Head Women in Charge: Love & Hip-Hop’s Yandy Smith

January 11th, 2012 - By Tianna Robinson

MN: Was your childhood dream to be a manager and work in entertainment?

YS: Not at all, never in a million years did I think I would be doing what I’m currently doing. I went to Howard University for my undergrad with the intent of going to law school afterwards.

MN: Well, how did you get into the entertainment business?

YS: In 2002, while studying for the LSAT’s I went to visit a friend who was working at Violator Records & Managment. While sitting in the lobby, I saw Busta Rhymes and some other famous musicians walk through and thought ‘wow, how cool would it be to work here’. So, I sparked up a conversation with the receptionist and inquired if they had a legal department since my interest was in law. Of course they did, so I gave her my resume to consider for an internship, but no positions were available. I was so eager and tenacious to get in the building, that I called everyday for about 2 months to follow up.

MN: Wow, that was ambitious of you!

YS: Yes, and it eventually paid off. A position finally opened up, just not in legal. I interviewed to be the intern to the CEO’s assistant. I interned  for about 8 months learning every aspect of management and I fell in love. When it was time to leave for law school, I decided to stay  at Violator because I was so engulfed and enthralled with everything that was going on in management and how my position was growing. I busted my butt at Violator and kept getting promoted until I decided to leave and start a business of my own.

MN: What business did you start on your own?

YS: I became partners with Mona Scott Young (who is the producer of Love & Hip-Hop) at Monami Entertainment. Through Monami Entertainment, I managed Busta Rhymes, Missy Eilliot, Toccara Jones. I also have my own  personal management company called ‘Simply Unique Management’, where  I manage Jim Jones and other artists.

MN: You sure are busy! Being an established business women, why did you decide to be a part of Love & Hip-Hop?

YS: I recently launched  a jewelry line and online magazine, ‘ Everything Girls Love ‘ and thought the show would be a good way to promote my new venture. I wear something from my line during every episode and millions of people see it. It’s basically free advertising and publicity, thanks to Vh1!

MN: Smart move! Will you return to Love & Hip-Hop for a season 3?

YS: I’ll definitely be involved somehow, even if it’s on the production side of things.  I have no idea if  I’ll be on camera. I really love being behind the scenes, but I set no limitations for myself, because I truly believe sky is the limit. As long as the show continues to promote my brand and keeps my integrity and morale, I’m willing to do it!

MN: What advice would you give any young women wanting to break into the entertainment business:

YS: Hustle HARD!! Seriously, be prepared to put in a lot of time, network as much as possible and be a genuine hard-worker. Don’t ever lose your integrity, be sure to always stand your ground, don’t fall for anything. I know it sounds cliche, but if you stick to those simple, yet fundamental rules I keep…Sky is the Limit!!

MN: Thanks for your time and advice, we hope you see more of you outside of reality TV, in much more positive light!

YS: Count on it!

Tianna is a NYC girl about town, blogging about beauty and business.  Follow her @TeeNecole

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  • Jazzina

    You people crack me up mistaking a “reality show” for reality! LOL 
    Those shows are loosely scripted and heavily edited.  Sometimes the editing is so horribly arranged to make the scene have the desired outcome.  It’s also obvious that sometimes the characters are guided or prompted to do things.  Like When Yandy  brought (introduced) that Erica head-case chick.  It was so contrived.  The producers sooo set that up!

  • PrettySillygal

    At the end of the day, all of these people on these shows are characters who are getting PAID!! can’t knock the hustle..half ya’ll would do tne same too for a ‘check’

    • Kea

      RIGHT!!! they all playing us and getting $ while we spend our time on blogs talking smack about them

  • Shiz

    There is nothing professional about Yandy.  Using her as an example of such is wholly misguided.

    A good/great manager’s name should never be first in your mouth before the artist.  Yandy wants to be famous but doesn’t have any “talent.”  So, similar to Chrissy’s “do you know who my man is?”, Yandy uses “do you know who I manage?” to get her foot in the door.  That’s not cool.  If the cameras and press is paying attention to my manager, they aren’t paying attention to me.  The artist is the one who should shine.

  • Kali110

    Yandy’s great (except for that outfit she wore last episode)! she just needs to watch the company she keeps, it could be destroying her brand

    • Guest

      that outfit was killing me…

    • Guest

      that outfit was killing me…

  • tracypa

    I respect the fact that she is the only one of the women with a stable job.  I do wish they would give a little bit more information as to what really happened between her and Chrissy.  In the first episode where Yandy was introduced you see Chrissy introducing Yandy as “My Girl Yandy,”  and they happily ride for 2 hours to Atlantic City to see Jim perform and everything is cool and they do talk about some personal stuff.  So for me, I’m confused because (Chrissy) if this is your girl and you do talk about your relationship to her – then how can you bug out and claim she is overstepping boundaries by mixing business with personal?  She was already mixing both because you never put any boundaries in place when you first started that relationship.  You can’t flip flop and have it both ways.

    I do think Yandy’s intentions in general are good.  She seems to be about networking and building relationships – to keep those checks coming in.  She also seems to be trying to teach the others (who are slow to catch on) that this is how you make it in this industry.  I do think though that sometimes her judgment gets a little cloudy like her trying to play peacemaker between Kimbella & Erica.  Once she realized that there was no hope for those 2, she should have kept it movin.

