WE tv’s Growing Up Hip Hop Atlanta is back for another season of music, entrepreneurship, and, of course, drama. Growing Up Hip Hop in New York, the first in the franchise, created a series that explores generational wealth in the black community. The show digs into the lives of the offspring of hip hop mover & shakers, featuring Ayana Fite (daughter of DJ Hurricane), Shaniah Mauldin (daughter of Jermaine Dupri), and rapper Bow Wow. Rap legend Da Brat and exotic dancer-turned-musician Jhonni Blaze joined the cast in season two.
This season, the cast has been remixed, which means it’s about to be lit!
Rapper/actress Lil Mama and VH1’s Love & Hip Hop transplants Kyomi Leslie and Masika Kalysha are joining the cast this season to unveil what it’s really like #GUHHATL. Lil Mama moved to Atlanta from New York and is working with mentor MC Lyte to restart her career, while aspiring singer/actress Masika Kalysha is hoping that she can get some of that A-town magic sprinkled her way. They’re both trying to grab the attention of Waka Flocka’s mom-ager, Ms. Deb, who is known for taking artists to the next level.
And, as usual, Bow Wow’s keeping everyone on their toes with a new lady in his life, Kyomi Leslie, who is shaking things up all over the internet. However, Ayana, Shaniah, and Da Brat are worried Kyomi is just with Bow Wow for the fame. They might be too late to do anything about it though—are these two secretly married?
Before you jump into the new season, get to know more about the cast.
The O.G.’s
Bow Wow @smoss
Family ties: Discovered by Jermaine Dupri at age 5.
Greatest Hits:
- Found his way into America’s hearts with the release of his debut album Beware of the Dog and became the youngest solo rapper to ever hit No. 1 on the charts
- Hosted the popular BET series 106 & Park and landed a role on the latest addition to the CSI family, CSI: Cyber on CBS
- Back in April, he vowed on The Breakfast Club that he was going to stop doing media interviews…
The latest: He’s back in the studio working on a new album and preparing to join co-star Da Brat on the So So Def 25th anniversary tour.
Da Brat @sosobrat
Family ties: One of So So Def’s first artists and her big sister is actress LisaRaye McCoy.
Greatest hits:
- Changed the game in 1992 when her debut album “Funkdafied” made her the first female solo rapper to go platinum
- Has appeared on tracks with Mariah Carey, TLC, Destiny’s Child, Missy Elliott, and numerous others
- Co-hosts the Rickey Smiley Morning Show on Hot 107.9, serves as a guest judge on Lifetime’s The Rap Game, and hosts Dish Nation on the Fox television network
The latest: Keeping Bow Wow in check while getting ready to go on the So So Def 25th anniversary tour.
Debra Antney, aka Ms. Deb @debraantney
Family ties: Mother of rapper Waka Flocka Flame.
Greatest hits:
- The CEO and founder of Mizay Entertainment, helped launch the careers of Gucci Mane, French Montana, Nicki Minaj, and her son Waka Flocka
- Created the foundation No RIP (No Reckless Posting) after her son, Kayo Redd, took his life in 2013
- At the end of last season, she freed godson Brandon Barnes from the nest to start his own label and caused a stir when she called out Bow Wow when he failed to appear at an event at a Clayton County elementary school
The latest: She’s currently managing Jhonni Blaze and is “oven baked done” with the drama.
The Daddy’s Girls
Ayana Fite @ayanafite
Family ties: Daughter of DJ Hurricane from the Beastie Boys.
The latest: Getting her clothing line Cozy Closet off the ground and keeping the peace with on-again-off-again girlfriend, Amy.
Shaniah Mauldin @shaniahcymone
Family ties: Daughter of So So Def founder and mega producer, Jermaine Dupri.
The latest: She’s starting a clothing line and moved in with her boyfriend (unbeknownst to her father).
Fresh on the Scene
Jhonni Blaze @jhonniblaze
Greatest hits:
- Transitioning her career from stripper at Blue Fame to singer and musician—she plays eight instruments
- Has been linked to rappers Drake and Bow Wow, and producers Rich Dollaz and Stevie J
- Started her television career on Love & Hip Hop, and after VH1 dropped her she went on a YouTube rant revealing the show’s allegedly scripted story lines
The latest: Her EP 5:12 is available for download.
The Newbies
Lil Mama @lilmama
Greatest hits:
- Lit up the hip hop scene with her single “Lip Gloss” in 2008
- Served as a guest judge on America’s Best Dance Crew for seven seasons
- Portrayed Lisa “Left Eye” Lopes in VH1’s Crazy Sexy Cool: The TLC Story and Falicia Blakely in the TV One film When Love Kills: The Falicia Blakely Story
The latest: Refining her image as an actress and MC (and possibly starting to go by her government name, Niatia Kirkland, which she announced to the world at Black Girls Rock).
Masika Kalysha @masikakalysha
Greatest hits:
- Shook up the cast of Love & Hip Hop Hollywood, but left the show after revealing to her 1.9 million Instagram followers that she did not like the way she was portrayed
The latest: The aspiring singer is ready to get to work and make the ATL her own.
Kiyomi Leslie @kiyomileslie
Greatest hits:
- The North Carolina native is currently dating Bow Wow
- Boasts 650,000 followers on Instagram and is notorious online for her twerk videos
The latest: Focusing on staying out of drama on Instagram and taking her modeling career to the next level.
