hazy rhymes. From the vigorous flow on “Smile,” the drug-influenced braggadocio on “R.I.P. Kevin Miller” to the intoxicatingly simple production on “Tity and Dolla,” Isaiah effortlessly floated over every track.
An impromptu freestyle about drinking water spilled out of Rashad’s mouth while he passed out water bottles to the crowd. He sang a simple chorus of, “Drink your water, Zay. Drink drink your water, Zay,” in between loosely constructed rhymes about hydration.
Rashad’s most charming trait throughout the show was his smile. Unapologetically happy, the young rapper took on every new song with an amazing amount of enthusiasm that showed just how happy he was to be on tour and performing his unique music. His love for performing shined through his interaction with the crowd. Reaching out to shake hands, hug and recognize people who knew the lyrics, everyone in the crowd had a chance to connect with Rashad on a personal level.
His gratitude for everyone’s support was heartwarming. Rashad dedicated the show to the audience, not necessarily as fans, but almost as friends. He said that, without us, there would be no music. Without the music, there would be no money. Without the money, there would be no food for his children.
Before his final departure, Zay put the mic down to dance to “Alright” by Kendrick Lamar while he reached over the rails for a final genuine embrace with his loyal fans.
