Love & Hip Hop: Atlanta is the second installment of the Love & Hip Hop reality television franchise. It premiered June 18, 2012 on VH1, and chronicles the lives of several people in Atlanta involved with hip hop music. The show features appearances from notable figures associated with Southern hip hop.
On February 16, 2018, VH1 announced the show's return for the seventh season, which will premiere on March 19, 2018.
Video Love & Hip Hop: Atlanta
Development
Rumors of a Atlanta-based spin-off of Love & Hip Hop began circulating in December 2011. Stefan Springman revealed in the behind-the-scenes special Love & Hip Hop Atlanta: Dirty Little Secrets that producers first considered Love & Hip Hop spin-off set in Miami before settling on Atlanta instead, saying that "we found great characters (in Miami) but it just didn't feel right". During the casting process, several names were reported as part of the original cast, including Diamond, Rasheeda, Nivea and CeeLo Green's ex-wife Christina Johnson. Diamond was planned to be the lead of the show, with an source saying "Diamond would definitely be the Chrissy (Lampkin) of the group". Nivea eventually turned the show down, and producers approached Nas's daughter Destiny Jones and her mother Carmen Bryan. They interviewed with producers, but backed out after feeling they didn't fit in with the other cast members. Shawty Lo and his wife Ecreia Perez were cast but dropped from the show, with Shawty later admitting in interviews that VH1 had a problem with the couple's extensive criminal record.
On February 6, 2012, during the finale of Love & Hip Hop's second season, series creator Mona Scott-Young officially announced that Love & Hip Hop: Hotlanta was in production. Casting rumors intensified, with Ms. Rici, known as Yung Joc's assistant and former mistress, and Waka Flocka Flame's mom and manager Deb Antney reportedly joining the cast. The casting of Rici, who was planned to be the "Yandy" of the group, was controversial as she had a long criminal history having been arrested for theft, assault and resisting arrest, amongst other things. Rici backed out of the show days before filming, after discovering producers had planned to air a storyline involving her, Yung Joc and his wife. By March, the cast was finalised and filming began. The original cast included Rasheeda, her husband and manager Kirk Frost, Stevie J, his girlfriend Mimi Faust, his artist Joseline Hernandez, Diamond, Lil Scrappy and his mother Momma Dee. A few weeks into filming, Diamond broke her contract and officially quit the show, telling producers that she had "spoken to God" and he told her "it was the best thing to do". She was replaced by K. Michelle, and Scrappy's baby mama Erica Dixon was given a larger role on the show than planned.
On May 15, 2012, VH1 announced Love & Hip Hop: Atlanta would make its series premiere on June 18, 2012.
Maps Love & Hip Hop: Atlanta
Series synopsis
Overview and casting
Love & Hip Hop: Atlanta revolves around the everyday lives of women and men in hip hop's "dirty south". The first seasons focus on the personal and professional struggles of six women, two of which are known as girlfriends of famous R&B artists and rappers, and the other four are aspiring recording artists. Subsequent seasons expanded to include DJs and radio personalities, stylists, video vixens, glamour models, groupies and socialites. The show has a sprawling supporting cast, consisting mostly of men in the industry, who (in most cases) share the same amount of screen time and storyline focus as the show's leads.
The series would star Stevie J's girlfriend Mimi Faust, Lil Scrappy's girlfriend Erica Dixon, Rasheeda, K. Michelle and aspiring performers Karlie Redd and Joseline Hernandez, with Stevie J, Lil Scrappy, his mother Momma Dee, Mimi's best friend Ariane Davis, Rasheeda's husband Kirk Frost, Benzino and Flavor of Love's Shay Johnson as supporting cast members.
All cast members returned for a second season, with radio personality Traci Steele and her former boyfriend DJ Babey Drew added to the cast.
With the exception of Traci Steele, who was fired from the show, and K. Michelle, who left to join the cast of Love & Hip Hop: New York, all main cast members from the previous season returned for a third season. Waka Flocka Flame's long time girlfriend Tammy Rivera was added to the main cast. Lil Scrappy's girlfriend Adiz "Bambi" Benson, Mimi's boyfriend Nikko London, Joseline's former friend Dawn Heflin and Waka's mother Deb Antney joined the supporting cast, along with Waka Flocka Flame, Yung Joc, aspiring actress Erica Pinkett, Kalenna Harper, her husband Tony "T." Vick and Benzino's girlfriend Althea Heart.
With the exception of Tammy Rivera, all main cast members from the previous season returned for season four, including Stevie J, who was finally promoted to the main cast. Stevie had appeared in every single episode prior to this season as a supporting cast member. Yung Joc's girlfriend Khadiyah Lewis joined the supporting cast, along with former-stripper-turned-rapper Jessica Dime, Nikko's wife Margeaux Simms, aspiring singer Ashley Nicole, Joc's baby mama Sina Bina, rapper Tiffany Foxx and Momma Dee's ex-husband Ernest Bryant. PreMadonna appeared in a minor supporting role for two episodes. Towards the end of the season, former main cast member Tammy Rivera returned in a supporting role for three episodes.
