New VH1 Reality Show: Love and Hip Hop

Last night saw the premiere of VH1's new reality television show Love and Hip Hop about the lives of the women behind the men in the Hip-Hop industry, described during the opening credits as a "Brutal Boys Club".  I hope no one will hold it against me when I say that this show was a mess.  First of all, the show stars 90s hip hop sensation Olivia (whose career has taken a down turn), up and coming West Coast "rapper" Somaya, Chrissy (longterm GF of Jim Jones), and Emily (GF and stylist of rapper Fabolous).  There is also an appearance from Mashonda, the baby mamma of Swizz Beatz (AKA Mr. Alicia Keys).  Basically, the show started off with Emily talking to Chrissy and Olivia about how tough it is to be with Fabolous when he refuses to even acknowledge her.  Then the show fast forwards to Chrissy and Jim Jones's relationship, which seems like kind of a sham IMHO.  The drama begins when the viewer is introduced to rapper Somaya who is attempting to break into the East Coast rap scene requiring that she relocate to NY.  Somaya shows up at Jim Jones's studio and he says that she should have no problem getting her record out there because she's pretty.  Next thing we know, the girls are all at an NBA Draft party in Manhattan when all of the sudden Chrissy is sizing up and giving dirty looks to Somaya as they head to the ladies room (the song "Meeting in the Ladies Room" comes to mind).  Somaya  follows Chrissy into the ladies room where Chrissy essentially reveals that she's jealous because Somaya is spending time with her man.  The problem with the show is that it's sloppy.  It's obvious that the encounter between Somaya and Chrissy was staged and  scripted; and most of the women don't have enough of a personality to carry this kind of show.  At least the women on Basketball Wives are somewhat interesting.  I don't foresee this show lasting very long.  That being said, there is no question that I shall be watching the next episode.

Somaya is clearly going to be the target for the other women during the show because she's an outsider and her entire persona is very sexualized (please note the leopard print and enormous breasts)