While Love & Hip-Hop: Atlanta has sparked no shortage of conversation and controversy about its portrayal of a group of women and the men they love, Mona Scott-Young's popular program has propelled a number of artists and personalities into the spotlight who might otherwise not have such opportunities. The music industry is fickle, and the fates of artists are often only loosely tied to the quality of the art they produce. With Love & Hip-Hop, a number of former stars have become stars again.
As a result, a bunch of artists who had been known primarily for their contributions to music are now known for their personalities on a television show. America's cultural memory—despite all of our "remember the '90s" nostalgia—isn't that strong. It's easy to forgot how profound were, say, Stevie J's contributions to hip-hop, or how big Rasheeda really was, or how far back Benzino's career really goes. Here are ten things you probably didn't know about the cast of Love & Hip-Hop: Atlanta.
RELATED: 15 Things You Didn't Know About Kanye West's "The College Dropout"
Momma Dee found out Scrappy knew about her illegal business when he patronized it.
Benzino has been rapping a LONG time. His first release was "The Greatest Show On Earth" with Almighty RSO in 1986.
That same year, the group won the ICA B-Town Rap Battle in Boston. They would cause considerable controversy in the 1990s when Benzino's friend David Mays—a co-founder of The Source—published a feature on the group in the magazine without the knowledge of the magazine's other editors. At the time, Benzino was known as Raydog. [Via]
Kirk Frost was behind "Shawty Swing My Way."
One of Lil Scrappy's biggest songs was produced by Isaac Hayes' son.
Stevie J produced an entire catalog of hip-hop classics.
Mimi appeared in Pharrell's "Frontin'" video.
Karlie Redd had a role as an extra in the 1997 Film "B.A.P.S."
Rasheeda's "Do It" was a major crunk anthem.
She would continue to record after the single as a solo artist throughout the 2000s.
Mimi Faust's mother worked for Scientology's "secret service."
Kalenna Harper once wrote a hit song for Aretha Franklin.
