Mona Scott-Young’s Influence On Culture Goes Beyond Love & Hip Hop

Mona Scott-Young is best-known for producing the Love & Hip Hop reality TV series on VH1. The franchise debuted in 2011 has remained a TV fixture today through industry-wide changes with TV and around 30 different seasons aired. However, it’s Young’s ability to permeate hip-hop culture into the mainstream that’s been the true calling card.

Before Love & Hip Hop, Mona managed talent in music. She was a co-founder for Violator with the late Chris Lighty, and was behind memorable brand partnerships such as Busta Rhymes and Courvoisier, Missy Elliott with Reebok and Adidas, and the landmark 50 Cent-Vitamin Water deal, among many others back then, such deals were harder to cut than nowadays.

It was during this time in music when Mona was introduced to the fascinating lives of hip-hop wives, which led to Love & Hip-Hop’s creation. But Mona, who also founded and runs Monami Productions,has more stories to tell about the hip-hop industry. She’s teaming up with another well-known TV producer, 50 Cent, on “Hip-Hop Homicides,” which debuts later this year.

Mona’s influence on the world of hip-hop reaches further than most realize. To hear how Mona moved the culture forward, you’ll want to listen to our show. Here’s everything we covered:

0:15 How does Love & Hip Hop stay fresh?
2:04 Biggest challenge for reality TV in social-media age
5:20 Love & Hip Hop success stories
8:50 Influencing other hip-hop-related series
10:30 Increased programming around hip-hop
13:30 How reality shows fit into today’s streaming landscape
17:07 Mona’s career in music and artist-brand deals
23:20 Brand deals for Love & Hip Hop talent
26:55 Network pressures to expand the Love & Hip Hop brand
28:37 Scrutiny on the show’s content
32:30 Future of Love & Hip Hop

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