Yandy Smith sits down with Rickey Smiley on Rickey Smiley On The Spot for an unfiltered, hilarious, and eye-opening conversation about her life, career, and rise in the entertainment industry. Yandy breaks down the true origins of the Love & Hip Hop franchise, revealing how managing Jim Jones and documenting his family dynamic led to a project that reshaped reality television. She gets candid about the high-stakes music business, sharing wild survival stories from her days at Violator Management—including narrowly missing an office shooting during the 50 Cent era and outsmarting a dangerous setup on tour.

Beyond the drama, Yandy shares invaluable business lessons on contracts, missed royalties, and why understanding entertainment ownership early on is vital for creators. Plus, the conversation takes a hilarious turn when family takes precedence over everything—watch Rickey pause the entire show to make sure Yandy’s son gets his lunch money and a popsicle. From reality TV triumphs to heartfelt life advice, this is a deep dive with Yandy Smith you don't want to miss!

CHAPTERS
(00:00) - Introduction & Welcome Yandy Smith
(04:02) - How Love & Hip Hop Really Started
(08:03) - Interning at Violator & Linking with Mona Scott-Young
(11:15) - Growing Up in Harlem & The Power of HBCUs
(16:19) - Advice for Women Executives in Entertainment
(17:34) - Reality TV vs. Real Life & Handling Online Hate
(21:14) - What Her Kids Really Think of Her Fame
(25:25) - Building YELLE Skincare & Bloomingdale's Success
(27:50) - Opening Novo Miami & Her Favorite Dishes
(32:00) - Saying Goodbye to Love & Hip Hop & Mama Dee Stories
(37:21) - The Harsh Business Lesson on Contracts & Ownership
(44:32) - Executive Producing Indie Bosses (Featuring Coach Trina)
(50:00) - Surviving the Violator Office Shooting
(52:45) - Uncle Rickey Pauses the Show for Lunch Money
(59:04) - Outsmarting a Hotel Setup & Managing Jim Jones on the Road