by Shirea L. Carroll
7/3/2014
VH1 reality stars love to wear many hats, and often times appearing on our shows isn’t quite enough to settle their ambitious spirits. Many of our stars have a love for music, and either got their start in the music game long ago, or are on a mission to make their other skills know to the world now.
Whether it’s a decision to get back to their first love like Love and Hip Hop: Atlanta Rasheeda using their reality show stardom as platform for their music like model-turned-singer Erica Mena , or attempting to remind the world how much of an accomplished an artist they are like rap vet and Love and Hip Hop NY Peter Gunz , many of our VH1 celebrities stay “in the studio.”
Click through pages and check out all the reality stars that stay on camera and in the studio, and tell who you think could really make it today in the music biz (music vids included):
Benzino Claim To Musical Fame : Before Love & Hip Hop Atlanta ’s Benzino was beefing with Karlie Redd and Joseline , he was a relevant rapper beefing with the notorious Eminem and putting out real deal hip hop albums.
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Tami Roman Claim To Musical Fame : : You might know Tami for her fighting skills on Basketball Wives Real World days Tami was the rapper in her very own girl group, Reality Check .
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Nya Lee Claim To Musical Fame : At this point Nya Lee has said it enough on Love & Hip Hop for us to know she’s worked extensively with Jadakiss , so there’s that. Add to it the NY stripper moonlighting as a rapper has also put out the single, “Bow Down Hoe,” and we guess she’s on her way?
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Rasheeda Claim To Musical Fame : Love & Hip Hop Atlanta’s Rasheeda been a part of Atlanta’s music scene since the late ’90s when she was first in a hip hop girl group, and later went solo. She has since released six albums, and been featured on albums from artist like Petey Pablo and Nivea .
Somaya Reece Claim To Musical Fame : Somaya lost more than a few pounds since appearing on Love & Hip Hop and with a new images pursues her music with a vengeance. She come a long way since her MySpace artist days, and was named at one point the “Hottest Artist in Music” by Maxim en Espanol .
Drita Claim To Musical Fame : Everyone knows Mob Wives French Montana , (That was later taken off on the final track — shade), and personally brought up on stage by Lil’ Kim to kick a rhyme.
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Erica Mena Claim To Musical Fame : We all remember when Erica and Rich Dollaz decided to mix business with pleasure and become his artist. Within the on-again/off-again rocky relationship the two put out the iTunes hit, “Where Do I Go From Here,” that was later given to Rich Dollaz’ other artist and co-star Olivia Longott . Love & Hip Hop drama to the highest.
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Althea Heart Claim To Musical Fame : Joseline may not like what she called the “’80s” music that Althea is putting out now, but we thought it wasn’t too shabby. With a few singles under her belt, Thi-Thi has been pursuing music as singer since the early 2000s, and even made a cameo in co-star Rasheeda’s video for “Bubble Gum” in 2007.
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Tahiry Claim To Musical Fame :Tahiry and Joe Budden love to break up to make up, and during one of those break ups Tahiry thought it be good idea to lay out how she felt in a song. The result? Joe Budden being compared to a demon in “Devil.”
Lore’l Claim To Musical Fame : Lore’l came onto Love & Hip Hop NY as an aspiring rapper, and branding herself became her storyline. Her biggest hit? “I’m A Problem.” Considering we haven’t heard from her in while, maybe it should have been called “Is There A Problem?”
Joseline Hernandez Claim To Musical Fame : The self-proclaimed Puerto Rican princess is on mission to make a name for herself as rapper. Now that she not only working with but married to four-time Grammy winner Stevie J , Joseline believes her Latin infused 16 bars will land her her very own Grammy.
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Deelishis Claim To Musical Fame : Flavor of Love
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Chantel Christie Claim To Musical Fame : Before Chantel was fighting Draya over Orlando on Basketball Wives LA albums as “Chani.” In 2011 she dropped her second album, and compared herself to Aaliyah ’s sound. Who knew?
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Mama Jones Claim To Musical Fame :After being left out the plans for Chrissy and Jim Jones wedding proposal on Love & Hip Hop , Mama Jones jumped in the booth and put her feelings on wax, warning the world not to disrespect her.
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Brooke Hogan Claim To Musical Fame : Hulk Hogan ’s hot blonde daughter featured on Hogan Knows Best Toni Braxton ’s 2009 single, “Yesterday.”
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Karlie Redd Claim To Musical Fame : Love & Hip Hop Atlanta’s Karlie Redd has put her pursuit of acting on pause to be in the studio with all types of producers and artists (i.e. Jeremih , Benzino, Young Joc — see a pattern here?) to further move her musical career along.
Mayte Garcia Claim To Musical Fame : Everyone recognizes her ex-husband Prince as the musical artist, but Hollywood Exes
Courtney Stodden Claim To Musical Fame : After getting famous for getting with a man nearly four times her age, Couples Therapy
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Po Johnson Claim To Musical Fame : La La’s Full Court Life The Rise of Po Johnson — and has features on BET.com.
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Peter Gunz Claim To Musical Fame : If you’re a native New Yorker or loved hip hop in the 90s you can’t not love Peter Gunz hit single, “Deja Vu (Uptown Baby)” that he and rap partner Lord Tariq released off their one and only album Make It Reign in 1998.
Hottie Claim To Musical Fame : We were wondering what Hottie has been up to. Here’s another Flavor Of Love fan favorite contestant, who can be found doing her own YouTube concerts.
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Bambi Claim To Musical Fame : When Love & Hip Hop Atlanta ’s Bambi isn’t riding her bike to rapper boyfriend Scrappy ’s house, she’s riding it to the studio, and under the moniker Adiz getting in the booth and dropping bars.
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Saigon Claim To Musical Fame : Maybe Love & Hip Hop ’s Saigon’s relationship with Erica Jean isn’t the best, but there’s no questioning, Saigon is legit as rapper. Saigon has had a record deal with Atlantic Records, co-signs from producer Just Blaze and collaborations with acclaimed rap artists Jay-Z, Kanye West and Kool G Rap .
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Olivia Longott Claim To Musical Fame : Before she was Rich Dollaz Unlimited’s lead artist, Olivia was the first lady of 50 Cent ’s G-Unit squad, and served as the go-to for all the hooks. She has more than a few singles that put her on the map, but they haven’t necessarily kept her there.
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Nikko London Claim To Musical Fame : When Love & Hip Hop Atlanta star Nikko isn’t laying pipe in sex tapes, he allegedly laying tracks in the studio. Who can forget Mimi’s cameo in his smash rap-pop video, “NY to LA” with Johnny? Real memorable.
I produce these VH1.com videos, eat Thai food, do squats, and travel the world. Follow me on IG: @thatshirealife if you dare to keep up.
@shireacarroll