With the exception of Erica Dixon, who quit the show, all main cast members from the previous season returned for season five. Tammy Rivera returned to the main cast after a season's absence, along with original cast member K. Michelle, who returned from the fourth episode "Blackmail". Although credited in every episode after that, Michelle appeared infrequently with no major storylines and barely interacted with the rest of the cast. Lyfe Jennings and Rasheeda's mother Shirleen Harvell joined the supporting cast, along with "momager" Karen "KK" King, her son Scrapp DeLeon, Scrapp's girlfriend Tommie Lee, his baby mama Tiarra Becca, Mimi's girlfriend Chris Gould, Grammy Award-winning songwriter D. Smith and her best friend Betty Idol. Kirk's daughter Kelsie Frost, Scrapp's brother Sas, radio personality J-Nicks and stripper Amber Priddy appeared in minor supporting roles. D. Smith became the first openly transgender castmate in the show's history. Gould would reveal his identity as a trans man in an episode near the end of season. Several episodes featured public service announcements aimed to help viewers struggling with their gender identity. The fourteenth episode, "Confessions", set in Los Angeles, featured crossovers with Love & Hip Hop: Hollywood and K. Michelle: My Life, with guest appearances from cast members Lil Fizz, Nikki Mudarris and Jonathan Fernandez.
With the exception of K. Michelle, despite persistent rumors of a mass firing, all main cast members from the previous season returned for season six, along with Tommie Lee, who was promoted to the main cast. Social media personality Lovely Mimi joined the supporting cast, along with club promoter Melissa Scott, Kirk's alleged mistress Jasmine Washington, her lovers Rod Bullock and Keanna Arnold, beauty shop owner Sierra Gates, her assistant Moriah Lee and her husband Shooter Gates. Although not included in the initial cast announcement, aspiring radio personality Tresure Price, aspiring singer Estelita Quintero, Stevie J's daughter Savannah Jordan and Tommie's mother Samantha would also appear in supporting roles. Rapper Gunplay appeared as a supporting cast member for one episode, his appearance serving as a teaser for the then upcoming spin-off Love & Hip Hop: Miami.
Production on the season became increasingly troubled, with later episodes showing scenes of Joseline Hernandez and Kirk Frost breaking the fourth wall to express their displeasure with the producers. Behind the scenes during the reunion taping on June 1, 2017, tensions between Joseline, Mona Scott-Young and the other producers exploded, with Joseline announcing that she had quit the show after six seasons.
Timeline of main cast members
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Storylines
Love & Hip Hop: Atlanta chronicles the relationship struggles of women and men in the hip hop industry, with infidelity being the most common theme. The dysfunctional love triangle between Stevie J, Mimi Faust and Joseline Hernandez has been the focal point of the show since its inception and its most widely publicised storyline.
Over the seasons, the show has explored issues such as abortion, domestic violence, addiction, substance abuse and postpartum depression.
Many of the female cast members identify as bisexual, lesbian or sexually fluid, and the show is one of the few television shows to explore LGBT issues from a black perspective. In season five, Grammy Award-winning producer D. Smith became the first openly transgender castmate in the show's history. Mimi's partner Chris Gould would reveal his identity as a trans man in an episode near the end of season. Several episodes featured public service announcements aimed to help viewers struggling with their gender identity.
Reception
Critical response
Love & Hip Hop: Atlanta has largely been overshadowed by criticism and controversy, with the franchise referred to as "ratchet TV" for its seemingly negative and stereotypical portrayal of black women and its focus on dysfunctional relationships, materialism, hyper-sexuality and violence. The show premiered in 2012 to a storm of controversy, with some viewers calling for a boycott. One petition described the show as "another beautifully-blinged jewel of commercial exploitation" and compared it to the crack epidemic of 1980s in its potentially damaging and long-lasting impact on African-American culture. Series creator Mona Scott-Young has been singled out in particular for allegedly "exploiting (black women) in her quest for the almighty dollar". Scott-Young has continuously defended the show against these accusations, saying it was not created to represent all African-Americans: "It's set in a specific world and I don't think that there's anybody who's navigated that world who would deny that these things happen." Despite the criticism, the franchise has dominated the ratings since its inception, and has been described as "riveting", "addictive" "bawdy and hilarious" and a "guilty pleasure". In 2014, Complex named Joseline Hernandez, Stevie J, K. Michelle, Momma Dee and Shay Johnson as some of the greatest VH1 reality stars of all time.
Scripting allegations
Love & Hip Hop is often criticized for appearing to fabricate much of its storyline. Scott-Young has denied those claims: "I can't stress enough that the stuff they deal with on (Love & Hip Hop) is real. We may frame it within a production construct that allows us to shoot on a schedule, but we're not making up the stuff that they're going through."
