Love & Hip Hop | |
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original title screen (2011)
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Genre | Reality television |
Country of origin | United States |
Original language(s) | English |
Production | |
Running time | 41–44 minutes |
Release | |
Original network | VH1 |
Picture format | |
Chronology | |
Related shows |
Love & Hip Hop is a media franchise that consists of several reality television series broadcast on VH1. The shows document the lives and relationships of hip hop and R&B musicians, performers, managers and record producers residing in varying regions throughout the United States. The original franchise version, Love & Hip Hop: New York, premiered on March 6, 2011. Its success resulted in spin-offs located in Atlanta and Hollywood. The subsequent installments have proven similarly successful, and have resulted in spin-offs of their own.
As of July 24, 2017, 242 original episodes of Love & Hip Hop: New York, Atlanta and Hollywood have aired over seventeen seasons. The series is known for its large ensemble cast, with over 150 cast members.
Love & Hip Hop had its origins as a 2006 pilot called Keeping Up With the Joneses, which centered around rapper Jim Jones and was produced by Stefan Springman and Toby Barraud. When VH1 brought producer Mona Scott-Young on board, its focus shifted to include Jim's girlfriend Chrissy Lampkin and her circle of friends. The series was first mentioned in VH1's programming development report in early 2010 as Diary of a Hip Hop Girlfriend. On January 4, 2011, it was announced that Love & Hip Hop would debut on March 6, 2011, as an eight-episode series. The first season was later expanded to nine episodes in order to include the first season reunion, which aired on May 16, 2011.
On May 25, 2011, the series was renewed for a second season, which premiered on November 14, 2011. The season garnered big ratings for the network, averaging 2.8 million total viewers per episode, making it VH1's highest rated series in over three and a half years.
On May 15, 2012, VH1 announced Love & Hip Hop: Atlanta, the Atlanta-based spin-off of Love & Hip Hop, would make its series premiere on June 18, 2012. After its premiere, the show's audience grew substantially over the season, garnering even higher ratings than its predecessor. Its finale garnered 5.5 million people overall.