The road to the top is not easy. Take Lady Gaga's story for instance. Before she became a famous best-selling artist, ranking fourth amongst bestselling female artists of the 2010s, she faced ridicule, with some of her mates swearing she’d never get famous. Well, they must be banging their fists on a wall wherever they are because, 12 Grammys in, Lady Gaga has nothing left to prove. The world of acting also has its portion of incredible success stories. In her foreword on the late Cicely Tyson’s memoir, actress Viola Davis revealed that her introduction to artistry was through watching Tyson on a tired screen in the dilapidated house they lived in.
Just like Viola and Lady Gaga, Issa Rae has weathered and endured a lot to get to where she’s at today. Before she joined the likes of Shonda Rhimes in running and creating ground-breaking shows for top networks, this is what her journey was like:
10 A Visit From The Acting Bug
Every artist has got that moment that made them look at something and say, ‘I could do that’, or ‘ That looks cool, I’d like to try it.’For Viola Davis, it was watching Cicely Tyson in action. For Issa Rae, the moment came in 1996 when she was part of the live audience on the set of Moesha. Later, Rae put up a play in the church that did so well. Unknown to her, that was the beginning of a love affair with the screen.
9 Humble Beginnings At Stanford
Issa Rae began acting at the King Drew Magnet High School of Medicine. Soon after she left the institution, Rae took her craft with her to Stanford. When in college she’d make music videos and write her own plays, which she also directed. At Stanford, she came up with a short series called Dorm Diaries which grew popular on campus. In 2007, she graduated with a Bachelor’s Degree in African and African-American studies.
8 Partnering With Friends
In the past, Rae has expressed the importance of networking with peers. “It really is about networking across. Who’s next to you? Who is in the trenches with you? Who is just as hungry are you are? And those are the people that you need to build with.” Rae said. While at Stanford, Rae partnered with Tracy Oliver, who appeared in her skits and is credited as one of the writers of the Box Office success, Girl’s Trip.
7 Working Odd Jobs
When Rae cleared college, she and Oliver began taking lessons at the New York Film Academy. On the side, they took up odd jobs to make ends meet while working their passion. At some point, the pair was toying between attending law school or business school. In a 2010 tweet, Rae expressed that she was not too happy to be working on a weekend. She made a vow to work for herself.
6 Blogging About The Industry
Prior to taking her craft seriously, Issa Rae had a blog where she often criticized the industry. She was appalled that people of color were always being represented in a negative light, majorly through reality television. Her turning point came when one of the readers of her blog suggested that instead of complaining, she should create something of her own.
5 YouTube Series
With Dorm Diaries out the window, Rae had a couple of more series left in her. It wasn’t until three years later that The F Word came next, with episodes such as ‘I Miss My Money’,’ Make A Statement’, and ‘Bravado’. Rae also produced Fly Guys in which her actors told stories through song. Fly Guys had episodes such as ‘Stuntin’, ‘My Girlfriend’, and ‘I Ain’t Got The Time.’
4 ‘ The Misadventures Of Awkward Black Girl’
Awkward Black Girl debuted on Issa Rae’s YouTube channel in 2011. Centered around the dynamics J (Issa Rae) had with her co-workers, the series proved to be Rae’s breakout production, forcing her and Oliver to abandon their Business and Law school dreams. Awkward Black Girl traversed internet borders, exceeding Rae’s expectations. She secured funding that allowed her to finish production for the first season.
3 Getting Funding From Pharrell Williams
The first season of Awkward Black Girl was a fan favorite. So good it was that it attracted the attention of ‘Happy’ hitmaker Pharrell Williams. The second season of Rae’s show premiered on Pharrell’s own channel, iamOTher. The series would later win a Shorty award for the Best Web Show. Asked why she created Awkward Black Girl, Rae said that she was driven by the stereotype that people of color aren’t relatable, and wanted to demystify that myth.
2 A Tripple Threat
What sets Rae apart from other players in the business, and is perhaps her greatest asset, is her ability to do it all. She’s able to think of an idea, write the script, produce it, and after the show is done, edit it. That is a rare talent that has served her well. Of course, when it comes to working with big networks, she gets a crew to help with everything but that self-sufficient foundation goes a long way.
1 ‘Insecure’
Right before Insecure, Rae got a call from ABC. However, the show she pitched didn’t work because she was a ‘Yes’ person at the time. Asked one of the things she wished she’d known, Rae said, ‘They are hiring YOU. Not the script.” She took the loss, and when HBO came calling, it was all systems go. Insecure has been an all-time favorite during its five-season run, and Rae is the gift that keeps on giving.