Raven Ancar

Raven Ancar (born June 15, 2000), known professionally as Ray$av, is an American rapper, singer, producer, and songwriter. Originally from the culturally diverse city of New Orleans, LA, she first garnered attention when videos of her freestyling became popular on social media platforms. She is a Cum Laude graduate from Tulane University, earning her B.A. in Sociology with a minor in Africana Studies. During her undergraduate career, Ancar received many awards for her extensive experience in research, film making, and anti-racist activism. She received the Tulane 34 Award, which is the most coveted university-wide honor bestowed upon 34 graduates who are recognized for their exemplary leadership, service, and academic excellence. Ancar is the director, editor, and producer for her debut film titled The Veil, which is a documentary about the Black experience at Tulane. In January of 2019 the film debuted, and since then has been seen by thousands of people across Louisiana.Tulane continues to use Ancar’s research, speeches, and films as a part of an annual mandatory anti-racism training for all faculty and staff. She is a founding member of Les Griots Violets, which is an anti-racism activism group that authored the Equity Fee that passed at Tulane’s University Senate, the first bill of that nature to be passed at the university level. The bill called for an extra 3 million dollars be put to organizations that support anti-racism on campus. Ray$av is another artistic expression of her activist nature and beliefs. Of all songs composed, only about 2.8% are produced by those who identify as female. Adding to this number is Ray$av, who single-handedly produced 6 out of the 12 tracks on her mixtape. As a producer, she uses traditional New Orleans sounds in recognition to femme artists who have come before her. However, on Ray$av’s debut mixtape “Short For $avage,” she explores several different genres, including traditional 90’s hip-hop with scratches, neo-soul R&B, Bounce music from her hometown, and New York drill. As a producer, her goal is to show that she can create any beat in the hip-hop world, and as a rapper, that she can apply her original sound and flow to any instrumental thrown her way. Short For $avage is a journey of Ray$av’s self discovery as a researcher turned independent rapper through her vibrant flow and unique voice. Ray$av is a dynamite performer: she keeps the attention of the audience from the minute she steps on stage until the very end of her set. She is currently a student at NYU and is studying Music Business Industries.