Skip to content
ATDbbeta
IR

Issa Rae

Operator

Issa Rae is a writer, actress, and media entrepreneur best known for creating and starring in HBO's Insecure, which she developed from her viral web series The Misadventures of Awkward Black Girl. Her work redefined representation in prestige television and demonstrated the commercial viability of Black-led storytelling, making her one of the most influential creative voices in contemporary media. Rae founded Hoorae, a multi-platform media company that encompasses production (Hoorae Media), a talent management division (Ensemble), a music label (Raedio), and a content marketing and branded entertainment arm (ColorCreative). Raedio in particular positions Hoorae directly in the advertising and branded content space, licensing music and producing audio content for brands and media partners. This infrastructure makes Hoorae a significant player in the intersection of entertainment and marketing. Beyond Hoorae, Rae has produced numerous film and television projects and has been a prominent advocate for inclusive hiring practices in Hollywood. She has partnered with major brands and platforms, leveraging her audience and creative credibility to build a vertically integrated entertainment and media business.

Last updated Oct 17, 2026 by ATDb automated enrichment

Role
Founder
Company
Hoorae
Based
Los Angeles, California, United States

AI-drafted from public sourcesno sources yet

Years in industry
15 years

Bio

Issa Rae is a writer, actress, and media entrepreneur best known for creating and starring in HBO's Insecure, which she developed from her viral web series The Misadventures of Awkward Black Girl. Her work redefined representation in prestige television and demonstrated the commercial viability of Black-led storytelling, making her one of the most influential creative voices in contemporary media. Rae founded Hoorae, a multi-platform media company that encompasses production (Hoorae Media), a talent management division (Ensemble), a music label (Raedio), and a content marketing and branded entertainment arm (ColorCreative). Raedio in particular positions Hoorae directly in the advertising and branded content space, licensing music and producing audio content for brands and media partners. This infrastructure makes Hoorae a significant player in the intersection of entertainment and marketing. Beyond Hoorae, Rae has produced numerous film and television projects and has been a prominent advocate for inclusive hiring practices in Hollywood. She has partnered with major brands and platforms, leveraging her audience and creative credibility to build a vertically integrated entertainment and media business.

Expertise & education

Expertise

Television ProductionBranded EntertainmentTalent ManagementMusic LicensingMulticultural MarketingStreaming ContentIndependent MediaContent Creation

Education

  • BA, Political Science, Stanford University

Speaking topics

Entrepreneurship and building a media companyRepresentation and inclusion in HollywoodIndependent content creationBranded entertainment and creative partnerships

Recognition

Notable achievements

  • Created and starred in HBO's Insecure, running five critically acclaimed seasons
  • Founded Hoorae, a vertically integrated media company with production, talent, music, and branded content divisions
  • Launched Raedio, a music label and audio branding company that partners with brands and media companies
  • Developed The Misadventures of Awkward Black Girl, a pioneering web series that amassed millions of YouTube views and launched her career

Awards

Golden Globe nomination, Best Actress in a TV Series – Musical or Comedy (Insecure)Multiple Emmy nominations for InsecureNAACP Image AwardsPeabody Award (Insecure)