Issa Rae: ‘People Have The Power To Tell Me ‘No,’ But I Also Have The Power To Make My Yeses’ – Beautifaire

22 Sep

The 2022 ESSENCE Festival of Culture was stuffed with limitless moments that had attendees smiling from ear to ear as we brought the country’s biggest celebration of world Black culture back to Latest Orleans in person following a 2-year hiatus fueled by the pandemic.

One in every of the largest highlights of ESSENCE Fest weekend took place on the Beauty Carnival stage, where Radio Personality & Entrepreneur Angela Yee was joined by none apart from award-winning multi-hyphenate creative Issa Rae.

Within the candid one-on-one conversation, Rae opened up a number of the specific challenges she faced early on in her profession, what legacy she could be most proud to go away and even responded to rumors of an Insecure spin-off. She also spoke briefly about her latest project, Rap Sh*t, her haircare line Sienna Naturals, her management company ColorCreative, her audio company Raedio and her latest L.A. coffee shop, Hilltop.

In other words, it was half-hour of all-things Issa and we were greater than here for it. Keep scrolling to envision out six gems she dropped throughout the must-see segment after which try the video above to listen to the conversation in full.

For more of all the pieces you missed on the 2022 ESSENCE Festival of Culture, visit our official video content hub HERE

On Investing In Yourself:

“Sometimes investing in yourself is like, I’m okay being broke for the subsequent couple of months or years. And, with Awkward Black Girl, it was that. I’d gotten opportunities to take it to television but, it wasn’t what I imagined so, that meant that I used to be walking away with no money and needed to be confident in that but, you understand, it paid off.”

Issa Rae: ‘People Have The Power To Tell Me ‘No,’ But I Also Have The Power To Make My Yeses’

Photo by Leslie Henderson

On The Possibility Of An Insecure Spin-Off:

“It’s not what people might imagine but, yes, I still am exploring an idea and I haven’t written it yet. I actually have other things which are more of a priority right away but, I actually do wanna make it occur.”

Photo by Leslie Henderson

On Premiering Rap Sh*t For The First Time At ABFF In Front Of A Predominantly Black Crowd:

“[Black audiences] are who I care about at the tip of the day. That’s the opinion that counts probably the most to me and that’s who I’m creating for.”

Photo by Leslie Henderson

On Believing In Her Own Power:

“When I think in something, especially now, I’ve just really been confident about my very own power. So, yes, people have the facility to inform me no but, I even have the facility to make my yeses.”

Photo by Leslie Henderson

On Welcoming Latest People Into Her Inner-Circle:

“There’s some people who offers you red flags while you meet them straight away where it’s like, ‘Oh, you simply like talking about yourself’ or ‘Oh, you’re really about climbing.’ You’ll be able to sense that and I’m really good at not ignoring those red flags.”

Photo by Leslie Henderson

On What She Hopes Her Legacy Will Be:

“I actually just wish to be know for creating opportunities. I need to be known for loving my city. I need to be know for being rooted in what I think in and just loving my community. I take into consideration that day by day and I take into consideration that in all the pieces that I create so, I feel I’d be satisfied if that’s what I used to be known for.”