This profile is part of Queerty’s 2022 Out For Good series, recognizing public figures who’ve had the courage to come out and make a difference in the past year, in celebration of National Coming Out Day.
Name: Isaiah Rashad, 31
Bio: Hailing from Chattanooga, Tennessee, this former Hardee’s employee had dreams of becoming a preacher. Thankfully, his stepbrother stepped in and introduced him to the OutKast album, ATLiens. And you could say that the rest is history.
The musician had his first big break in 2006, joining Juicy J on the Smoker’s Club Tour. Not long after, he signed with the noted Top Dawg Entertainment, a label that has signed artists like, Kendrick Lamar, Jay Rock, ScHoolboy Q, and SZA.
The pensive rapper released his first EP, Cilvia Demo, in January 2014. The EP emerged onto the Billboard 200 at number 40 and was met with widespread acclaim from music critics. Thanks to his overnight success, Rashad was included in XXL magazine’s annual Freshman Class feature.
Rashad went on to record his debut studio album, The Sun’s Tirade. A record filled with references of his struggle with alcohol, Xanax addiction, and depression, it was released in September 2016 and hit number 17 on the charts. In late July of 2021, he released his long-awaited second album, The House Is Burning.
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Coming Out: In late May 2022, Rashad opened up about his sexuality in a Patreon exclusive interview with media personality and former rapper Joe Budden.
“I’d say, like, I’m sexually fluid,” the emcee admitted. “I’m still learning about it myself. I’m putting my head in the books to find out the basics of it, but, basically, like, I’m not in full control of, when I walk into a room, of who I’m attracted to.”
Rashad went further saying, “I’m more attracted to a personality, and I’m attracted to the intellect. And sometimes it’s just being attracted to somebody.”
Unfortunately, Rashad’s right to come out on his own terms was callously ripped from him. A few months before his public announcement, a sex tape was leaked of the rapper. The less than 30-second clip featured Rashad having intimate encounters with other men, outing him.
After finding out about the leak, the musician told Budden that he “wrecked” his car and that it put him in a “dark place for a couple of weeks.”
“I was like, let me just chill for a couple of days and let me, like, figure out how I feel about this. Then I was kinda depressed about it. I’m like, damn somebody’s trying to hurt my feelings.”
As for legal action, later in the interview, he said, “I haven’t even been thinking about it, honestly. I been just keeping my mind together, and it’s a time for my family to come together.”
Not only has his family been supportive after the leak, but many of his fans have come to his support as well.
“If anything, I can’t be mad at everything about it. I always gotta look at the brighter side of stuff.”
@isaiahrashad Wat U Sed?
Since coming out as sexually fluid, the rapper has been in a place of zen. Stating that therapy, his psychiatrist, “just talking to the homies,” and general mantras have helped him get there.
Rashad’s journey has been studded with unspeakable heartlessness, but we’re glad that he found his calm and is finding out more about himself with each day.
thebaddestbabby
“I’m more attracted to a personality, and I’m attracted to the intellect. And sometimes it’s just being attracted to somebody”
ok so he’s gay but because he likes human qualities, he’s actually “sexually fluid”
sure why not
galileo
So you read an article and somehow you now know them so well you’re almost their therapist? You have a talent, you’ll go far.
Donston
I am getting a bit annoyed with cliched sayings like “gender doesn’t matter to me” and “I’m more into personality or someone being nice or someone being smart”. Mostly because it’s frequently not true and/or it’s often a way to disguise certain dimensions or insecurities or intentions. I’m just getting bored of people repeating some stuff they saw on social media or what they heard from their friend instead of speaking honestly and from the heart. However, sexual and gender fluidity, contradictions, questioning are relatively common. And the gender, sexual, affection, romantic, emotion, relationship, commitment spectrum is wide as hell.
I do feel bad for him concerning the leak. But you have to remember not to allow anyone to film you doing stuff unless you’re prepared for it to be put out there.
thebaddestbabby
what I know, from observing society, is that gay men internalize homophobia and develop intense hatred and other negative feelings towards traditional identities such as gay. Dude who loves to suck c*ck: “I’m not gay I’m sexually fluid” no you just hate gayness
Donston
thebaddestbabby, it is true that the male ego and queer insecurities knows no bounds. There are queer guys who get into hetero porn/start OnlyFans primarily to show the world they fvck chicks or can fvck chicks. There are queer guys who have babies with randoms to “prove” that they’re “real men”. There are still DL guys killing the men and/or trans people they hook up with or people who find out about those hook-ups. There are “out” guys who continue to struggle with gay panic or gay resentments or masculine insecurities or queer insecurities long after they’re “out of the closet”. A lot of men still have a difficult time dealing with their dimensions or traumas or insecurities or fluidity or contradictions or where they are in the gender, sexual, affection, romantic, emotion, relationship, commitment spectrum. All of that I get, and it needs to be consistently acknowledged. I’m also tired of the cliché, often meaningless sayings.
I still wouldn’t advise you to tell other people what they are. The queer spectrum is wide and varied as hell, and everyone’s journey and struggles are their own.
thebaddestbabby
*sigh* yes, you are right. I should not tell people who they are. But still, admittedly it’s paranoid thinking, but I do think that people who are so quick to distance themselves from the term “gay” usually can benefit from a little soul-searching as to why they are so uncomfortable with gayness.
Donston
It’s important to respect everyone’s individual dimensions, struggles and journeys. It is almost never a good idea to force identities on people. While in general we’re too identity dependent.
I will say it’s very obvious that his words were driven more by PR, image, ego than anything else. The fact that he decided to be interviewed by a conventionally “masculine”, straight-presenting black man is also telling. And I do agree that people in the queer spectrum who resent or cringe at “gay” should investigate why that is. While a lot of folks think “coming out” or embracing whatever identities is the beginning and end and solves everything. A lot of people still end up with plenty of work to do as far as self-understanding, insecurities, resentments, mental health, sussing out who they are and what they want, knowing how to maturely deal with questioning or fluidity or contradictions or where they are in the gender, sexual, romantic, emotion, commitment spectrum. Being “out” or embracing whatever identity clearly doesn’t solve everything.
seven5tx
Saw the tape and he knew he was being filmed. Not a good move. Always expect things to go public for whatever reason.
It sucks but I have trouble having much sympathy for the guys.
thebaddestbabby
where can I find this tape you speak of
Kangol2
Google, chile. Or even Twitter, the more focused Google!
SDR94103
lose the grill.