  • Tmjlaster

    I LOVE YANDY she is a breath of fresh air for LHH cause every other woman on the show acts as if their lives are on pause and Yandy is out there hustling for Yandy not sitting around waiting for someone to help her or waiting for a man to define who she is(i e. Chrissy and Emily). I like the fact that she puts Yandy first. I think she is loyal to the artist that she manages but at the same time she’s not gonna let their dysfunctional lives get in her way.

  • Elle

    Yandy is suspect to me. She says she is a business woman but nothing about her says professional or business. I watch the show and I have yet to see her act in a professional manner. She seems too wrapped up personally in her professional relationships. If she was as successful as she claims it would seem that she wouldn’t take on so many “artists” with no talent and she surely wouldn’t have time to film a reality show. Yandy promotes herself, I haven’t heard anyone outside of herself pat her on the back for her successes.

  • Realtalk

    Yandy seems to be a GREAT biz women…her character and judgment can be better…however she’s doing way better than the rest of the birds on the show. I dont care how real and pretty Chrissy is..she’s a 40 year old mess who’s life revolves around a pothead who took 7 years to marry her

  • NikkitaMichelle

    It’s great to hear how she started out.  Can’t knock her hustle.  She’s a single woman with no children her job is her life right now so I can see how business and friendship lines can be blurred. She overstepped a bit, but Chrissy took that mess way too far.

  • Msjanell8106

    For whatever reason no matter how hard a woman works there will always be other women to throw shade and undermine the time and effort it took for her to reach her level of success.
    I’m happy for you Yandy. Keep doing you!!!!!!!

  • GUEST

    Women is plural. Yandy is a WOMAN.

  • jay bee

    I respect the fact that she is making her own way in the world. It’s in that spirit that I question her focus and business acumen.  Get on the show to garner publicity and further market your brand, fine.  But why engage in that other garbage that undermines your effort? You keep arranging meetings between unstable folks whose beef has NOTHING TO DO WITH YOU. Why? Then you sit back and act like you simply can’t understand how things got so out of control? Girl, do yourself a favor. End this. Try to salvage what’s left of your dignity and your professionalism and abandon the “victim” act.  You’re not really fooling anybody anyway.

    • Olivia

      THANK YOU!!!!!!!!.  After watching the show, how can anyone take her seriously as a manager?  She is all over the place in everyone’s business, running around with a lot of D-list characters.  Is she serious?

      She is looking just as bad as the rest of the birds on the show.  If she was REALLY a business woman she would know that rule number 1 is to build and protect your “brand”.

      I thought she was a class act initially, now not so much.

  • Nali

    hmmm, I dunno about her being ALL that..I do know that she handles her biz and is the only women on show with her own stuff..Chrissy cant say that..she;s 40 begging for a ring!

  • Houtxgrly

    Yandy is handling her business, she’s really the only woman on there with a real job. I think Chrissy is a HATER, but see when you have no life and all you do and are revolves around a man…you only have time to build up hate for the next girl that is really doing her thing. Chrissy needs to get some business, play her position, shut her mouth & get a hobby. Yandy…. Much respect to you, from one working woman to another.

  • SexySarah

    Yandy needs her own show, where they show her in a positive Light! We need shows as black women that don’t degrade us and make us look like money hungry single ladies

  • Nicci248

    Messy mess…she’s no biz women..just a hot mess of a mess!

    • MarquitaDargin

      Yes!! Tandy looks down on people likes she GOD.. She knew want she did to Chrissy!! That’s why she quit. If I knew I didn’t do nothing, I wouldn’t gave her want she wanted! Yandy is an sorry excuse for a manager!! SHE’S KICKED IN!! Sorry

      • ariangoddess

        Yandy is about as successful as you are stupid :) just saying.  Go back to school hunni

  • PrettyBoss

    Yandy is a smart cool chick, I wish they would show her in a better light..but WE want the drama, so they give it to us..we must do better!

  • Derique Marie

    I think Yandy is the only one on the show doing something with herself, making her own money, and not relying on anyone else. The show however, makes her seem like she is a trouble maker and money hungry. We all know that is straight editing because she has done an interview before stating that. (all t he cast members stated that actually) Chrissy has a deep problem with her and I think it is deeper than we know.

    • tracypa

      I definitely agree.  I just posted that in the first episode where Yandy is introduced to the audience Chrissy introduces her as, “My Girl.”  The drive down to Atlantic City together and even engage in some personal conversation along the way.  So it boggled my mind as to how Yandy went from being her “girl” to her arch enemy all of a sudden? 

      I also don’t get Jim because he allows Chrissy to pull him into what most men would consider “womens’ problems.”   She runs and calls him for all kinds of nonsense that she should be able to handle on her own as a grown azz 40+ year old woman.  And for that, I can definitely see and understand Yandy’s frustration.

  • Fancy

    Yandy,

    I respect your “hustle” as a manager, entreprenuer and such. As much as I love L&HH (guilty pleasure), you’re not always shown in the best of lights. For example: Your “beef” with Christy (or Chrissie?) has allowed viewers to see a side of you that glorifies a paycheck over relationships. Not saying there’s anything wrong with that (to an extent) – it’s just that the show makes you look like the type of manager whose heart is as loyal as the next biggest paycheck.

    Free pubilicty or not, your reputation is everything. Please don’t squander it.
    Thanks!