After two entertaining and ridiculous seasons, the stylized soapy drama that is "Love & Hip Hop Atlanta" returns with new characters and plenty of fights, manufactured or otherwise.
Two words that will excite many a viewer and disgust quite a few as well: sex tape.
Cast member Mimi Faust shook up the reality show world by becoming a porn star. Her tape was not "accidentally" found footage. It was shot and directed with camera man and sound and all that jazz. And Vivid is selling many many copies while trying to stop hundreds of websites from stealing it.
It's not just about the sex tape, of course. Waka Flocka Flame is among the newbies, along with his girlfriend Tammy Rivera. Yung Joc, who is dating Karlie Redd. Kalenna Harper is also a new face. Lil Scrappy is seeking new love. And Joseline and Stevie J deal with marriage, for better or worse.
I spoke with Benzino about the tape and his own storylines, including his new fiance.
He had seen it - of course. "Journalistic purposes," he said. "She's a grown woman," he said. "I can't judge. At the end of the day, people do things in life and sometimes look back and smile. Sometimes, they frown. We'll have to wait and see."
As a judge of porn, he said, "The previews were a lot better than the actual movie." If he gave it a rating out of 5, he'd give it a 2. "And they get a 2 only because of the shower rod. That was the highlight. Otherwise, it was a snoozefest."
As good friends with Stevie J, he said Stevie J wants to make sure his daughter is protected.
Benzino, who was shot in the upper arm a few weeks back by his nephew, said he is getting better. (The bullet will stay.) "It's a little uncomfortable," he said. "Hopefully, after awhile, I won't be able to feel it."
He has been doing physical therapy at Emory. "Three weeks ago, I couldn't hold a two-pound weight. I'm now up to 15 pounds." He is cleared to go to the gym, too.
He is friends with Waka Flocka and Kalenna. "I know his mom real well," he said. "Kalenna I've known since she was getting started back in the day. Her husband is from Boston."
He also has no problems with Yung Joc dating his ex Karlie. "We're cool," he said. "We don't have any issues. Real guys don't fight over women. Women make their own decisions. It's up to the guys to get involved."
Benzino met singer Althea after the second season was over. He fell in love. "We've been dating almost a year," he said. "She's changed the way I am. I've grown up now. I'm an entirely different Benzino!"
And he is still getting over the craziness after his mother died and the nephew of his sister he doesn't get along with shot him. "I didn't know where the shots came from until he admitted it," he said. "He called the police and admitted it. But he said I had a gun. I didn't have anything on me."
He's grateful he is still alive. "My mom is watching over me,' he said. "It's going to be interesting how it plays out."
As for his bar with Stevie J, Sleazy & Zino, they're still in a battle with the partners. He said if that space doesn't work out, they'll find another one.
Yung Joc, who had the big 2006 hit "It's Going Down," said he and Karlie met last summer at a spa and ended up having massages in a couples room. He is divorced but is open to getting married again. "She was just cool," he said. "She didn't act like the way I thought she would."
He knew several of the "Love and Hip Hop" players going in, including Wacka, Scrappy and Stevie J, a producer he had worked with in the past. "We've done showcases together," he said. "I even have a clip of he and I on stage together at Sambuca."
He said he expects this to be a "juicy" season based on what he's seen, especially Mimi Faust's tape. And he isn't worried about how he's portrayed on the show, even if he may not necessarily show perfect faithfulness to Karlie. "As long as I play myself," he said, "I can't be played."
Yung Joc also agreed he and Benzino are cool. "We've never had negative tension," he said.
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