Before Yandy Smith-Harris became a boss on VH1's hit reality TV franchise "Love and Hip Hop: New York," she was busy managing hip-hop artists like Missy Elliot and LL Cool J. But after spending more than 10 years behind the scenes in the music industry, Smith-Harris has become almost as well known as the celebrities she used to manage thanks to her presence on the small screen – and she has "Love and Hip Hop" creator Mona Scott-Young to thank for it.
Although she was initially reluctant to join the show that celebrates women in the hip-hop industry, the 33-year-old native New Yorker joined the cast during the show's second season and went on to become an OG cast member. Young girls and career women tune into VH1 on Monday Nights just to watch this strong, smart, succcesful woman strut her stuff. The current season of the sereies has moved toward a more mature direction after executive producer Scott-Young made a conscious decision to return the franchise's original themes – which means fewer cat fights.
Smith-Harris has returned for the sixth season of the series, and HNGN caught up with the reality star and mom of two for her first interview since her husband Mendeecees Harris was convicted of drug trafficking, as previously reported by HNGN. Smith-Harris opened up about her relationship with Scott-Young, where the franchise is heading with new cast members Remy Ma and Papoose, and what the future holds for her family and her career.
HNGN: What made you decide to open up your life on reality TV?
Smith-Harris: With the start of the show, I realized there was something missing. I think the purpose of the show in the beginning was to give women a voice that stood behind these famous men or the men that built some of these companies. And I felt like there were women out there that are not necessarily in the shadows of men or dating these men; they are on their own and they have a voice as well. We did some research trying to find that woman. During the first season, I was on the production side and we interviewed a couple of people, and one day Mona was just like, "I think you could do it," and I was like, "Oh no, not me." This was on the break [after a season of] people throwing bottles, jumping across tables, smacking girls, and I was like, "I'm really not that type. No one's gonna find me interesting." Mona, I guess, saw something in me that I didn't see in myself, and she was like, "Come on, you'll be great in front of the camera." So I did it, and here we are five years later.
Do you think Scott-Young has a knack for making people warm up to reality TV?
She's really good at taking the obvious and kind of making it a reality. I wanted to help people. I wanted to show women in a great light. I wanted to show that there are women behind these scenes that are holding it down for these men, and we are the pillars that make these men as strong as they are. But no one really knew that. For Mona and I, that was obvious, because that's what we do every day. But a lot of people see these men on the forefront with their careers, and they don't know who's really holding it down behind the scenes. It was us a lot of the time. Mona definitely helped me to see that there was a place for this on TV because people cared about it.
Do you think the show's success is based in that feminist viewpoint and because Scott-Young is behind the camera?
I mean – just personally – I'm such a feminist. I think anything females touch, even in this male-dominant world, if we touch it we're gonna rule the world. I think that we rule all the time. I think that we know what it takes to cater to men, we know what it takes to cater to our womanhood, and we research it and do our work well. So I feel like anything we touch, we're always gonna be better than men. Sorry guys!
Were there any instances where you felt like, "This absolutely cannot be on air" in terms of your personal life?
I'm very strategic when it comes to what I put on TV. There are, of course, some things that I would have loved not to happen. But when blogs are gonna be involved, it's like, "Do I want to tell my story the way my story happened or do I want the blogs to tell it and mess it all up?" But the stuff that I feel like is personal, private, that is intimate to my family and doesn't help my brand, I just keep private. But then there are things I would have loved to keep private but thank God I didn't because it's helped so many people.
But I feel like you can control what you put out there – several cast members have done things that have been off the wall or off the chain – it's all about your reaction. For me, I think about, "If I react this way, what's gonna happen after that?" I'm very conscious of the fact that I have children, a husband, a brand to protect and an image to protect, so you won't catch me acting a damn fool.
This season we see you jump right back into your career. How excited were you to get back into management?
I took a break from going on tour and being with artists in the studio and that kind of stuff. So I was very excited to get back to management because that was my first love; when I graduated college I went straight into management. And I feel like my family stuff is straightened out, I have my babies, I have my husband, and now it's really time to dig back in and get my feet wet with some management of new artists because that's my passion.
And what about work/life balance – How do you juggle your career and your little ones?
Prioritizing is key. Also, I write things down. I write down what I need to take care of, what needs to happen. But ultimately I think the key has also been a support system. I have a great support system. Mendeecees is very supportive with the kids; and I have my sister and my mom. So it's about my support system and prioritizing, really.
New cast member Remy Ma said in a recent interview that Scott-Young approached her and convinced her and her husband [Papoose] to join the cast. This season is all about the core values of "Love and Hip Hop." What do you think Remy Ma brings to the table?
I absolutely think she brings love and hip-hop to "Love and Hip Hop." I mean, Mendeecees and I brought the love in "Love and Hip Hop" as well, but from a different angle because we've been behind the scenes. But actually her and Papoose are really in the trenches, on the stage, on tour and they are hip-hop to the core – so they bring a different aspect, and they absolutely love each other. You'll get to see what it's like for two artists struggling and fighting for their relationship and being in front of the camera and on tour.
You've been very open on the show about your husband's legal issues. From the time he made the plea deal to the time he was sentenced, how has this whole situation been for you?
It's never easy dealing with the thought of your best friend not being here physically to continue to raise your children together, to lay next to at night. But it's something we kind of have been preparing ourselves for. The first season, when this all came about, it was difficult. It was super difficult because there was no end date; we had no idea what to expect from this. It's not easy, but now there actually is an end date, and I know when this will all be over. And I think for any relationship to last, you have to be battle tested. I feel like this is just another battle for us to go through, and when we make it through we'll be even stronger.
This season we'll see you guys preparing for the sentencing. What do you think fans will take away from your storyline?
I think they're going to see a story of love – a story of commitment, and it's a story of "through the storm we still stand." I don't know that anyone could have weathered this storm the way we did, but I definitely have found that so many more people are going through their storms a little easier after watching me go through mine. There are so many people hitting me on Instagram DMs just telling me how they're going through it, and they don't know how to make it through, and how I'm encouraging them. They're single moms trying to figure out what to do, and I think them just seeing me get through it – and not giving up and staying hopeful – gives them some hope.
The crazy thing is that that's been encouraging for me too, because I feel like I can't stop. I won't stop because there's some woman out there, some young girl or some daughter that is living life without her dad who's incarcerated. Or there's a wife whose husband is still away. I can't stop for them, I won't stop for them. There are so many single moms that look to me, asking "How do you do it?" I'm gonna show them how it's done.
Considering all that, what would you like to say to fans going through similar situations?
What I can say is I completely take my hat off and bow down to all the single moms out there. It is truly a work of love. Moms do it and they do it because they love their children – and of course it's thankless. I just feel like it's so very inspiring to see all the moms out there that are doing it: their children are well kept, their children are smart. I'm leaning on them. I'm looking at them like, "How do you do it?" I definitely want to take my hat off to all those single moms out there and tell them, "I'm rooting for you and we have a sisterhood. I'm there for you, and I hope you guys are there for me."
Even with all that 2015 has brought Smith-Harris and her family, she told HNGN that she's excited for what 2016 will bring. She's looking forward to releasing her book about branding, the first in a series meant to be a how-to guide on "building an empire." She's also releasing a skin care line for Valentine's Day.
Smith-Harris also recently opened an online boutique called The Mute Shop, which is a clothing line for the working woman – full of fashionable outfits that transition easily from the office to nighttime events. Once a month, Smith-Harris will give away a Mute Shop gift bag to a woman who has fallen on hard times or who needs a great outfit for a job interview. Fans can nominate themselves or a friend. Find out more on The Mute Shop Instagram page.
