Originally posted Saturday, March 23, 2019 by RODNEY HO/rho@ajc.com on his AJC Radio & TV Talk blog
VH1’s most popular show “Love and Hip Hop Atlanta” returns Monday for its eighth season with some major departures.
Three main cast members are gone: perpetually troubled (and currently jailed) Tommie Lee, Jessica Dime and one-and-done Erica Mena, who only stuck around for a single season.
Two people have been promoted to the main cast to take their place: Yung Joc, who has been around since season one, and Spice, who joined as a guest season six and became a recurring member last season.
Three original cast members - Rasheeda Frost, Karlie Redd and Mimi Faust - have received top billing since 2012. Stevie J, who is another O.G., has been in the main credits since season five.
Scrapp De Leon makes his return out of prison and is in a halfway house. We see Faith Evans and Stevie J as a couple. Original cast members Scrappy, his mom Momma Dee and Rasheeda's hubby Kirk Frost are back. Rapper Tokyo Vanity, Scrappy's pregnant wife Bambi, salon owner Sierra (who goes back to season 6) and Erica Dixon (a former full-time cast member and Scrappy's ex) will be back as well.
During the trailer, Mimi gets shot at. She also gets peeved at Stevie J because their daughter met Faith and Mimi didn’t know about it until after the fact.
Newcomers include hairstylist Shakinah Anderson, a good friend of Tameka "Tiny" Harris; female rapper Akbar J; Pooh; and Che Mack, a rapper who made a few appearances seasons one and two.
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