CAMERAS: A Critique
I should preface this with saying I think It's Been Awful is a fantastic album. Not to compare it to other projects of his, but it easily competes with his best work. Love watching his growth.
However.
I've sat on Cameras for a minute trying to determine if this record is one of those one that takes some time to appreciate, but just not for me. Sounds surface level, Disney type ish. To find one of those types of songs on an Isaiah Rashad album is surprising and confusing. His albums are usually pretty nuanced and not to confuse the sentiment that Zay can't have commercial success - he's made music in the past that reaches a wider audience while still making the core audience feel it's still within the hemisphere of a Zay track. But this track feels so out of place.
It's almost as if Zay recognizes it by saying in the first line:
'I won't lie to you, the boys going Hollywood'
And reinforces that with the outro:
'No, but deadass, I know, I know we been on this fucking journey making this fucking project
We done went through a lot of emotions and everything
So I guess, so you know what I'm saying, let's try to
Try to be a little lighthearted'
As if he was aware of the discordance the track made, especially after GTKY.
It's even more glaringly obvious since after he jumps immediately into ACT NORMAL which arguably is the most direct confrontation of his sexual afflictions.
I'm beginning to feel the sentiment that he tried to add some flare into the project since he's dealing with such a heavy topics, but it's in the most introspective moments during the album that I find the deepest appreciation for Zay.
I dunno. Am I alone?