The thought of yet another reality show chronicling the extravagant (read: obnoxious) day-to-day happenings of the wives and lovers of rich men is eye-roll inducing. Yet,VH1’s latest reality show—”Love & Hip Hop”—is setting itself up to be more than shopping trips, jet-setting and cat fights between kept women (although all three of those happen on the show). Can love exist within hip-hop? This show attempts to answer that.

Produced by music industry veteran Mona Scott-Young, the show will star former G-Unit-signed singer, Olivia Longott; Rapper Fabolous’ girlfriend (and baby’s mother), Emily Bustamente; Rapper Jim Jones’ girlfriend, Chrissy Lampkin; aspiring rapper and singer Somaya “Boss” Reece; and Swizz Beatz ex-wife, R&B singer Mashonda.

Much like “Basketball Wives” (another VH1 production) the show will not only showcase the female position in a male dominated arena, but it will give a platform to these women—who in many ways are unknown and have been made voiceless—to speak up and out.

So what about the drama? “There’s a little bit of drama because there has to be. That’s just real,”  says show co-star Mashonda. But “little” is an understatement. Most of the cat-fighting centers around Somaya—the overtly sexual vixen who is trying to find success in music. “I’m the outsider of the show and I know my story is compelling, so there’s your drama. I tried my best to get along with the girls,” Somaya says.

All of the drama is offset by Olivia’s attempts to record and release her second album “Show The World”, Chrissy’s dreams of getting married, and Mashonda and Emily’s bond and transition into independence.

Is “Love & Hip Hop” worth watching? Definitely.

TAGS: Chrissy Lampkin, Danielle Young, Emily Bustamente, Jim Jones, Justin Dwayne Joseph, Love & Hip Hop, Mashonda, Mona Scott-Young, Olivia Longott, Somaya Reece, Swizz Beatz, VH1