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Love And Hip Hop Episodes 2 & 3 Recap
This is a combination recap of both episode 2 and 3. After watching these episodes, I have noticed that a great deal of the “true story” is missing. The editing and only having 30 minutes with commercials makes it difficult to see what really happened, though it’s causing it to be an exciting show. Here’s what really happened versus the edited version you saw.
I told my manager Maurice that I needed new press photos, so he recommended celebrity photographer Felix Natal, Jr. In no way was I aware that we were selling photos to magazines, and was especially unaware that they wanted me to wear used thong underwear. I mentioned to Maurice and Felix that I didn’t want to appear in the style Felix’s ‘video girls’ do in my photos and that I would have preferred fashionable, yet classy/sexy chic photos, a la Jennifer Lopez, Lady Gaga, and Madonna.
Don’t get mad at my manager just yet. We had just started working together so he wasn’t clear on the vision I had. He was assuming I’d be down to shoot booty shots because of that photo you see in the episode that he showed me. That particular photo was an ad submission for an Australian suntan lotion commercial and print ad. So it wasn’t some random photo I took just to post out there on the Internet as he may have thought. Again, these are the things a lot of people don’t know, but they Google and just assume the worst.
When I arrived and met with Felix, we discussed my clear vision for press images. We also discussed working on getting a hot music article in men’s magazines. Maxim already named me “Hottest Latina Woman in Music,” so I thought, hey, why not? In the process of this, the hair person flaked, the styling wasn’t what I wanted at all, and it ruined the entire look. I was already upset that the vision wasn’t going in the direction I’d intended.
What you didn’t see is that they had this random bag full of underwear that looked old and used. So when you see that thong in my hand you didn’t get to hear me say, “What the hell are these?!” With the combination of me pissed the hair wasn’t done and the styling was not what I wanted at all, I still wanted to remain professional and not come off as a diva, which I am not. Felix was so gracious to do this shoot for me that I continued with the shoot, despite it not being the vision I had in mind. In the middle of shooting, Maurice instructed me to do the booty shot. Later on, I discovered he was being sarcastic, but I took it literally and stopped the shoot. After I explained in greater detail to Maurice what my exact vision was and why his request of a booty shot caused me to become so upset, he apologized and we moved on.
I have no problem being sexy at all. I am a confident woman and am used to the Telemundo world. If you are not privy to the Latin market, turn on your Telemundo channel and see what I am referring to. You will see female singers/rappers dressed attractive and it isn’t frowned upon. This isn’t anything I am opposed to. It is in my culture to be confident and not afraid to embrace your body. The reason for my unwillingness is because I have been taken advantage of by other managers in the past, who have guided me down the wrong road. I really just want to make music, not do these types of photo shoots. All I wanted were press photos, not scandalous photos. My focus was selling my music, not selling pure sex. A lot of people will try to convince you to sell sex, but I’ve learned to put my foot down. Understanding the balance of music and sexy fashion is what I wanted Maurice to recognize, and now he does.
In episode 3:
I was asked to perform my “Would You Still Love Me” poem/song at a venue which was not the style I’m used to. To be honest Iwasn’t comfortable in this environment at all. My records are completely different than the genre of music that is usually performed there. I make Latin club style music that is typically performed with dancers and my shows are big. Think Flo Rida, Ivy Queen, and Pitbull. This song is obviously NOT that style, so I thought that if I slowed it down into more of a melodic poem, it would blend with the style of the club in their jazzy format. I love this record because the words are pure and meaningful. Still, I had a blast, smiled as I always do, did my thing, and saw Chrissy and Emily at the performance. I was nice to them and went on about my business. I’m not a hater or catty. I’m here to grind and help support my parents. That is all.
“Would You Still Love Me” was arranged with my producer Cito on the Beat and a DJ,
exactly how Jim Jones asked me to. I also called my friend, world renowned music video director Rage about shooting a video to this song, and it came out great. I wanted Jim to know I was a professional and not there to waste his valuable time.
When I went back to see Jim at the studio, the vibe was not the same at all. However, he was very professional towards me as usual and didn’t hurt my feelings at all. He politely said he had to finish his album and that he couldn’t work with me. He had advised me that I would do well in New York because my music has a very La Mega radio sound and to stick to that sound. I didn’t know what to think, so I pieced it together.
They don’t show all the things that were discussed in my initial meeting with Emily, nor did they show enough of when Jimmy
liked my Dale Mami style records. Remember there is Hip Hop in Latin America, and it is not just in the U.S. Emily had no idea about this and probably thought I was making up excuses on why he declined the record. Remember, “Would You Still Love Me” was a song that I had planned as a slow style record for Jim and me. Not so much a club record. Also, to address the whole “money” situation – in this business many artists collaborate on a backend contract, which means our managers and lawyers agree to terms on the publishing, sales, and money splits. If the record does well, everyone makes money. That was the original plan and I wasn’t trying to take any money from anyone’s mouth. Jim would have been paid handsomely!
Emily and I had a nice sit-down conversation. I explained to her that I’m not a hardcore rapper, but said she understood my style of music. She invited me on the boat to help clear the air with Chrissy and me. Keep in mind that at this point, I still had no idea why I became so hated on this show when my intentions were never negative nor was I ever trying to be unprofessional with Jim Jones. I strictly wanted to work with him as I do with many men in the industry who have wives, girlfriends and fiancés.
I got on the boat and everything went awry. So much of what happened isn’t on this edit and the viewer only gets to see small clips. Maurice was inside the boat when the girls were talking bad about me and using these “Spanish Latino people” slurs, which I’d also heard off-camera, but didn’t think much of it until I got there. When it got back to me I was in complete shock because I thought Emily seemed very sweet. I asked them why were they were talking about me and I believe Chrissy thought I invited myself on the boat. I told her Emily invited me. I didn’t just randomly go to their yacht party without an invitation.
As you saw, I couldn’t get a word in because Chrissy assumed the worst about me from my first encounter with her. Maurice decided to stand up for me and add his two cents, but everything from there became a disappointment to me. The argument turned into everyone fighting, yelling, and then talking about violence, which was unnecessary. I came on the boat to clear the air with words, but it was clear to me that no matter how polite and upfront I was to Chrissy, she didn’t care to listen to me. She made her mind up about me through a Google-searched photo. Everyone literally lost it and was yelling so much, that nothing was resolved. Even the producers of the show couldn’t figure it out. A battle of vocal cords!
I can understand that this episode depicted Emily as a troublemaker, but I was there with Emily and she was only trying to help Chrissy and me talk things out. I had no ill feelings towards anyone then, and still do not. I’m all about female empowerment even when others aren’t.
I hope these recaps help you guys understand the things that leave you with a question mark. I can’t give away too much more, just wait for episode four 
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Part 3 (coming in Feb 2012)
