KaMillion and Aida Osman Speak Issa Rae’s Rap Sh!t

Aida Osman and KaMillion hit the jackpot for his or her TV performing debuts. The author turned actor and the Florida-born artist make up the fictional rap duo main Issa Rae’s new present, “Rap Sh!t.” The half-hour HBO Max comedy — described as Rae’s “sophomore album” — started as an early draft of the creator’s 14-time Emmy-nominated “Insecure” sequence. Nevertheless, it is since grown right into a ardour mission paying homage to right this moment’s technology of ladies in hip-hop.

“Rap Sh!t” is, undoubtedly, in contrast to something we have ever seen earlier than. Rae and showrunner Syreeta Singleton made positive of that once they started growing their sequence that is written by Black girls, about Black girls, however for everybody to eat. The Miami-set present mirrors individuals from all walks of life — from rappers and creatives to Black moms, millennial hustlers, and, after all, Florida natives. “Each character that is represented within the present, there’s someone within the writers’ room who’s actually like that. It is a wonderful, numerous room,” Osman tells hollywoodnewsflash.us.

Within the present, Osman performs Shawna and KaMillion portrays Mia — two estranged highschool associates who reunite years later to begin their very own rap group. Reflective of right this moment’s present panorama of ladies rappers, “Rap Sh!t” takes a novel, social-media-driven strategy to a hip-hop come-up story we have seen in actual time with artists like Cardi B and Megan Thee Stallion. “It could be silly to not embrace it — it would be negligent,” Osman remarks of the present’s social media angle. “Every little thing that we do is on-line now. We act like going outdoors goes outdoors. No, it is going in your telephone, Instagram, Twitter, TikTok. Should you step again [from the] post-Cardi [era], there’s not a single girl within the rap business that did not come up off the web.”

Regardless of being newcomers within the performing world, the “Rap Sh!t” stars did not really feel any nerves when it got here to steering the story in Rae’s new present. “I would not even say it looks like stress as a lot because it looks like an honor to have a built-in viewers that is loyal and already loves Issa,” Osman says of inheriting “Insecure”‘s fan base. “KaMillion and I labored actually arduous to deliver what we may, however we’re principally simply excited that it is the sophomore album.”

KaMillion and Osman each went by very completely different audition processes earlier than touchdown their “Rap Sh!t” roles. The previous began with a video audition that charmed Rae and her casting crew nearly instantly. “I feel it was simply my Florida lady [flair], perhaps my accent, my character,” KaMillion shares. “Once I got here on digicam, I used to be similar to, ‘I’m Mia, and Mia is me.’ I used to be very assured about that, and I feel that is actually what caught their consideration.”

Osman, then again, bought employed for “Rap Sh!t” by the writers’ room, the place she began molding the character she’d quickly embody. “You retain writing character traits for Shawna which might be particular solely [to me],” she says of her switch from behind-the-scenes to the TV display. “I did a employees assembly for writing, after which like per week later, I auditioned . . . it was a bizarre transition. It was sort of extraordinary, truthfully. I do not know if that is ever actually occurred earlier than.” As “nontraditional” actors, Osman and KaMillion fearlessly confirmed up as their full, genuine selves throughout filming — a profit that very a lot labored of their favor. “The characters have been so us,” Osman provides. “It was straightforward.”

Very similar to the premise of “Rap Sh!t,” the 2 costars discovered energy in establishing a sisterhood amongst themselves; it is what helped them construct such natural chemistry, on and off display. “After we first met one another, it helped that we found that we’re zodiac twins (Cancers). We simply hit it off,” KaMillion shares. “Every little thing that every of us lacked, the opposite helped fill that void, so it was actually only a match made in heaven. Form of like how Issa and her costar [Yvonne Orji] have been in ‘Insecure.’ It is actually humorous, I feel we actually have like the identical sort of dynamic.”

Osman provides: “[With this] being our first performing job, we leaned on one another so heavy. Once I wasn’t filming, I used to be in her trailer. When she wasn’t filming, she was in [mine] . . . We may actually discover one another in these moments and share with one another. I feel different actresses who’ve finished a number of jobs can be like, ‘After work, I am going house, no one speak to me, no matter.’ However [for us], it was our lives. It was every part we have been doing at that time.”

Forward of its sequence premiere, “Rap Sh!t” has already modified Osman and KaMillion’s lives. Whereas each have made names for themselves of their respective industries — the previous in comedy writing and the latter by music — they’re reaching an entire new degree of their careers now as leads of their very own present. The pair are a pressure to be reckoned with, and it is solely the start of their TV success. “‘Rap Sh!t’ has taught me that goals do come true,” KaMillion says confidently. “It taught me that I can truly act and be on set for 15-hour days for six months and nonetheless preserve going and going like there is a battery in my again . . . It taught me that Black ladies rock, and all they should do is figure arduous and proceed to open doorways for different Black ladies — shout out to Issa Rae! . . . We’re strolling in her blessings . . . I am speaking about Issa Rae the legend, the Issaverse, child. [‘Rap Sh!t’] taught me that Issa runs the world, just about.”

For viewers who suppose they know who “Rap Sh!t” could also be impressed by (per government producers Yung Miami and JT of Metropolis Women), its main women have a easy instruction for them. “Individuals ought to simply watch the present, collect these issues for themselves, after which simply see what it is giving,” KaMillion says frankly. “Give the present an opportunity,” Osman provides. “I imply, I get it as a result of it is Miami and it is two rappers, however, yeah, simply watch the present.”

The primary two episodes of “Rap Sh!t” premiere on HBO Max on July 21 at 9 p.m. ET.