Isaiah Rashad fits 13 songs into his Tiny Desk
“Heavenly Father” and “Prayers Up” frame a set crossing several chapters of his catalog.
Isaiah Rashad starts his Tiny Desk with “Heavenly Father” and closes with “Prayers Up.” There are 11 songs between them. Published August 25, the performance puts material from IT’S BEEN AWFUL among earlier selections from the Chattanooga rapper’s catalog.
A catalog with a long middle
The run includes “SAME SH!T,” “West Savannah,” “Headshots (4r Da Locals)” and “Wat’s Wrong.” Later come “BOY IN RED,” “M.O.M.,” “SUPAFICIAL” and “RIP Young,” with “SCARED 2 LOOK DOWN,” “GTKY” and “4r Da Squaw” leading into the closer.
NPR producer Bobby Carter says Rashad and the team spent weeks deciding what the set should encompass. Carter identifies blues as central to his music and names family, addiction and sexuality among the subjects in his writing. That range is reflected in a program crossing several releases.
The band brings guitar, keys, bass and drums together with alto sax, trumpet and two background singers. Norelle and Moriah Wenzel handle those supporting voices, while Chris Panameno and Frank Alowishus play the horns. Rashad has a full ensemble around him for the trip through those 13 songs.
