VH1's "Love & Hip Hop: Hollywood" is well into its first season featuring a cast that includes Ray J, Omarion,Moniece Slaughter and Teairra Mari. Like previous franchises, the show is full of drama, fighting and back-stabbing but also shows the main stars hustling to make career comebacks and expand their horizons.
HNGN.com had the pleasure of sitting down with cast member and singer Teairra Mari to get the scoop on what's ahead, how she's reviving her music career and her current status with ex-boyfriend, Ray J.
HNGN.com: What made you want to do "Love & Hip Hop: Hollywood?"
Teairra Mari: What made me want to do the show? Well, first of all, me and Hazel E, we went out onto the balcony one day, when we were living together, and she was just like 'T, you need to call Mona [Scott-Young] and see if she wants to bring 'Love & Hip Hop' to Hollywood.' So she was like let's see if she'll come here and do "Love and Hip Hop: Hollywood" and I was like 'oh ok, well...' so we just put it all together and we listed all the people that we would like to see on there. Half of the people that we listed are on the cast, including Masika [Tucker], Yung Berg, Ray J, Fizz. And they came and started doing interviews and moved on from there.
HNGN.com: Given your history with Ray J why have him on the show?
TM: Well Hazel was the one who mentioned Ray J since she knew my history and she was like you're gonna have to be real. Hazel didn't even wanna be a part of the show. She wasn't doing this for her. She did push me into leading the pack and I appreciate her for that, that's why I was surprised we fell out.
HNGN.com: What's your relationship with Hazel like now?
TM: Well, you know. I don't know. We haven't talked in a while but there's a sisterhood there and there will always be a sisterhood there and there will always be love. We're just gonna have to see where God takes that relationship.
HNGN.com: Speaking of your relationships with certain cast members. How are you and Sincere?
TM: I respect him; I was just confused as to why he wasn't respecting me all the way. He apologized and I accepted his apology so I have to move forward. It's not on the show, but in real life we both apologized.
HNGN.com: And we have to ask about Ray J. What's the status with you two?
TM: Oh, we're cordial.
HNGN.com: Can you tell us about the song you performed on episode 6?
TM: It's called 'I Deserve.' It's gonna be out before the year is over for sure, we're in November so... in the next couple of weeks it'll be out for purchase, yes.
HNGN.com: What's the song about?
TM: Well, I'm not gonna call anybody out but, I will say that it's about what I deserve. It's not about anybody else, it's about me. I deserve better than everything that I've been getting.
HNGN.com: How did it feel to get back into the studio?
TM: It felt really good of course, because I haven't been in the studio in a while but it was a little apprehensive for me because it was Yung Berg, and me and Yung Berg have had some known issues in the past, so, it just felt very good and bad at the same time.
HNGN.com: What other projects can fans expect from you in the future?
TM: Well, we're going to release the single with Yung Berg that you heard on the show. Other than that, I'm working on a project to be released at the top of the year. It's an album. Well, I'm working on an album... and hopefully I'll get an EP.
HNGN.com: Do you have regrets about doing "Love & Hip Hop?"
TM: Oh, absolutely. I regret handling certain situations with such animosity and anger. I wish that I could have been a little more classy [Laughs] and not have turned up on people who pissed me off but I call that girl 'little Detroit' when I just can't control myself. And I'm not saying that everybody in my city is crazy or turns up but we know what the connotation is when we talk about Detroit sometimes. When you meet a woman that's from Detroit or a guy that's from Detroit, we know the connotation that goes with that, 'oh, you turn up,' and not everybody does but sometimes I do. Don't f**k with me and I won't [turn up]. That's my whole thing, don't mess with me and I promise you, you won't have an issue or a problem out of me. But if you mess with me it's gonna be an issue.
HNGN.com: Do you feel like there were times on the show where you were pushed to your limit?
TM: There were certain times where I felt like I was backed into a corner, I felt attacked. I felt like I was playing dodge ball the first few episodes.
HNGN.com: What can you tell us about the "Love & Hip Hop: Hollywood" reunion?
TM: I'm not gonna lie I was nervous taping it because I didn't know who was gonna say what and what was gonna be done and who was gonna do what, like if I had to be... should I wear Jordan's to the reunion. I didn't know. And lo and behold I get there and I was blindsides by some bulls**t. You have to keep watching to see.
HNGN.com: Would you come back for a second season if the show is picked up again?
TM: Um, I don't know, I don't know. I mean, I love Mona and I mean that in the most genuine way in saying that I don't know if I'm built for "Love & Hip Hop," the franchise. But I would love to work with Mona on anything else because I love her and I've known her since I was a young girl. But at that "Love & Hip Hop" reunion, I'm like... [shakes head].
