Isaiah Rashad's Cilvia Demo Plants Seeds for TDE World Domination

     

With what might one day be referred to as his own personal Section.80 (get used to the Kendrick Lamar comparisons, buddy), Isaiah Rashad has released Cilvia Demo, a collection of songs that displays the wide range this young lyricist has to offer. Hailing from Tennessee, the addition of Rashad to the Top Dawg Entertainment team is a clear attempt to develop talent outside of the label's four original Los Angeles rappers (Lamar, Schoolboy Q, Jay Rock, Ab-Soul). However, this is no mere marketing ploy. Cilvia Demo, while lacking a consistent style or message, is the closest we have to a fully realized Isaiah Rashad project, and at the very least shows us TDE has made a fantastic investment by signing this introspective country boy.

Cilvia's sound is a world away from something like good kid, mA.A.d city, light years from Hollywood and Dr. Dre studio sessions. As the old cliché goes, "You can take the boy out of Chattanooga, but you can't take Chattanooga out of the boy." This is homegrown, organic hip-hop with a twist. The dirty South seen through a kaleidoscope. Songs like "Brad Jordan" are clear, committed tributes to old school rappers like Scarface, but others like "Webbie Flow (U Know)" and "West Savannah" have more experimental production that wanders into dream pop.  Much of Cilvia is spent in a haze, delivered from a boy who spent one too many days "hotboxin' the sauna." A sense of disconnect and skepticism permeates throughout most of the fourteen tracks, especially on "Tranquility"  and "Modest." A complicated relationship with his father is evident, but much of the rest of Rashad's personal life remains mysterious, with more to be unveiled with future releases.  But where are the catchy hooks, you might ask? You'll be chanting right along with Rashad on "R.I.P. Kevin Miller" and "Shot You Down," or your money back guaranteed. With Cilvia Demo, Isaiah Rashad will not bring the music universe to a grinding halt like some of his mentors have already done, but it does stand out as an exciting glimpse into the future of the expanding rap empire that is TDE.