(AllHipHop News) Isaiah Rashad is prepping to release his debut studio album The Sun’s Tirade on September 2. The Top Dawg Entertainment emcee had been mostly off the map since releasing the Clivia Demo EP in 2014.
While appearing on Peter Rosenberg and Cipha Sounds’ Juan Epstein podcast, Rashad discussed why he was not out in the public much over the last two years.
“I got off the ‘Oxymoron Tour’ kind of addicted to Xanax and an alcoholic,” revealed the 25-year-old Tennessee native.
Rashad explained the 2-month European leg of the tour is where he began getting involved in using prescription drugs and excessively drinking alcohol.
“[I just wanted] to be like everyone around me, like all the little rap n-ggas I’d see,” Rashad stated. “I f-cked up. I f-cked up pretty bad. I almost got dropped like three times.”
The substance abuse problems apparently escalated when Rashad returned home. He even suffered medical ailments from the issue.
“I tore my stomach lining,” said Rashad. “I don’t drink often no more, at all for reputational reasons.”
The conversation included Rashad admitting he was in “a really bad place” until about six months ago. Apparently, the other artists at TDE were not aware of his struggles with alcohol and narcotics.
Rosenberg asked Rashad if he was currently off drugs. The “Free Lunch” rapper responded by acknowledging he no longer uses Xans but still drinks periodically.
“It’s more of a test. It’s like, ‘Do I feel like drinking? Do I think I can handle it?’ If I can handle it, I’ll drink,” explained Rashad. “If I don’t think I can handle it, I just be honest with myself and not drink. ‘Cause I know how that turns out. I know I turn into Bobby Brown.”
He continued, “I might f-ck your b-tch.”
Top Dawg Entertainment CEO Anthony “Top Dawg” Tiffith supposedly refused to release any music from Isaiah during that period. The songs “Nelly” and “Smile” did not come out until Isaiah “got his sh-t together.”