Ra’anaa Wooden, known on stage as RaRa and Rostah Rah, is a rapper, singer, songwriter, photographer and digital creator. Originally from College Park, Atlanta, she is now based in Dallas, Texas, where she is building a reputation for thoughtful music and a strong connection with her audience.
Turning hardship into purpose
Rostah Rah’s music is shaped by real experience. “I was homeless for most of 2020,” she says. “That made me want to make a difference in my community, because I saw how easily people can lose everything in an unstable economy. Life is always changing, and people need a safety net so that nobody falls through the cracks. I want to help create that safety net without encouraging dependence on a system.”
Her goals are to keep growing as a professional artist, prove her critics wrong and keep refining her craft.
How do you handle pressure?
“I worked in restaurants for six years, so pressure doesn’t faze me much anymore.”
Who would you like to collaborate with?
“The Weeknd or Nicki Minaj.”
What impact do you want your music to have?
“I want to encourage young people of colour to change the world with their differences, and to show everyone that tolerance is cool. Nobody has to be the same, but we can all want better for each other.”
Building her name in Dallas
Rostah Rah has performed several times at the Dallas Open Mic, where she has made connections, collaborated with other artists and built momentum that has led to opportunities to perform and promote her music further afield.
She describes her sound as constantly evolving. “I’d call it hip-hop, but I’m moving more towards an alternative hip-hop sound,” she says. Determined, creative, loyal and empathetic, she wants to build a successful career while using her music to make the world a better place.
Follow Rostah Rah
- Instagram: @rostahrah
- YouTube: @timetravelerfilms
Feature by @Focuseddd_.
