Yandy Smith reflects on the harsh business lessons she learned as a star and co-creator of the VH1 hit franchise Love & Hip-Hop. During an interview on Rickey Smiley’s On The Spot podcast,published Oct. 13, Smith, 44, reflected on the business lessons she learned from Love & Hip-Hop, saying she wished she had taken a closer look at her contracts to ensure she was being fairly compensated for her hard work.
Rickey Smiley’s On The Spot podcast: Yandy Smith says she should have made “hundreds of millions” for creatingLove & Hip-Hop.
At the 37:21 mark, Smith said she had made “millions” from the franchise but believed she should have earned “hundreds of millions.” The series ran for over 15 years, from its original premiere on March 6, 2011, through its conclusion with the six-part limited event series Love & Hip Hop: The Final Chapter in fall 2026.
“I was just excited to be a producer, right? That’s all I wanted,” Smith said when host Rickey Smiley asked her to reflect on the hard business lessons she took away from the show. “There’s levels to this thing. I didn’t know anything about an executive producer. I didn’t know anything about when things get franchised into different cities, making sure you’re part of all of them.”
She continued:
“So, you can have this amazing idea, you can ponder over, you can sit, you can cry, you can do all the things like I did when it came to what is now called Love & Hip-Hop. When I look back on the contract that I signed, no way did it do me justice to what I make, right? I mean, I’ve made millions from Love & Hip Hop, but I should have been in the hundreds of millions. At this point in my life from where it started. A dream that I just came up with for my client.”
Smith claimed that there were some executive producers behind the franchise that were “richer” than her.
Smith, who co-created the show with TV executive Mona Scott-Young, also claimed that some executive producers involved with the franchise were “richer” than her, despite not being there when she first envisioned the series.
“So any entrepreneurs out there when you dream of a business, one of the main things that you have to make sure you put together correctly is your legal team. Contracts, they matter,” the VH1 alum said.
Reflecting on the challenges of working in the entertainment industry, Smith recalled moments when people on the show would tell her “what to do,” despite her role as co-creator. She remembered thinking to herself:
“Do you understand? You have your job because of me.”
Despite facing challenges and having doors “slammed” in her face while trying to get Love & Hip Hop into production, Smith said she refused to give up on her dream.
Source: Courtesy / Paramount
Offering advice to fellow entrepreneurs, the reality TV star delivered a clear message:
“Don’t let anybody take your dream from you.”
In Smith’s words, while “every good thing comes to an end,” that doesn’t mean she’s ready to step away from the spotlight. Instead, she’s expanding her entrepreneurial portfolio with YELLE, her skincare line featuring all-natural, plant-based products. She recently added another venture to her growing portfolio with Nouveau Miami, a luxury day-dining, brunch, and nightlife restaurant in Miami’s Wynwood neighborhood.
Smith also addressed the buzz that surfaced in July after she said she would “absolutely” be open to exploring a role on The Real Housewives of Atlanta if offered a peach. However, she kept mum about the possibility of joining the Bravo franchise.
“This season was amazing. You know, the girls are shaking things up over there. So, I think this season was great. But yeah, right now I’m in the process of shooting two films. I’m casted for a film. One film is shooting next week. The next one is shooting in two months. And I just wrapped up shooting Love & Hip Hop the final season, right? So I am busy.”
What do you think of Yandy Smith’s appearance on Rickey Smiley’s On The Spot podcast? Thoughts?
