Once upon a time long ago, VH1 was an ‘80s basic cable wasteland only good for Jon Secada, Robert Palmer, and Peter Gabriel videos. If you don’t recognize those names, then you already understand why it was such a wasteland.
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Things gradually changed, and a line was drawn in the sand when Mona Scott-Young came along as the executive producer of such shows like the Love & Hip Hop franchise. A number of rappers with waning degrees of popularity used the channel’s focus on younger more “urban” programming to reestablish relevance. Take a look at the stars who resurrected their careers on VH1 shows and see if someone you watch regularly needs to be thanking the Viacom gods.
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After two top five debuts, Yung Joc disappeared from the pop charts in 2009. But regular appearances on Love & Hip Hop Atlanta found Joc back in headlines thanks to a dalliance with Karlie Redd.
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A federal investigation and what he calls shady business by some higher ups in the record industry crushed Irv Gotti’s Murder Inc. label. Thanks to Gotti’s Way, maybe the guy who helped bring Jay Z and DMX to Def Jam finally got some overdue shine.
His post-Def Jam, independent success and a cult following of Slaughterhouse fans meant Joe Budden wasn’t exactly hurting for press. But it’s safe to say Love & Hip Hop: New York introduced him to another fan base.
Rasheeda had three Billboard chart appearances to show for a nine-year Rap career prior to hitting the reality show circuit. No shots, but it would seem that Love & Hip Hop: Atlanta was a nice boost for her and Kirk.
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Before she and Salt were killing it in Geico commercials, Pepa was on both The Salt-N-Pepa Show and Let’s Talk About Pep.
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Xscape hadn’t had a proper, studio album since 2001’s Traces Of My Lipstick, but thanks to her marriage to T.I., Tameka “Tiny” Cottle has maintained some relevancy through co-starring on T.I. & Tiny: The Family Hustle.
Despite financial success from Hip Hop Weekly, Benzino had become infamous for Source magazine-related slander and hadn’t had a charting hit since 2003’s “Rock The Party.” Everything after Love & Hip Hop Atlanta is history.
The Love & Hip Hop franchise also reinvigorated Lil Scrappy after he parted ways with BME, G-Unit and DTP records during various stints.
An apparently shelved Cash Money album and a regular gig on the now-canceled 106 & Park had Bow Wow stuck in a box of sorts. It’s safe to say being booed up with Erica Mena gave him a different look…for better or worse.
Does anyone know what to make of The Surreal Life? After making Hip-Hop history and diversifying her brand, it was incredibly weird to see Da Brat beefing with Jane Wiedlin while Mini Me was relieving himself in the corner.
For all of his rhyming talents, Consequence was kind of known as that guy who used to rhyme with A Tribe Called Quest and the guy who used to rhyme with Kanye West. Being known as the guy who got socked by Tahiry isn’t really an improvement, but at least it was something different.
Let’s give Peter Gunz the benefit of the doubt and assume he was still spending “Uptown Anthem” money before we all found out he was dirty macking his way back to relevance on Love & Hip Hop: New York.
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William Drayton is the guy who kind of jumped off this whole reality charade. While we lost our collective lunch watching the wildest Public Enemy member slob down that tall chick from Red Sonja, Flavor Flav was making himself (and his sidepieces) relevant again.
