I had never been to Inglewood, but it felt familiar. After watching the sun-drenched city, nestled on the southwestern side of Los Angeles, on five seasons of Issa Rae's award-winning series, "Insecure," I came to know a few landmarks around town. The show itself had created one in The Dunes, a two-story apartment complex where Rae's eponymous character, Issa Dee, navigated life and love.
It's now the backdrop to countless photos on Instagram, the platform of choice for the show's target audience — millennials. I stepped out of my Uber Comfort in front of Hilltop Coffee and Kitchen, a Black-owned restaurant co-owned by Rae that was also featured in season four, episode two of "Insecure," a series documenting Dee's awkward experiences as a twentysomething woman trying to find her footing. Inside, the smell of freshly brewed espresso-based drinks wafted in the air as I tried to decide what I'd eat for lunch.
As I looked up at the menu, my eyes caught these words painted on the walls: "We're all in this together," a nod to the communal seating that ran down the length of the bar. Advertisement Hilltop is just one of the many businesses that Rae has authentically branded in recent years. Rae said coffee shops are where she's most innovative.
A still from "Insecure" of The Dunes apartment complex. "Insecure"/HBO "I'm a coffee shop girl," the LA native told Business Insider in September during New York Fashion Week . "I love to people-watch.
" The multihyphenate was promoting anot.
