When I visited Los Angeles, there were two places I had always wanted to see—and I finally made it to both. One was “The Dunes,” the apartment building where Issa, the main character from one of my favorite shows, “Insecure”, lives. The other was the Westin Bonaventure Hotel, featured in the music video for “Luther” by Kendrick Lamar and SZA.
The Dunes — Stepping Into the World of “Insecure”
The first place I visited was “The Dunes”, the apartment where Issa, the main character of “Insecure”, lived. She stayed there through Season 2, and since it appears repeatedly throughout the show, it’s become one of “Insecure”’s most iconic locations. Seeing the apartment in real life—after watching it on screen so many times—was surreal. It felt like Issa might pop out at any moment with her signature smile and a cheerful “What’s up?!” (I really wished she would!). I was overcome with this strange but nostalgic feeling. For fans of “Insecure”, this spot has become a kind of sacred ground—and I totally get it, haha. It was truly a dream come true.Yay!
The Real World of “Insecure”
In Season 3 of “Insecure”, Issa finally moves into a new apartment. At this point in the story, she’s unemployed after leaving her job at the nonprofit “We Got Y’all.” Without a stable income, she’s in a vulnerable place—both financially and emotionally. In exchange for lower rent, she takes on the role of building manager, handling maintenance and odd jobs. I remember watching her trying to climb her way up from rock bottom and silently cheering her on every step of the way.
I once lived in a cheap apartment in the U.S. myself, so I could totally relate to the constant, unpredictable troubles that came with just trying to live there—totally relatable. LOL! Issa navigates friendships, romance, and the search for her place in the world—all while facing the uncertainty of her career and future—hit close to home in more ways than one.
“Insecure” is a show that portrays love, friendship, career, and life choices with raw honesty and humor. Its stories often collide in unexpected or unfair ways, but that’s exactly what makes it so real. It made me laugh, cry, and sometimes both at the same time. It was a show that encouraged me to reflect on my own life. Seeing Issa grow throughout the seasons gave me strength more times than I can count, and some of the show’s iconic scenes still stay with me to this day. Issa’s character is full of humor and relatability—I became a huge fan of hers.
Issa Rae, the creator and star of the show, is also a brilliant writer, actress, and artist. I absolutely love her creativity and sense of style.
Issa Rae also produces her own prosecco brand called Viarae Prosecco. In the show, Issa often drank prosecco with a splash of vodka to give it a little extra kick—a combo that fans started calling the “Insecure cocktail.” I still drink it from time to time myself!
There’s a scene in the second half of Season 5 where her ex, Lawrence, is at a bar and says, “Prosecco and a little vodka, right?”—remembering exactly how Issa likes her drink. (Cue the tears… seriously, tears!) It’s small moments like this that make fans’ hearts swell. I guess you could say I’m a pretty hardcore fan!
The “Insecure” Soundtrack Is Next-Level
One of the biggest reasons I can confidently say “Insecure” is truly special is the music. The soundtrack is phenomenal—every episode features perfectly chosen tracks that align so seamlessly with each scene, it’s almost magical. The musical curation is spot on; I still listen to songs from the soundtrack and instantly get swept back into certain emotional moments. From Season 1 to Season 5, I discovered so many incredible tracks. I honestly think my personal playlists have been shaped by the musical world of Issa’s story.
What’s amazing is that the same team curated the soundtrack throughout the entire series.
Music Supervisor: Kier Lehman
An Emmy and Grammy nominee and winner of multiple Guild of Music Supervisors awards, he also worked on the film “Queen & Slim”, which I absolutely love. When I found out he was behind both “Insecure” and that film, I felt this deep sense of connection—like the things I love are all linked in unexpected ways.
Executive Producer: Issa Rae
Of course—creator, star, and the soul of the show. In “Insecure”, she played Issa Dee, and needless to say, her taste in music is just as impeccable as her storytelling.
Score Composer: Raphael Saadiq
A member of Tony! Toni! Toné!, Raphael Saadiq composed the score—the background music that subtly but powerfully enhances the emotional tone of each scene. These aren’t just “songs,” but instrumental cues: the soft piano that plays during transitions, the deep bass that builds tension. In “Insecure”, the score plays such a key role in shaping the atmosphere, and Saadiq nailed it.
Bonus fun fact: In Season 1, Solange was involved in helping shape the musical tone of the series—and it absolutely shows. Her signature taste shines through.
Because I was already so emotionally invested in both the story and the soundtrack, finally standing in front of “The Dunes”—a symbol of “Insecure”—felt like such a full-circle moment. I’m so glad I went. It was truly a moment of joy I won’t forget.
Next Stop — The Filming Location of Kendrick Lamar x SZA’s “Luther”
After leaving “The Dunes”, my next stop was the Westin Bonaventure Hotel. With its striking glass exterior, this iconic building has made countless appearances in films and TV shows. Ever since I found out that “Luther” was filmed here, I’d been wanting to see it for myself.
As you may already know, Kendrick Lamar and SZA’s song “Luther” samples the 1982 version of “If This World Were Mine” by Luther Vandross and Cheryl Lynn. That version, in turn, was originally recorded by Marvin Gaye and Tammi Terrell—an absolute classic.
The way the sample is used in “Luther” is pure genius. The timing is so perfect, and Luther Vandross’s smooth, velvety voice melts right into the track—it’s absolutely irresistible.
Finally, I sat down on that couch
And then, finally, I stood in front of the iconic couch from the music video. The moment I sat down in the exact spot where Kendrick had been, it felt as if the world of the video and my reality had seamlessly overlapped.
Turning a Favorite Story into a Real-Life Memory
Visiting “The Dunes” from “Insecure” and the Westin Bonaventure Hotel from Kendrick Lamar’s “Luther” was definitely one of the biggest highlights of this trip to LA.
The main purpose of this visit was to attend the Blue Note LA opening week and see Alex Isley live—which was absolutely amazing—but being able to explore these two meaningful locations made the trip even more special.
I’ve been to LA many times, but this time felt different—refreshing and full of joy in a new way. It reminded me just how wonderful it is to let the things you love guide your journey.
Kendrick Lamar – luther (Official Audio)
The Westin Bonaventure Hotel
404 South Figueroa Street,
Los Angeles, California, USA, 90071
There are also commemorative plaques inside the hotel showcasing the films that were used in the filming, which is sure to be enjoyable for film fans.
