In the wake of the viral popularity of the HBO comedy series, Insecure, Issa Rae became one of the most daring comedy creators of recent times. Insecure turned heads, got fans glued to its five seasons, won numerous awards, and became the first HBO series on Netflix. Its success led to the creation of another comedy series, Rap Shit — stylized as Rap Sh!t — for HBO Max. While Insecure became one of Rae’s most successful series thus far, Rap Shit sadly did not meet the same success, getting cancelled only after two seasons. Despite this, the comedy elements in both series and the impressive cast in Rap Shit can’t be ignored.
The series tells the story of two estranged high school friends who start a rap group and their journey to finding success. It combines humor and music, making it almost as interesting as Insecure, which follows Rae’s character, Issa, as she navigates her love life, friendships, and career. With both shows, Rae delivered comedy and creativity to impressive effect.
What Is ‘Rap Shit’ About?
At its core, Issa Rae’s Rap Shit is a blend of comedy, music, the real struggles of women in the music industry, and use of social media in the modern era to succeed. The series tells the story of two female rappers, Mia (KaMillion) and Shawna Clark (Aida Osman) who struggle to find a place in the male-dominated world of rap music. Both Shawna and Mia come with a myriad of complexities. To start with, Shawna is eager to get her big break, but for the most part, she wants to be known for her rap and pen game, and not as a sexual symbol. Mia, on the other hand, is a single mother, who is a new to the music industry; however unlike Shawna, she has no issues using her sexuality to get ahead.
The series rests its strength on the universal truth that the rise to fame is often slow and unsteady. It mirrors real life in the sense that the road to stardom is often ridden with struggles. There’s a parallel connection between these characters and famous Black female rappers such as Nicki Minaj, Lil Kim, and Missy Elliot, and most notably Yung Miami and JT of City Girls — who served as inspirations for the show and even worked on Rap Shit as co-executive producers, adding authenticity to the story we watch unfold.
Both ‘Insecure’ and ‘Rap Shit’ Provide Deep Dives Into Their Differing Realities
Image Credit: Max
Insecure and Rap Shit both find their footing firmly rooted in reality. Both series look compellingly into the lives of women trying to navigate their careers. On one hand, there’s Insecure, which premiered in September 2016, tells its story through the eyes of two Black women, Issa Dee (played by Issa Rae) and Molly Carter (played by Yvonne Orji). The series explores female insecurities and the daily struggles of contemporary Black women.
Rap Shit goes down a similar route and that makes it a natural pick for fans of Insecure. If the former holds a special place on your favorites list, Rap Shit is sure to deliver a similarly engaging and comedic journey. However, it’s important to note that Rap Shit has its strengths and its shortcomings. Some storylines take a vacation from the show’s realistic portrayal and land smack in the middle of melodrama, leaning too heavily on exaggerated plot twists that feel out of place. This is evident in the consistent fallout from Shawna’s awkwardness, the repercussions of her Season 1 “side gig,” and Mia’s unpredictable romantic decisions and fluctuating relationships that at times seem more like plot devices than natural character development. However, while these storylines maybe distracting to some viewers, they also add a layer of dramatic tension that others may appreciate.
Just Like ‘Insecure,’ ‘Rap Shit’ Emphasizes Issa Rae’s Ability to Deliver Unrelenting and Intelligent Humor
Image Source: HBO
Insecure and Rap Shit have both showcased Rae’s creativity in different ways. She created both TV shows and though she didn’t feature in Rap Shit, her presence is evident. From the stylings of the humor to the unique exploration of Black women’s lives, her storytelling is reminiscent of Insecure, an adaptation of her acclaimed web series Awkward Black Girl. Sadly, while Insecure enjoyed longevity, Rap Shit fell by the wayside as it was cancelled after a mere two seasons. This left many fans questioning what happened, especially because the series ended at the point where the story was picking up and attracting a larger audience.
There are many reasons why a show gets cancelled, but for Rap Shit, it can be mostly be attributed to just bad timing. For one, the show was released during a period of transition at Warner Bros. Discovery, when HBO Max was rebranding to Max, which led to a shift in the company’s content strategy. It was also one of the many shows that was affected by the 2023 SAG-AFTRA strike, which saw delays in production, as well as disruptions to promotion and marketing. As a result the series never got to reach its full potential, despite the promise it showed and the positive reviews it received. Nevertheless, it’s worth the watch.
For a peek at Shawna and Mia’s adventures, Rap Shit is available to stream on Max in the U.S.
