Today we’d like to introduce you to Renea L Moss.
Hi Renea L, can you start by introducing yourself? We’d love to learn more about how you got to where you are today?
I almost died last year. That moment changed everything.
When you come that close to losing it all, you stop hiding. You stop silencing yourself. You stop living in pieces. I am Renea L. Moss, aka Rai Renea, the artist, and Mama Moss, the educator and mentor. For years, I kept those roles separate, afraid to let them collide. But surviving that near-death experience forced me to embrace the truth: all of me belongs in the room. Bold. Messy. Creative. Entrepreneurial. Nurturing. Rebellious.
That revelation is the heartbeat behind my new album No Apology in My Throat: A Spoken Word Rebellion and the Louder Than Apologies Tour. Its lead single, Villain, was born after I watched the trailer for Wicked: For Good. It struck me how easily society casts women, especially strong, outspoken women, as villains. Instead of running from that label, I decided to own it. The song flips the narrative, reclaiming power in being misunderstood.
The album itself is more than spoken word; it’s testimony, it’s rebellion, it’s me reclaiming space. And alongside the music, I’m also releasing The Book of Rebellion, a poetry collection carrying the same fire and unflinching honesty. Together, they mark a turning point where I refuse to shrink or live small.
My journey has always been a mixed bag. Through Mixed Bag Enterprises, I’ve built platforms that house my creative and business worlds. With Attitude Publishing, I’ve released my own books and supported the voices of others. At Forge Independent Schools, I’ve created spaces where overlooked students find confidence, creativity, and community. And as a coach, I’ve mentored young debaters and performers to embrace the power of their voices. Every venture has been about one thing: helping others speak, stand, and shine.
As an author, I’ve told stories that matter, like “How a HoneyBun Almost Took Me Out,” a humorous yet raw take on living with Type 2 diabetes. As an artist, I’m now offering my most personal work yet. As Mama Moss, I remain rooted in teaching and nurturing the next generation. All these voices are mine. All these names belong to me.
The Louder Than Apologies Tour is not just about performance; it’s a movement. It’s me declaring that I will live and create without apology. And it’s an invitation for others to do the same: to embrace every part of who they are, even the messy, contradictory, and untamed pieces. My hope is that when people hear my story of almost losing it all and choosing to live out loud, they’ll feel permission to live their truth without fear.
Can you talk to us a bit about the challenges and lessons you’ve learned along the way. Looking back would you say it’s been easy or smooth in retrospect?
My journey has never been easy. In the world of education, I was often dismissed because of my past as a poet and because of the way I look. People assumed my artistry meant I wasn’t serious. In the spoken word scene, I wasn’t taken seriously at first as a lyricist because I didn’t dress or talk the way people expected. And in the speech and debate world, I was told flat-out that I was “too sexy” for the environment. That sting inspired one of my signature pieces, Beauty Ain’t No Apology, from the upcoming album. I learned quickly that if I was going to survive in these spaces, I had to define myself on my own terms.
I also know what it means to build something from nothing. I started Forge Independent Schools during COVID with only three kids. We grew to more than 50, then had to fight through zoning and building challenges that brought us down to under 15. But no matter the numbers, the impact was undeniable; we graduated three senior classes with students now playing college football, serving as police officers, becoming correction officers, and walking across the stage as honor graduates. That’s legacy. That’s impact.
Appreciate you sharing that. What else should we know about what you do?
Artist / Creative Work
My first poem came at age five; even then, I knew words had power.
In the fall of 1999, I dove into the spoken word scene, performing in small venues, open mics, and community events hungry to be heard.
Over the years, I toured, released books and albums, and built a body of work that straddles poetry, lyricism, and performance.
My music has charted on iTunes; songs have been picked up by radio stations.
I’ve appeared on BET and other media platforms, won awards for my writing and performance, and built a reputation for raw honesty and emotional truth.
In every era of my career, I have pushed boundaries, refusing to be boxed in by genre, looks, or expectations.
Educator
Even while building my artistic path, I poured my heart into education.
I was named CW Super Teacher of the Week (a recognition of excellence in the classroom).
I was a National Finalist for Educator of the Year with the National Speech & Debate Association (NSDA).
I designed a curriculum rooted in voice, equity, and critical thinking.
I founded Forge Independent Schools, creating a pedagogical framework (sometimes called “TTTAGS” — (Teaching Through Technology, Arts and Gaming – a system aligned with tags, feedback, and scaffolded progression).
As a debate coach, I took an almost defunct team from a Title I inner-city school and turned them into a Top 20 nationally ranked Speech powerhouse—because I believe that once a student finds their voice, there’s no ceiling on how far it can carry them.
I served as a DEI (Diversity, Equity, Inclusion) consultant and general educational consultant, designing and leading professional development, facilitating workshops for teachers and schools, and shaping educational programs tailored to underserved populations.
Educational Consultant & Broader Impact
Beyond being in the classroom, I have consulted for schools, districts, and education organizations, helping them build equitable curriculum, training educators in culturally responsive practices, and creating sustainable models of student engagement.
My approach blends the artistry of voice and narrative with rigorous pedagogical structure. The same tools I use as a lyricist — clarity, rhythm, identity- inform how I guide teachers to reach students.
Because of my dual identity as artist and educator, I bring a perspective many consultants don’t: I understand the creative margin, the struggle of legitimacy, and how to honor voice in institutional settings.
Over time, through consulting and workshops, I’ve expanded my influence beyond my own school, helping others reimagine what learning, voice, and possibility look like in classrooms, communities, and systems.
Alright, so to wrap up, is there anything else you’d like to share with us?
If there’s one thing I want readers to take away from my story, it’s that survival isn’t the same as living.
My latest book, How a HoneyBun Almost Took Me Out, isn’t just a story about living with diabetes, it’s about refusing to let diagnosis, circumstance, or fear define you. That message became the heartbeat of my Louder Than Apologies Tour: a celebration of living life abundantly, without shame, fear, or hesitation. Because life isn’t worth living if you’re only trying to survive it.
This December, I’ll be sharing the next chapters of that journey with the release of my poetry collection The Book of Rebellion on Tuesday, December 2, 2025, followed by my spoken word album No Apology in My Throat on Friday, December 5, 2025. We’ll cap it all off with the Louder Than Apologies release concert on Saturday, December 6, 2025, as part of the Victory Box Theater’s Victory After Dark series in Fort Lauderdale, Florida.
Every piece of work, every book, album, or performance is rooted in one truth: you get one life. And it’s yours to live loudly, passionately, and unapologetically.
Contact Info:
- Website: www.reneasworld.com
- Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/rairenea/?hl=en
- Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/RaiRenea/
- Linkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/in/renealmoss/
- Youtube: https://www.youtube.com/@RaiRenea
- soundcloud: https://open.spotify.com/artist/4phip01g1bItiLv2zk3Z9H?si=MnF70JhoQwu1pmgoKXZpeQ
- Other: https://music.apple.com/us/artist/rai-renea/380230269
Image Credits
The images in the leather jacket, white shirt and standing behind the mic were taken by David Cain. All of the other pictures were taken by
