King Iso Breaks Stigmas and Sparks Conversations with New Album Ghetto Psycho (out on September 12)

Variety Press September 11, 2025 0

King Iso has never been one to shy away from the uncomfortable. He doesn’t just rap; he tells the truth—raw, unflinching, and necessary. With his seventh full-length album, Ghetto Psycho [Strange Music], the Omaha-bred rapper, producer, and entrepreneur takes his unfiltered storytelling to new depths, turning pain into power while shining a light on the cycles of trauma too often accepted as normal.

Much like his career to date, Ghetto Psycho is as fearless as it is innovative. Iso not only rapped every verse from the heart but also produced the entire project himself, weaving in guitar, keys, and his signature sonic grit. Across tracks like “Crash Out” [feat. E-40], the chilling “Element,” and the title track “Ghetto Psycho,” Iso confronts addiction, violence, systemic failure, and mental health head-on. “There are things that happened to people growing up in my community and similar communities,” he explains. “These things happen when you’re in the ghetto, but it’s not limited to our ghetto. It could be overseas in a third-world country or in a trailer park. We need to have conversations about these traumatic experiences, leading to healing rather than accepting them as the norm.”

It’s a message Iso lives by. Having overcome seasons of homelessness, addiction, suicide attempts, and time spent in psychiatric wards, he has emerged not just as a Gold-certified artist but also as an outspoken advocate for mental health. His journey gave rise to Project Be Well, the organization he founded to provide community and resources for those fighting similar battles.

Project Be Well Mission Statement:
At Project Be Well, our mission is to create a transformative platform where artists and supporters unite to champion mental health. Through authentic expression and meaningful connection through music, fitness, and other arts, we aim to break stigmas, inspire resilience, and foster a community that thrives on understanding, support, and love.

Iso’s advocacy isn’t abstract—it’s embedded in his music. From the gut-punch storytelling of World War Me (2020) to the healing urgency of Get Well Soon (2022) and the personal revelations of iLLdren (2023), his catalog has become a diary of survival. His breakout moment came with “Face Off”—the Gold-certified, viral juggernaut alongside Tech N9ne, Joey Cool, and Dwayne Johnson—which has racked up over 215 million Spotify streams. Iso also produced Tech N9ne’s “Red Kingdom,” which has surpassed 57 million streams and achieved Platinum certification.

Now, with Ghetto Psycho, Iso digs deeper than ever before. Inspired by everything from psychiatric history to street life and the overwhelming pressures of social media, the album is both a reflection and a rallying cry. “You’re not all of the bad things that happened to you; you’re so much better than all of it,” he says. “I’ve been medicated, held against my will, and tried to overdose. For years, people told me I was a fuck-up and an addict. It’s totally fine you went through what you did but look at you now. I’m a man finding himself, and I’m still proudly and perfectly imperfect. I’m just like you. That’s who King Iso is.”

With Ghetto Psycho, King Iso doesn’t just add to his legacy—he expands it, offering his music as both a weapon against stigma and a lifeline for those who need to know they’re not alone.