Written by | Ray Cornelius
I had the distinct pleasure of covering Tuesday night’s Atlanta premiere of WEtv’s newest docu-series “Growing Up Hip Hop.” The star-studded event took place at the SCAD Show (formerly 14th Street Playhouse) and was attending by a number of the city’s reality stars, actresses, singers, and industry professionals.
Damon “Boogie” Dash
“Growing Up Hip Hop” features the offspring of rap music’s biggest names including fashion and style maven Angela Simmons (Rev Run), actor and musician Romeo Miller (Master P), entreprenuer Damon “Boogie” Dash (Damon Dash), DJ TJ Mizell (Jam Master Jay), singer Kristinia DeBarge (James DeBarge) and rising entertainer Egypt Criss (Sandra “Pepa” Denton and Treach from Naughty By Nature).
Angela Simmons, TJ Mizell, and Romeo Miller during the post show Q&A
The one-hour series follows each member stepping out of the shadows of their famous parents and creating exciting, new trails of their own. With their love and work lives intertwined, each one in this tight-knit group is facing a surprising challenge that will test their loyalties within the group and even relationships with their own mothers and fathers.
Ebony Steele chatting with Egypt Criss and Kristinia DeBarge during post show Q&A
There were so many celebrities in attendance last night it would be too many to mention but here are just a few that really stood out on the red carpet: RHOA stars Porsha Williams, “Love and Hip Hop Atlanta” stars Steve J and Joseline Hernandez, “Atlanta Exes” star Monyetta Shaw, Honey Boo Boo and Mama June, R&B singer Bobby V and the newly engaged Demetria McKinney.
Althea, Toya, Phaedra, Monyetta and Porsha attending the post show party
After the screening was a lively Q&A session hosted by media personality Ebony Steele followed by an after party at the W Hotel’s Whiskey Park. One of the evening’s highlights for me was meeting “Pepa” from legendary hip hop duo Salt-N-Pepa. I had the great fortune of seeing them in concert back in the 80’s and was in the audience the night they filmed the video for their classic hit “Push It.” It was my very first rap concert ever and an experience I will never forget! “Growing Up Hip Hop” premieres this Thursday night at 10 p.m. EST on WEtv.
Check out all of the red carpet photos below:
#GUHH ANGELA SIMMONS
Media personality Ebony Steele and RHOA’s Porsha Williams
#GUHH TJ Mizell
Cutting It In the ATL’s Dedra Allen and LHHATL’s Erica Dixon
#GUHH ROMEO MILLER
Reality stars Honey Boo Boo & Mama June and Singer Demetria McKinney
#GUHH EGYPT CRISS
Actress Charmin Lee and RHOA’s Phaedra Parks
#GUHH KRISTINIA DEBARGE
Reality star Toya Wright and Cutting It In the ATL’s Mushiya Tshikuka
#GUHH DAMON “BOOGIE” DASH
Selling It In the ATL’s Okevia Wilson and Jae Christian
#GUHH SANDRA “PEPA” DENTON
Bahja Rodriguez (formerly of the OMG Girlz) and Shanti Das
Atlanta Exes star Monyetta Shaw
HLN’s Melissa Knowles and Selling It In the ATL’s Sarah Lowe
ROMEO MILLER and his new music group
Selling It in the ATL’s A’lana Banks and LHHATL’s Mimi Faust
Selling It in the ATL’s Gwen Moss
Selling It In the ATL’s Chrishena Stanley and R&B singer D. Woods
Romeo and Phaedra Parks
L.A. Hair star Gocha Hawkins and La La’s Full Court star Dice
Final Draft
Cutting It In the ATL’s Beautii J and R&B singer Bobby V
DJ Fadelf and Marriage Bootcamp star Althea “Thi Thi” Heart
Drea Kelly and her daughter
Cutting It In the ATL’s LaKenya Morris and Marriage Boot Camp star Ink
LHHATL’s Joseline Hernandez and Stevie J.
Ebony Steele talking to Egypt Criss during the post show Q&A
Angela Simmons, TJ Mizell and Romeo
Damon “Boogie” Dash, Kristinia DeBarge and Egypt Criss
RC with Pepa
Photo Credits: RayCornelius.com