Rasheed grew up in Indianapolis, Indiana, and is the eldest of three children. He is a graduate of Georgetown University, where he wrote movie reviews for the school newspaper, The Hoya. During his time in Washington, D.C., Rasheed also worked in the communication department for the Coalition for Juvenile Justice. For five years, he volunteered as a tutor/caretaker at Grandma’s House, a group home for foster care children who were HIV+ or living with AIDS.

Rasheed lives with his husband and their two children in Pasadena, California.