In 2013, fans of Issa Raes YouTube series The MisAdventures of Awkward Black Girl rejoiced at the announcement that the young, fresh, comedic voice would be taking over television with a pilot she had developed with Larry Wilmore. Three years later, the result titled Insecure is ready to launch its first season on HBO on October 9th, translating the online series uncomfortability, funniness and pain of being a black professional in a mostly white work place, as well as taking a larger, more contemplative look at what it means to balance love, work and creativity.
I didnt want to do an extension of Awkward Black Girl, Rae says, calling from Los Angeles. I knew that just by nature of having me in it that there was gonna be awkwardness, and that some of the same themes would be explored. But I wanted to make something more grounded that fit HBOs sensitivities, and felt a little bit more raw and authentic to me.
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Raw is exactly what Rae delivers when telling the story of her character, also named Issa, whos navigating both a dead-end relationship with her live-in boyfriend Lawrence (Jay Ellis) and a job at a largely white non-profit that works with black students around L.A. Then an ex-boyfriend comes back into her life and reminds Issa of her passion for rapping, which prompts her to tap into her creative side. Meanwhile, her best friend Molly (Yvonne Orji) is a successful lawyer who desperately wants to get married and refuses to settle for a man who is not as or more successful than her.
I tapped a lot into my real life relationships, my real life friendships, my real life thoughts and feelings and insecurities, Rae explains of the inspirations. When youre doing that, it does become very specific and authentic. I dont want people to look at this show and be like, Ah, thats what black girls are doing. Thats unfair to the story were trying to tell, and I definitely want people to relate to it. I want people to recognize who they see on screen, but I didnt set out to be like, I want to tell the black female millennial story, and I want to be the voice of that because thats impossible to do.
Even so, Raes existence as a black female millennial constantly consuming the culture around her and the ways in which she inserts that into the show makes Insecure feel cozier than most series that tap into this generations approach to dating and work-place politics. In one episode, a pillow that reads Miley, Whats Good? with a photo of Nicki Minaj in reference to a popular, shocking moment from the 2015 MTV Video Music Awards sits prominently on the couch Lawrence and Issa share. Elsewhere, Raes love for modern hip-hop figures both directly and indirectly into the dialogue and soundtrack of the series. We have a Drake lyric in every episode as an Easter egg, she reveals. That was a personal thing for me, but thats not something that we bang you over the head with.
With the help of the shows music consultant Solange Knowles, Insecures actual soundtrack is filled with the songs by both independent and established artists of color, from Kendrick Lamar (Alright) to Junglepussy (Bling Bling). And their work isnt just being used to spice things up or add a sense of trendy currency; the tunes figures prominently into the show and its flow, serving as a reflection of the fictional Issas own musical talent and need for expression thats re-ignited during the first season.
I think about artists like Drake who I really love and can pinpoint albums that reflect certain times in my life, Rae admits. But his music has literally been a soundtrack to some of the best moments in my life. I wanted to make sure the artists were as diversely reflected as possible and that anybody could play this soundtrack and be like Oh my gosh, this is the soundtrack to my life, too!'
I want people to recognize who they see on screen, but I didnt set out to be like I want to tell the black female millennial story, and I want to be the voice of that because thats impossible to do.
Knowles came into contact with Rae through Melina Matsoukas, a producer for the series who directed several episodes of the first season who had worked primarily as a music video over the course of her career. Melina just threw it out there, she says, like You know Solange is trying to get into music supervision, and I dont know if you would guys would be open to that. I was like Shut up, girl! Of course were open for that.' Knowles, in turn, helped introduce the team to Raphael Saadiq, who wrote original music for the show, as well. The show has just gotten better over time and with each new team member thats been added.
Examining the larger picture of the moment in which Insecure is premiering a moment just shortly after the Emmy Awards celebrated their most diverse year yet and the white male anti-heroes of Breaking Bad, Mad Men,etc. are becoming rarer and rarer Rae is aware of the importance of her shows existence. Ive maintained for a long time that you need voices of color behind the scenes until you have us reclaiming our stories for things to change in Hollywood, and now you see that happening, she says. Theres a renaissance, and its so exciting to witness. Its also happening simultaneously during a time where we do feel a little bit hopeless just in terms of the constant shootings and our place in society. This renaissance really reclaims our place as human beings and as auteurs.
While Rae is continuing to learn how to grasp being named in the same breath as heroes like Donald Glover and Ava DuVernay, who both recently had TV shows premiere, shes still dealing with her own insecurities as an artist. I still very much feel like Im that Internet girl,' she admits, in reference to her YouTube start. I still feel an allegiance there, but I dont know that Ill ever feel like Im a part of Hollywood. It just feels like Im getting the chance of a lifetime to make something thats pure and authentic to me. To have more people watch it is the coolest ever, but I dont feel much different other than that.