Since the conclusion of the hit HBO show “Insecure,” Issa Rae has continued to elevate her career. She returned to HBO with a new show, “Rap Sh!t” in July 2022. The show stars Aida Osman as Shawna and Kamillion as Mia as they chase their rap star dreams. In January 2024, Deadline, via Warner Bros. Discovery, announced that the show would not return for a third season.
According to Deadline, an HBO Max spokesperson said they were grateful to Issa Rae for creating the show.
“We are extremely grateful to Issa Rae for creating “Rap Sh!t”, a one-of-a-kind comedy with compelling social commentary that reached viewers in a way only Issa’s talents can accomplish,” the representative told Deadline.
The representative continued: “A huge thank-you to Issa, showrunner Syreeta Singleton, and the teams at Hoorae and 3 Arts Entertainment for introducing us to Shawna and Mia, a duo whose journey fans have been invested in and who they have continued to root for through everything. We’ll never get Seduce and Scheme out of our heads, and we wouldn’t have it any other way.”
The cancellation comes almost a month after Season 2 of the show completed airing in December 2023. Many viewers and fans were outraged to hear another Black-led show had been canceled. With that in mind, fans wonder if future Issa Rae projects will meet the same fate.
The mogul is still creating.
In a February 2024 interview with TIME magazine, Rae revealed that 2023 was not her best year. According to the magazine, the multi-hyphenate had to lay off several employees during the writer’s strike. She also struggled with the cancellation of “Rap Sh!t.”
“I’ve never seen Hollywood this scared and clueless, and at the mercy of Wall Street,” she told the outlet.
The 39-year-old believes that the studios are having difficulty keeping their promises for more diversity. Many fans share this same sentiment as they watch their favorite shows fade into the background. Rae is actively trying to solve that problem.
Rae hasn’t let the obstacles of 2023 keep her from creating. To continue telling diverse stories, she knows she has to use her earned privilege to help society progress. Rae currently owns Hoorae, a media production company. She also has plans to open a studio lot in the future.
What is next for Issa Rae?
Issa Rae’s projects are always a hit, and fans look forward to more from the creative. As of February 2024, Rae has two projects in development. According to TIME, both projects are in collaboration with HBO.
Rae has not yet revealed the names of the shows. However, she gave up a few of the details. One project will be a comedy set in corporate America, which is a joint creation with Diallo Riddle and Bashir Salahuddin, the creators of the shows “South Side” and “Sherman’s Showcase.” As for the second project, it’s set in an “alternative present.” Rae plans to produce, write, and star in the project, much like she did for “Insecure.”
Although she faced some challenges in 2023, Rae is still determined to create a space for Black storytelling on television.
Are you looking forward to the new Issa Rae projects coming down the pipeline? Let us know in the comments below.
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