The seventh season of the reality television series Love & Hip Hop: Atlanta premiered on VH1 on March 19, 2018 until July 16, 2018. The season was primarily filmed in Atlanta, Georgia. It is executively produced by Mona Scott-Young and Stephanie R. Gayle for Monami Entertainment, Toby Barraud, Stefan Springman, David DiGangi, Lashan Browning and Donna Edge-Rachell for Eastern TV, and Nina L. Diaz, Liz Fine and Vivian Gomez for VH1.[1]
The series chronicles the lives of several women and men in the Atlanta area, involved in hip hop music. It consists of 18 episodes, including a two-part reunion special hosted by Nina Parker.
Production
Season seven of Love & Hip Hop: Atlanta began filming during the last week of October 2017. A few days prior, singer Jhonni Blaze, who appeared on Love & Hip Hop: New York and the cancelled Love & Hip Hop: Houston, exposed several of the upcoming season's storylines in a series of Instagram videos, including Rasheeda and Kirk's allegedly fabricated secret baby storyline and Stevie J's alleged sexual tryst with transgender model Shauna Brooks. Blaze was set to join the cast as Stevie's new artist, serving as a replacement for Joseline Hernandez, however she fell out with show's producers after her Love & Hip Hop: Houston co-star and rival Just Brittany was cast.[2] On December 11, 2017, filming was interrupted in Buckhead after a mall security guard was allegedly run down by a disgruntled customer.[3] The show made headlines again a few weeks later, after it was alleged that cast member Tommie Lee brought a loaded gun to set, in a heated confrontation with Karen King.[4][5] In February 2018, Tommie ran into legal issues during filming after allegedly attacking a jewelry store employee.[6][7][8]
On February 16, 2018, VH1 announced Love & Hip Hop: Atlanta would be returning for a seventh season on March 19, 2018, with Love & Hip Hop: New York's Erica Mena as part of the cast.[9] The same day they released a scene from the premiere episode, showing Erica's arrival to Atlanta.[10] This season featured an entirely new opening credits sequence. Season seven saw the promotion of Jessica Dime to the main cast after appearing as a supporting cast member for three seasons. New cast members include Jessica's fiancé Shawne Williams, Grammy Award winning songwriter Sean Garrett, Jamaican recording artist Spice, singer and Signed star Just Brittany, rappers Tokyo Vanity and BK Brasco and music executive Keely the Boss. Although not included in the initial cast announcement, rapper Tabius Tate and party promoter K. Botchey would also appear in supporting roles. After a two year absence from the show, Erica Dixon would return as a supporting cast member for two episodes. Love & Hip Hop: New York star Rich Dollaz would make a special crossover appearance in the last two episodes of the season.
On February 20, 2018, VH1 released a teaser with the season's tagline "the game has changed", featuring Mena alongside returning cast members Rasheeda, Stevie J, Karlie Redd and Mimi Faust. The season's promotional videos would all follow a card game or poker-themed aesthetic, with cast members dressed as playing cards.[11] On March 12, 2018, a five-minute super-trailer was released,[12] followed by "meet the cast" interview promos featuring new cast members Erica Mena,[13] Tokyo Vanity,[14]Spice,[15] Keely the Boss,[16] BK Brasco,[17] and Estelita Quintero.[18] On March 13, 2018, VH1 released the first five minutes of the season's premiere episode.[19]
In the eleventh episode, "Houston We Have A Problem", one scene shows an intoxicated Tommie Lee breaking the fourth wall and attacking a producer, as well as security. In an unusual move, executive producer Stephanie Gayle announced to the cast on camera that Tommie was no longer allowed on set, effectively firing her from the show.[20]
However, she returned to the show two episodes later, on the condition that she not drink on set.[21] During filming, Jessica Dime publicly criticised Mona Scott-Young for passing on a proposed wedding special starring her and Shawne.[22][23] Subsequently, she was phased out of the show and did not attend the season's reunion.
Reception
The season garnered the lowest ratings in the show's history, with its premiere episode down over a million viewers compared to last season.[24][25]
Erica Mena arrives in Atlanta, ready to kickstart a music career. Kirk confirms that he is the father of Jasmine's baby. Tommie and her sister Versace come to blows.
guest stars: Ty (Mimi's girlfriend), Sierra, Jazze Pha (record producer), BK Brasco, Sean Garrett, Havali (Tommie's daughter), Samaria (Tommie's daughter), Rajaysha (Tommie's sister), Yani (Tommie's brother), Samantha (Tommie's mother), Duby (Tommie's brother), Versace (Tommie's sister), Shirleen, Kelsie Frost
cameo: Albee Yours
Jessica Dime and Erica Mena are added to the opening credits, replacing departing cast members Tammy and Joseline. Erica Mena and Spice join the cast.
Jasmine comes looking for Rasheeda at her store. Estelita reveals her traumatic past. Sierra has moved on with BK Brasco but is blindsided by the revelation that Shooter may have a child with another woman.
guest stars: Kelsie Frost, Melissa, Albee Yours (Erica's friend), Yvette Washington (Jasmine's mother), Gloria Johnson (Jasmine's grandmother), Kirk Jr. (Kirk's son), Ky (Kirk's son), Kim (Sierra's mom), Shan (stylist)
Tokyo Vanity and BK Brasco join the supporting cast. Although credited, Jessica and Stevie do not appear.
