5 Things to Know About 'Insecure' Creator Issa Rae

Rae created HBO's "Insecure," which premieres tonight.

ByABC News
October 9, 2016, 11:43 AM
Issa Rae on the show "Insecure," on HBO.
Issa Rae on the show "Insecure," on HBO.
Anne Marie Fox/HBO

— -- Meet Issa Rae. She's the awkwardly hilarious creator of HBO's highly anticipated series, "Insecure."

The fact that Rae is coming to the small screen Sunday night is interesting, considering that she rose to prominence on YouTube with her "The Misadventures of Awkward Black Girl" web series.

It detailed all of the awkward scenarios 20-somethings find themselves in at work and in their love lives.

Want to know more about the creator of "Insecure"? Here are five things to know about Rae:

1. She Grew Up in Potomac

Though she was born in Los Angeles, the comedian grew up in the wealthy Maryland neighborhood before her family eventually returned to California. Rae, 31, wrote in a Huffington Post essay that because of growing up in Potomac, she was often teased in her Los Angeles middle school for "talking white."

2. She Has Famous Friends

After creating "Awkward Black Girl," which became an instant hit on YouTube, Rae partnered with Pharrell Williams. Season 2 of the web series aired on the rapper's i am OTHER channel on YouTube. Rae also recently revealed on "The View" that the most famous person she has saved in her cell phone is Chris Rock.

3. Her Real Name Isn't Issa

In fact, her first name is Jo-Issa. Her name is a combination of both of her grandmother's names -- Joyce and Isseu, according to Stanford magazine.

4. She Wrote a Book

It's called "The Misadventures of Awkward Black Girl" and of course, like anything Rae does, it was a success. The New York Times best-selling memoir was released last year.

5. She Can Rap

If you've watched her web series then you know what I'm talking about. "It's my secret way of coping with stress since the sixth grade," Rae's character J -- based largely on herself -- said in one episode. Be warned: Her rap lyrics are not safe for work, or children, or your grandmother.