Love & Hip Hop: New York (Season 2)

Season two of ***Love & Hip Hop: New York*** aired on VH1 from November 14, 2011 until February 6, 2012.

The season was produced by Mona Scott-Young for Monami Entertainment, Toby Barraud and Stefan Springman for NFGTV, and Jim Ackerman and Jeff Olde for VH1. It consists of 11 episodes, including "Reality Check", a reunion special hosted by Mona Scott-Young.

## Production

### Development

On May 25, 2011, VH1 announced that *Love & Hip Hop* would be returning for a second season. The series premiered on November 14, 2011. All main cast members from the previous season returned, along with new cast members Kimbella Vanderhee, the girlfriend of Juelz Santana, and Yandy Smith, Jim Jones' manager. Teairra Marí and Erica Mena appear as supporting cast members.

### Distribution

The season was released on DVD in region 1 on June 26, 2012.

## Sypnosis

### Storylines

Picking up where last season left off, Chrissy is still waiting for her dream wedding and struggling with Jim's commitment issues. Jim's mother Nancy has released a diss track "Psychotic" aimed at Chrissy, capitalizing off Chrissy's insult during a fight last season. Emily has finally left Fab, tired of his constant infidelity. Olivia's single "December" didn't exactly set fire to the charts like she hoped it would and she still can't get a record deal, much to the frustration of her manager Rich. Somaya is still hustling hard, trying to get her various business ventures off the ground, amid tensions with her manager Maurice.

Emily decides to have an "emancipation" party with the girls to celebrate her break-up with Fab. Yandy, Jim's manager of seven years, brings along Kimbella, a video vixen and the baby mama of Juelz Santana. During the party, Kimbella admits to having had sex with Fab three years ago, while Emily was pregnant with Fab's child. Chrissy reacts violently to this relevation, sucker punching Kimbella in the face and attempting to stomp her head into the ground before being pulled away by security. Chrissy blames Yandy for the fiasco and Yandy's relationship with Chrissy and Jim begins to disintegrate.

Meanwhile, Somaya reaches a breaking point and fires Maurice. Olivia struggles with her identity as a recording artist. Emily tries to transition to single life with help from her friend, singer Teairra Marí. However, after Fab turns up at Emily's fashion show, she takes him back. Kimbella is dealing with Juelz' infidelity and her own lingering issues with her mother when she encounters a new enemy in Erica Mena, a fellow video vixen and model.

Chrissy leaves New York with the girls for Miami, after making it clear to Jim that she is not willing to wait much longer for his commitment. Jim follows and surprises Chrissy with a touching proposal. However, her happiness is short-lived when she comes face to face with Yandy at a night club and all hell breaks loose. The season ends with Emily taking a stand with Fab, Kimbella coming to a crossroads with Juelz, Somaya leaving New York for Los Angeles, Olivia refusing to compromise her career for a record deal and Jim and Chrissy severing their relationship with Yandy for good.

### Reception

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. Overall, the series was the #8 highest rating series on cable in 2011.

## Cast

Main and supporting cast members in order of appearances.

### Guest stars

* Radio personality DJ Self, dentist Dr. Castrise Austin, photographer Suliman Hasan, Teairra's date Justin Higgins, designer Samantha Black, model Nik Pace, radio personality Monie Love, Dipset member Freekey Zekey, Kimbella's father and children appear in one episode each, however they are not credited onscreen.
* Lil' Kim, Jonathan Fernandez and Albee Yours appear briefly in background cameos.
* Maino, Mama Jones' friends Peter and Joy and Kimbella's psychic Joshua appear in bonus scenes only.

## Gallery

**Cover art**

Alternate posteriTunes cover art.Amazon Prime cover art.DVD cover art.Title screen.
**Cast photos**

Cast photo.Chrissy's promo photo.Emily's promo photo.Kimbella's promo photo.Olivia's promo photo.Somaya's promo photo.Yandy's promo photo.

## Promo videos

### Trailers

* **Teaser** (00:30)

* **Super Trailer** (04:00)

### Cast interviews

VH1.com features:

* **Emily** (02:48) – catch up interview with Emily.
* **Somaya** (03:03) – catch up interview with Somaya.
* **Olivia** (03:23) – catch up interview with Olivia.
* **Chrissy** (02:52) – catch up interview with Chrissy.
* **Head to Toe: Somaya** (02:54) – interview with Somaya about her style.
* **Head to Toe: Olivia** (02:09) – interview with Olivia about her style.
* **Head to Toe: Chrissy** (01:43) – interview with Chrissy about her style.
* **Head to Toe: Kimbella** (02:52) – interview with Kimbella about her style.
* **Head to Toe: Yandy** (02:46) – interview with Yandy about her style.

### Webisodes

Bonus scenes were released weekly with every episode.

## Trivia

* This is the last season of the franchise filmed in standard definition.
* The violence this season (particularly the fights between Kimbella and Chrissy, and Kimbella and Erica) led to stronger security measures during filming, including hiring personal bodyguards for the cast and enforcing a total ban on glass and metal silverware on set.
* This is one of two seasons without a traditional reunion, with the "Reality Check" special serving in its place. Production was forced to do one-on-one interviews instead having the cast reunite together on stage, due to Chrissy and Jim's refusal to film with Yandy, as well as Chrissy's strained relationship with Mona.