Ratings
Love & Hip Hop: Atlanta is the highest-rated installment of the Love & Hip Hop franchise, which is itself one of the highest-rated franchises in cable television history. In an overview of the television cultural divide, The New York Times reported that Love & Hip Hop was most popular show in the black belt.
After its premiere, the show's audience grew substantially over the season. Its finale garnered 5.5 million people overall, cementing its status as the highest rated show in primetime on cable among adults 18-49. The third season was a huge ratings success, with the series premiere having a combined rating of 5.6 million viewers and continuing to set ratings records throughout the season. The outrageous storylines and scandals, particularly Mimi and Nikko's sex tape, Benzino's non-fatal shooting and Joseline's violent behavior at the reunion, garnered a media storm and made its cast members tabloid fixtures. In reference to Benzino's shooting in particular, creator and executive producer Mona Scott-Young said "The timing and the way that it happened, you have another moment that you go, you can't make this stuff up. It's like the reality gods have once again chosen this show to smile upon." The fourth series premiere garnered big ratings for the network, with VH1 announcing a combined rating of 6.2 million viewers. On August 19, 2015, VH1 announced the season as the summer's #1 cable reality series among adults 18-49 and women 18-49 and the 2nd most talked-about television series on social media overall. The sixth series premiere garnered big ratings for the network, with VH1 announcing a combined rating of 5.2 million viewers, up 17% from its fifth season bow.
Cultural impact
During a speech at a campaign rally in North Carolina on November 4, 2016, President Barack Obama referenced the show, comparing the 2016 presidential race to reality television, saying "I mean, its like some Love & Hip Hop stuff."
Lee Daniels is a fan of Love & Hip Hop: Atlanta and his 2016 Fox television series Star (set in Atlanta) makes several references to the show. Joseline Hernandez appears in a recurring role as Michelle, a stripper. In the second episode, Lenny Kravitz's character is seen watching a scene of the show featuring Mimi Faust and Stevie J. In a later scene in the same episode, Jessica Dime makes a cameo appearance as a stripper. Additionally, Star cast member Jasmine Burke guest starred in Love & Hip Hop: Atlanta({'})s sixth season as herself.
Episodes
Broadcast history
On April 1, 2013, VH1 announced that Love & Hip Hop: Atlanta would be returning for a second season on April 22, 2013.
On April 14, 2014, VH1 announced that Love & Hip Hop: Atlanta would be returning for a third season on May 5, 2014.
On April 9, 2015, VH1 announced that Love & Hip Hop: Atlanta would be returning for a fourth season on April 20, 2015, and will premiere alongside Love & Hip Hop Atlanta: The Afterparty Live!, a half an hour long interactive after-show hosted by Big Tigger.
On March 8, 2016, VH1 announced that Love & Hip Hop: Atlanta would be returning for a fifth season on April 4, 2016.
On February 21, 2017, VH1 announced Love & Hip Hop: Atlanta would be returning for a sixth season on March 6, 2017. With this season, Love & Hip Hop: Atlanta became the first incarnation of the franchise to reach 100 episodes.
Spin-offs
On October 15, 2014, VH1 announced the spin-off K. Michelle: My Life, starring cast member K. Michelle, would make its series premiere on November 3, 2014.
On August 27, 2015, VH1 confirmed that Stevie J and Joseline Hernandez would star in their own spin-off series, set in Los Angeles. On December 2, 2015, VH1 announced Stevie J & Joseline: Go Hollywood, which premiered January 25, 2016, back-to-back with the second season of K. Michelle: My Life.
On December 1, 2016, VH1 announced the spin-off Leave It To Stevie, starring Stevie J, would make its series premiere on December 19, 2016, back-to-back with the third season of K. Michelle: My Life.
Specials
On December 16, 2012, VH1 aired Dirty Little Secrets, a special featuring unseen footage, deleted scenes and interviews with the show's cast and producers. The special garnered 1.22 million viewers.
On April 19, 2017, VH1 announced that Joseline's Special Delivery, a special documenting the birth of Joseline's child, will air between the season's eighth and ninth episodes on May 1, 2017. It premiered to 2.18 million viewers. Additionally, Dirty Little Secrets 2, a special featuring unseen footage and deleted scenes from the show's second season up until season five, aired on May 10, 2017 to over 1 million viewers.
Distribution
Love & Hip Hop: Atlanta episodes air regularly on VH1 in the United States. Episodes run from around 41-44 minutes and are broadcast in high definition. The series' episodes are also available on demand through the official VH1 website, as well as for digital download at the iTunes Store and Amazon.
VH1 have released the first two seasons, as well as the fourth season, on DVD. The third, fifth and sixths seasons are currently only available on digital platforms.
References
External links
- Love & Hip Hop: Atlanta on IMDb
Source of article : Wikipedia
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