Jessica reveals to Shawne that she's pregnant. Shooter mourns the death of his son in a shooting. Erica and Estelita feud with Stevie's new artist Just Brittany.
guest stars: Shawne, Tabius Tate, Ty, Dexter Hampton (personal trainer), Jazze Pha (record producer), Lady Bose (vocal coach), Shooter, Just Brittany
Although credited, Rasheeda does not appear.
Kirk and Jasmine come face to face for the first time in a year. Samantha pushes Tommie to make up with her sister Versace. Karlie finds herself in a new role as caretaker for her sick father. Shooter leans on friends.
guest stars: K. Botchey, Sas, Bleu DaVinci (rapper), Sean Garrett, Versace (Tommie's sister), Robert (Karlie's father), Katrina (Karlie's sister), Tiarra
cameo: Kannon Frost, Yani, Duby, Rajaysha
Tabius, Keely and Just Brittany join the supporting cast. Although credited, Mimi, Jessica, Erica and Stevie do not appear.
Stevie stuns his family with a shocking announcement. Karlie encourages Rasheeda to date her hunky new trainer. Dime hears her baby’s heartbeat for the first time.
guest stars: Donnell Burns (personal trainer), Dr. Jackie (OB/GYN), Tammy Rivera, Ty, April (Papered Wonders, owner), Shawne, Yani (Tommie's brother), Duby (Tommie's brother)
cameo: Sade Jordan, Dorian Jordan
Just Brittany and Keely’s friendship goes up in flames; Rasheeda sets clear boundaries for Kirk; Stevie wins Estelita back over to the good guys team; Tokyo and Sierra plot to take down Keely
guest stars: Nurse Bae, Sharonda (co-owner), Sean Garrett
Shawne and K. Botchey join the supporting cast. Although credited, Tommie and Erica do not appear.
Scrappy and Bambi return and Momma Dee immediately meddles in the newlyweds' affairs; a brawl breaks out at Tokyo's album release party; Tokyo suspects Tabius is cheating on her; Dime has an emotional conversation.
guest stars: Bleu DaVinci (rapper), Diane (Jessica's mother), Dej, Crystal, Tammy Rivera
Sean Garrett joins the supporting cast. Although credited, Mimi, Tommie and Erica do not appear.
Upset with Kirk, Jasmine plans another pop-up but Rasheeda’s friends confront her; Tommie and Spice butt heads; Sierra learns that BK keeps secrets; Keely and Bleu have an emotional sit-down
guest stars: Bleu DaVinci
cameo: Shirleen
Erica Dixon returns as a supporting cast member. Although credited, Jessica, Erica, and Stevie do not appear.
Kirk mourns his mother. Karlie exposes BK's infidelity, putting a strain on her friendship with Sierra. Keely and Bleu have an emotional moment over their child.
guest stars: Papa Frost (Kirk's father), Amber Priddy, Joy, Bleu DaVinci, Xavier (Keely and Bleu's son)
cameo: Todd Tucker, Shirleen, Kelsie
Although credited, Jessica, Tommie and Stevie do not appear.
Jessica and Shawne have a gender reveal party. Spice and Tabius start dating. The cast travel to Houston for Rasheeda's store opening, but Tommie is kicked off the trip after having a drunken meltdown.
guest stars: Ty, Diane (Jessica's mother), Jesse (Jessica's father), Stephanie Gayle (executive producer)
Although credited, Stevie does not appear.
While in Texas for the Pressed opening, Tokyo confronts Spice over their drama with Tabius, Yung Joc flirts with Karlie, and Jasmine tries to make peace with Rasheeda
guest stars: Johnny Dang (shop owner), Ernest, Ty
cameo: Shirleen
Although credited, Jessica, Tommie, and Stevie do not appear.
Finished with their business in Houston, the crew heads to the dude ranch; Rasheeda hopes everyone can put their drama to the side to enjoy the trip, but Spice and Tokyo quickly get back into it; the other girls start taking sides.
guest stars: Ty, Pistol Packin' Paula (gunslinger)
Although credited, Jessica, Tommie, and Stevie do not appear.
The drama at the dude ranch continues when the group goes horseback riding; BK makes a romantic gesture to win Sierra back; Joc and Karlie continue to rekindle their friendship; back in Atlanta, Tommie faces her demons.
guest stars: Ty, Joe Schrank (counselor), Jay Calkins (ranch manager), Scott "Chef Manno" Manning (ranch chef), Sas, Versace
Although credited, Jessica and Stevie do not appear.
Kelsie brings Kirk, Jasmine and Kannon together. Hell breaks loose at Stevie J's showcase, as Stevie's daughter Savannah comes for Erica Mena, and Estelita, Keely and Spice gang up on Just Brittany.
guest stars: Tricia Solomon (divorce lawyer), Rose Palmer (founder of Connecting families), Rich Dollaz
cameo: Kannon, Dorian Jordan
Although credited, Jessica and Tommie do not appear.
Shooter puts together a big anti-violence rally to honor his late son. Dime's baby shower takes a turn when Stevie and Sean Garrett argue. Stevie enlists Rich Dollaz to get back at Erica. Tommie reconnects with the group and Dime gives birth.
BK gets exposed as cheating on Sierra in a deleted scene. Spice and Tokyo talk it out.
host: Nina Parker
guest stars: Bleu DaVinci
Webisodes
Check Yourself
Love & Hip Hop Atlanta: Check Yourself, which features the cast's reactions to each episode, was released weekly with every episode on digital platforms.[44]
List of Love & Hip Hop Atlanta: Check Yourself Season 7 episodes