As the sun beat down on the T-Mobile stage late Sunday afternoon, L.A.-based rapper and singer Isaiah Rashad took to the stage to cheers from the crowd, starting his set with “RIP Young” off his 2021 album, “The House is Burning.”
Releasing three albums and collaborating with artists like SZA and Doechii, Rashad has gathered a dedicated fanbase over the past decade, fusing together rap, R&B and soul that masterfully enhance his poetic lyricism.
During “RIP YOUNG” the rapper’s microphone seemed to be at too low a volume; his voice barely registered to the crowd.
Following his second song, “Wat U Sed,” he played “RIP YOUNG” again, asking the audience if he could “run this b— back,” since it was messed up the first time.
“Hands, hands, hands,” he shouted into the microphone over the thumping beat, jumping up and down in an attempt to excite the crowd.
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Throughout the set, Rashad seemed as if he was struggling to energize the audience. His DJ demanded everyone put their hands up multiple times throughout the hour, but each time, it didn’t last long, and within a few minutes, festivalgoers slung their arms back down.
Compared to videos from his after-show on Saturday night at the Riviera Theatre, there was a completely different vibe, with Rashad having a more energetic demeanor during the after-show than his lackluster manner on the Lollapalooza stage.
Whether it be from people happening to wander to his set instead of devoted fans or playing in a less intimate setting, there was a notable difference between the two shows.
Even classic songs like “Heavenly Father” had a different feel to them, with Rashad’s vocal delivery falling somewhat short of the recorded version’s strength and emotion.
Between many of the songs, there was an awkward pause as Rashad would stop to take a drink of water or have a conversation with his team that wasn’t decipherable to the crowd.
During these moments, the camera lingered on certain members of the audience for a little too long, festivalgoers awkwardly shifting between smiling into the camera and pretending it wasn’t there.
These weird pauses also provided the perfect opportunity for people to leave — and they did. Throughout the set, more and more people dispersed, weaving their way away from the stage.
Some songs’ harder beats and faster-paced rhythms, like “Wat’s Wrong,” provided a much-needed stimulant for the audience, but even that couldn’t hold people’s attention for long.
Towards the end of the set, Rashad asked the audience if they wanted to hear something from the album, to the loudest cheers heard all set.
“Alright, so I need you to put your dancing shoes on, because this isn’t like that other s—, so vibe out,” Rashad said. A club-like beat immediately started playing, a funky rhythm propelling the song in an exciting addition to the performance.
Besides the unreleased song, there was little remarkable about the set, which was the major shortcoming of the afternoon. Though Rashad fell somewhat short of expectations, he still performed the majority of his most popular songs, and leaves much to be desired from his new album.
