When people think of the hip hop life, they think of the players - the men who shape the music and the blinged-out lifestyle that comes with success. The fact is the hip hop life is different for the women involved: the spouses, girlfriends or artists trying to define themselves in a world where men are still calling the shots.
West Coast rapper Somaya Reece arrives in New York to take her career to the next level. She's hungry and ready to grind! Somaya meets with rapper Jim Jones who agrees to collaborate. Emily gets together with Mashonda, the ex-wife of super producer Swizz Beats. Mashonda's situation has Emily contemplating the future of her relationship with Fab and she breaks down. Its girls' night out! Chrissy, Olivia and Emily attend an NBA draft party and start cracking on a chick in the crowd. It's Somaya Reece! In the bathroom of the club Chrissy and Somaya clash. Somaya asks if Chrissy's mad that she's working with Jim. Chrissy goes off and insults Somaya's wardrobe.
Olivia told Chrissy and Emily that she's dating New York Jet, Darrell Revis. But Emily has a secret: She's Darrell's stylist and she doesn't think he and Olivia are dating! In a meeting with Darrell, Emily asks him about the relationship. He says they're not dating and he hasn't seen Olivia in months! Somaya needs to make some money, so her manager Maurice sets up a photo shoot. Maurice pushes for extra sexy shots; Somaya is not having it and storms off the set. Chrissy is in the studio with Jim and Somaya shows up! The tension is palpable. Somaya plays one of her tracks for Jim and he likes it, much to Chrissy's dismay. Will Chrissy let this collaboration go down? Jim's mom is throwing a party for her son's birthday and Chrissy reluctantly agrees to help plan it. They put aside their differences and the party is a success. In a quiet moment alone, Chrissy tells Jim they need to think about their future. Jim agrees, which for Chrissy is a shockingly pleasant surprise!
Emily confronts Olivia about the Darrell situation. Olivia is pissed that Emily went to Darrell behind her back. Emily tries to smooth things out but Olivia flips the script and digs in on Emily's relationship with Fab. Chrissy and Emily go to see Somaya perform at Love Jones. They are not impressed! Chrissy tells Jim that Somaya needs to practice and advises against working with her; Jim agrees. When Somaya brings her track back to Jim, he tells her doesn't have the time to work with her. Somaya is devastated! Somaya turns to Emily to find out if Chrissy was behind Jim's backing out. Emily organizes a day on a yacht so that Somaya and Chrissy can work out their differences. When Somaya confronts Chrissy about the track Chrissy savages Somaya's rapping skills. Everything goes sideways when Maurice joins the fray and calls Chrissy 'trifling'!
Chrissy is hot about the sh*t that Maurice was talking on the boat. She thinks he needs to be checked, so she calls Jim. While Rich, Olivia, Somaya and Maurice are having drinks, Jim storms in and drags Maurice outside! A terrified Maurice is forced to apologize to the camera! After the smoke settles, Maurice is upset that Somaya didn't have his back. He is still shook and living in fear. Can he continue managing Somaya? In need of comfort and support, Somaya invites her ex-boyfriend, rapper X.O. for a visit. After a sexy reunion, X.O. lays down a sick verse on Somaya's track, vowing to beat back the haters!
Olivia works on new material in the studio. Her manager Rich tells her that she has to work hard to convince people that she's more than "the girl that was with 50 Cent". Olivia is frustrated that people don't believe in her and she tearfully breaks down. Mashonda's ex, producer Swizz Beats just married Alicia Keys, so Emily offers her support. Emily acknowledges the rumors that Fab is with other women. She claims it doesn't bother her, but Mashonda is not convinced. Emily visits Mashonda, who is moving out of the dream house she shared with Swizz Beats. The house is in a shocking state of disrepair and Mashonda explains that it's in foreclosure. To help Emily find her voice, Moshanda signs her up to read her poetry at a women's showcase. The night of the performance Emily is terrified, but once she takes the stage she conquers her fears and kills it! Will her newfound confidence help her stand up to Fab? Somaya asks Emily to get the girls together for happy hour to make things right. But she has ulterior motives: she wants to confront Olivia for giving out Maurice's location when Jim beat him up! She goes in on Olivia and calls her a snitch! Olivia is not having it and walks away. Emily stays with Somaya, which further enrages Olivia. She wants nothin to do with Somaya or Emily!
Chrissy reveals to Olivia that she's going to propose to Jim! She's tired of waiting and is ready for the next stage of their relationship. Not only is she going to pop the question, she's going to do it with a sexy burlesque routine! Rich has a plan for getting Olivia a new deal: a listening party. He sets up a showcase for industry insiders to see Olivia perform her new material. The stakes are high and Olivia delivers. Her single 'December' brings down the house. But is it enough to land a deal? It's time for Chrissy's burlesque proposal! She's assembled a group of friends and family and they have no idea what is about to go down. As Chrissy puts on her risqué outfit, she has second thoughts about her burlesque routine. She decides to scrap the routine but go forward with the proposal. She takes the stage and pops the question. Will Jim say yes?
Chrissy pops the question and Jim says "I'm with you." Momma Jones is annoyed about the secret proposal and storms out! The next day, Chrissy goes to confront Momma Jones about her antics and tensions flare. Nancy is still tight about being excluded from the process and reveals that she doesn't think Chrissy is "the one for Jim"! Later, Chrissy presses Jim on wedding plans, but Jim is in no rush to stroll down the aisle. Jim invites Olivia to the studio to work on a "special record." Olivia is surprised to discover it's an ode to Chrissy! Jim may be reluctant to get married, but he pours his true feelings about his relationship into the track. Emily booked a family photo shoot, but Fab is a no show. He doesn't want to appear on the program even though his girl and his children are on it; the "family thing" just isn't part of his brand. Johan runs wild and Emily is devastated: She could have really used the love and support of her man.
Jim takes Chrissy out for a night on the town to reconnect after the whirlwind proposal. Chrissy wants to talk about a marriage plan but Jim isn't interested in thinking about the future. He plays Chrissy the song he recorded for her, but she's not impressed. The sentiment is nice but she wants to know where this relationship is going! Somaya and Maurice are in the studio and Rich storms in! He's amped about Somaya's diss video and flies into a rage defending his client! Somaya doesn't back down and says that if Olivia wants a piece of her, they can go "round for round"! Emily is upset about another Fab rumor on the blogs, so she goes to talk to Mashonda. She knows it's not true, but living in his shadow is taking its toll. She breaks down and admits that she needs to change her life, and to do that she might have to leave Fab. Chrissy tries to make things right with Momma Jones, but Jim's mom is not having it! She's still hot about Chrissy confronting her about the proposal and tells her that she "is done trying." Things go off the rails when Momma Jones demands that Chrissy give her a grand baby! Chrissy is at wits end: how can she marry Jimmy if she has to deal with his crazy momma?
Do you think that Mama Jones and Chrissy will have words? Will Olivia talk some smack to Somaya after "December" trounced "Would You Still Love Me" on the charts? Will Maurice dare show his face? Tune in Monday, May 16 at 8 PM ET/PT to find out!
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