“I'm Cortisa Star, watch out”

Words: P. Eldridge

When I call Cortisa Star, a rush of excitement hits me – not just because I’m speaking to one of rap’s most electrifying new voices, but because she represents something much bigger. A young, audacious, biracial trans woman making space for herself in an industry that has long sought to exclude voices like hers. As I congratulate her on the upcoming release of her debut EP, EMO, I ask her to introduce herself. To my surprise, she doesn’t lead with self-assurance or defiance. Instead, she describes herself as off-putting – someone who unsettles people, both admirers and critics alike.

It’s a striking contradiction: a rising talent on the brink of stardom, yet acutely aware of how she challenges expectations. As a fellow doll and now sister to Cortisa, I can’t help but reflect on the weight of visibility – what it means to forge an identity in the public eye while still growing into oneself. Where she claims to be reserved, I see an unshakeable presence. Where she acknowledges hostility, I see resilience sharpened by experience. Her music, her aesthetic, her unmistakably Cortisa energy – all of it stems from years of navigating identity and ambition, from the corridors of Delaware to rap’s unforgiving landscape. And now, the world is paying attention.

Cortisa Star isn’t just another emerging artist – she’s a disruption, a cultural shift in real time. Her music isn’t just entertainment; it’s a statement. With EMO, she isn’t politely requesting space – she’s taking it. Songs like 'EVIL AF' and 'MISIDENTIFY' are more than club anthems; they’re acts of resistance, unapologetic assertions of selfhood.

Whether she’s delivering razor-sharp lyrics or pushing beats that rattle through the floor, Cortisa isn’t just making waves – she’s commanding the tide. And as she puts it best: Watch out.

P. Eldridge: Babe, thanks so much for finding the time. I know you’re busy serving internationally. Introduce yourself to us. People are learning about you in various ways, on TikTok, through your music, or seeing you grace the runway of Miu Miu. So gorg, btw.

Cortisa Star: Oh my god, thank you!

Tell me, not just as an artist, who are you today?

I’m Cortisa Star. I was raised in Delaware, but born in Baltimore. I currently live in Baltimore. I’m a rapper and all I do is play games, watch TV, hang out with my sisters, my dog and my grandma. But I’m really off-putting, sort of awkward but still cunt.

What makes you off-putting?

Some people get it. There's a lot of off-putting bad bitches out there and a lot of people get it, but sometimes I feel like I scare people away. I might scare the haters away a little bit. 

"I’m a rapper and all I do is play games, watch TV, hang out with my sisters, my dog and my grandma. But I’m really off-putting, sort of awkward but still cunt"

It's like being a diva actually scares people.

It does.

I've listened to your new EP, EMO. Congratulations.

[Squeals] Thank you.

It’s really sickening. Your music is fearless and boundary pushing. I'm wondering if you see yourself that way or if there's another side of you that people haven't yet seen? 

You know what? Honestly, perception is to the person's own eye.

Some people categorise you as a bad bitch, but maybe there's something else that exists underneath the surface?

Maybe I am a diva, groundbreaking bad bitch, but I feel like I'm so awkward and shy as a person. I try to be so social when I'm out. But yeah, maybe it's time for my evil era soon, probably not. I don't know if I have it in me, but maybe soon.