The fifth season of the reality television series Love & Hip Hop: Hollywood aired on VH1 from July 23, 2018 until November 19, 2018. It was primarily filmed in Los Angeles, California. It is executively produced by Mona Scott-Young, Stephanie Gayle and Treiva Williams for Monami Entertainment, Toby Barraud, Stefan Springman, Dave Patry, David DiGangi, Rich Allen and Michael Lang for Eastern TV, and Nina L. Diaz, Liz Fine, Vivian Gomez and Jihoon Zun for VH1.
The series chronicles the lives of several women and men in the Los Angeles area, involved in hip hop music. It consists of 18 episodes, including a two-part reunion special hosted by Nina Parker.
On June 18, 2018, VH1 announced Love & Hip Hop: Hollywood would be returning for a fifth season on July 23, 2018, along with a teaser confirming Love & Hip Hop: Atlanta's K. Michelle had joined the cast.[1][2] Unlike her appearances on Love & Hip Hop: Atlanta and Love & Hip Hop: New York, K. is credited under her birth name, Kimberly.[3] This season featured an entirely new opening credits sequence. Season five saw the promotion of A1 Bentley and Brooke Valentine to the main cast after previously appearing as supporting cast members. New cast members include video vixen Apple Watts, singer La'Britney, K. Michelle: My Life's Paris Phillips, Grammy Award-nominated producer RoccStar, manager Shun Love, model Amber Diamond, bisexual rapper and drag performer JayWill and media personality Donatella.[4] Although not included in the initial cast announcement, Apple's father John Watts would appear in a minor supporting role.
On July 3, VH1 released an extended teaser with the season's tagline "get the truth behind the headlines".[5] The season's promotional videos would all follow a tabloid-themed aesthetic, with images of cast members paired with lurid headlines and set to Marvin Gaye's "I Heard It Through the Grapevine".[6][7] On July 6, 2018, VH1 began releasing "meet the cast" interview promos[8] featuring new cast members Apple Watts,[9] La'Britney,[10] Paris Phillips,[11]RoccStar[12] and Shun Love.[13] On July 16, 2018, VH1 released a 5-minute super-trailer.[14]
On August 30, 2018, it was announced that Princess and Ray J would star in their own special, Love & Hip Hop Hollywood: Ray J & Princess’ Labor of Love, which would air on September 24, 2018, and document the birth of their child.[15]
Synopsis
Palm trees, swimming pools, red carpets and fancy cars. Looks nice, don't it? Well, looks can be deceiving. In a city full of fake ballers and some big ole fake booties, the only thing real is the thirst. Millions of people flock to Hollywood chasing a celebrity dream, and they get stuck in the bullshit. See, fame ain't for the faint of heart, and with every come-up comes some jealousy and some betrayal. It's enough to test the strength of any wannabe power couple. Success, marriage, family. These people in Hollywood think they deserve it all, no matter how reckless they act. See, but not everybody's rooting for you or your happy ending. Oh, and the traffic sucks. But that's okay, 'cause I know how to navigate these streets. My name is Kimberly, the artist formerly known as K. Michelle, and after all these years of shaking tables, throwing candles and turning heads down south. I'm bringing the real to La La Land. Hollywood ain't ready for this shit.
Despite continuing the franchise's overall ratings decline, the season's over-the-top storylines were well received by fans and critics, with Ziwe Fumudoh of Vulture giving the fifth and seventh episodes perfect scores.[16][17] Writer Michael Arceneaux praised the season for providing a "ratchet good time" and "making Love & Hip Hop great again".[18]
K. Michelle, now going by her birth name Kimberly, arrives in Hollywood and exposes Lyrica's alleged affair with Safaree. Apple Watts tries to escape the hood and kickstart her rap career.
guest stars: Sonja Norwood (Ray J's mother), Lee Lee (Apple Watts' friend), Misster Ray
Kimberly, Brooke and A1 are added to the opening credits, replacing departing cast members Keyshia Cole, Hazel-E and Safaree. Kimberly, Apple Watts and Paris join the cast. Although credited, Brooke does not appear.
A1 and Lyrica's family gets involved in their marital woes.
guest stars: Safaree, Dr. Aboolian (plastic surgeon), Loyd (A1's brother)
RoccStar joins the supporting cast. Although credited, Teairra and Nikki do not appear.
A1 tells Lyrica he wants a divorce. Teairra has a new man, Akbar, who is already clashing with her friends. Moniece discovers Fizz is dating her old enemy Tiffany.
guest stars: Akbar Abdul-Ahad, JayWill, Tiffany, Misster Ray, Stassia
La'Britney joins the supporting cast. Although credited, Kimberly does not appear.
A1 and Roccstar get into a brawl over Lyrica. Paris and Nikki start digging for dirt on Akbar.
guest stars: Stassia, Loyd (A1's brother), Patrice (Loyd's wife), Akbar, Sade Abdul-Ahad (Akbar's "wife")
JayWill joins the supporting cast. Although credited, Kimberly, Princess and Ray J do not appear.
guest stars: Safaree, Alejandra (Akbar's girlfriend), Akbar, Treiva Williams (executive producer), Lisa Bloom (Teairra Marí's lawyer), Mikey Pesante (choreographer), Jasmine Brand (Journalist/blogger)
Although credited, Kimberly and Princess do not appear.
The girls go on a trip to London to help Bridget promote her album.
guest stars: Loyd (A1's brother), Nima Haddadi (Shun Love's attorney), Chef Paul (piemaker), Steve "Henry VII" Murphy (Tudor History tours), DJ Ace (radio host), Jason Moe (music blogger), Nathan Devonte (music blogger)
Although credited, Kimberly, Princess and Ray J do not appear.
Pam and Lyrica Garrett try to mend their relationship but they are quickly come to each other's throats. The girls continue to clash on their London trip.
guest stars: Dr Thema Bryant-Davis (Psychologist), John Watts (Apple Watts' father), Lady LeshurrAlthough credited, Kimberly appears only in archival footage and Princess does not appear.
Kimberly and Paris have a heated confrontation with Paris throwing a drink in her face.
guest stars: Kritikal (creative director/photographer), Akbar, Amara La Negra
John Watts joins the supporting cast. Although credited, Nikki, Lyrica, A1, Princess and Ray J do not appear.
Roccstar comes to Teairra's defence and gets involved in the drama with Akbar.
guest stars: Alejandra (Akbar's girlfriend), Sade (Akbar's wife), Akbar, Walter Mosley Jr. (Teairra Marí's lawyer)
Although credited, Kimberly, Nikki, Lyrica, A1 and Princess do not appear.
When Amber shows an interest in Marcus, Brooke invites her and her mother Shun to an event to humiliate her for it. It ends with Shun snatching her daughter's wig to use as a weapon against Brooke and Bridget.
guest stars: Booby, Kash Doll (recording artist), Patrice (Loyd's wife)
Although credited, Teairra, Moniece, Nikki, Princess and Ray J do not appear.
Moniece crashes A1 and Lyrica's vow renewal ceremony to fight Princess. Apple learns that she's not actually related to her "father". Booby confronts Marcus over his treatment of Brooke.
^Episode has also been titled as "Three Years" on VH1's website and in some online episode listings. It is still listed as "The D Word" on digital platforms.
Webisodes
Check Yourself
Love & Hip Hop Hollywood: Check Yourself, which features the cast's reactions to each episode, was released weekly with every episode on digital platforms.[37]
List of Love & Hip Hop Hollywood: Check Yourself Season 5 episodes
