‘LITTLE BIT A AWKWARD, LOTTA BIT A HOOD’ – ISSA RAE 

You know when you’re convinced someone would totally be your best friend, even though you have never met? The newest inductee to my potential-bffl-hall-of-fame is MISS I$$A RAE.

Writer of acclaimed web-series including Awkward Black Girl andRatchetpiece Theatre Mz. Rae PERFECTLY balances comedy and real-talk. Her episodes disrobe awkward but relatable situations and boldly broadcast the inner dialogue that happens within them. Each episode is hilarious, and points out content which can be surprisingly political.

WAIT- THIS IS ENTERTAINMENT and as-such Issa Rae’s appeal is bottom line FUN. Instead of overtly-political-Bono-swag or sympothy-driven-celebrity-montage-PSAs, Rae’s comedy dances with problematic content, and each twist and turn helps whoop it into a new shape. This model of assessing whatcha workin with, and then fuckin’ wit it until you own it = WIN.

EXAMPLE #1: RE-TWERKING HIP HOP

Issa’s embrace of ratchet music is SO REFESHING. We ALL know about the hyper-masculinity debate in hiphop. Her ABG character’s therapy raps, her group Doublemint Twinz ’s songs, and her poignant “explanations” in Ratchet-piece Theatre illustrate ways to point out insensitive assumptions, while keeping the party going by adding new ways to dissect and dig ratchet music without having to turn your brain off.

It’s great to have raw entertainment coming from a relatable perspective often left unspoken for. Now I practically look forward to having no plans so that I can fake-hang with my potential-bffl Issa by watching her shows to fake-bond on awkward bosses, and low-key get my critical thinking on.

Browntourage luv,
<3t