Offspring to one of the most influential hip-hop acts in history, Angela and Vanessa Simmons first appeared on Run House’s when they were still living under ‘It’s Tricky’ rapper, Rev. Run’s roof. Now, more than 15 years later, the story continues on WE Tv’s Growing Up Hip Hop.
Coming in hot for a sixth season, the Simmons sisters star alongside the next generations of Salt-N-Pepa, Eazy-E and 2 Live Crew’s Uncle Luke. Chronicling the lives of the children of hip hop legends, the success of the show has led to the creation of spin-offs in both New York and Atlanta.
And even after all these years of filming, Vanessa and Angela still choose to work together. Why? “To me because we’re family, like, I don’t know, it’s better like, you know with friends, things can get iffy,” Angela explained. “Your family’s still gonna be your family regardless.”
From dessert-inspired shoe lines to carefully crafted skincare, with influences like Baby Phat mogul Kimora Lee Simmons in their life, these sisters have gone on to becomes bosses in their own name.
Hopping on a Zoom call from opposite coasts, the Simmons sisters recently caught up with Monsters & Critics on their relationships, working together, and the brand new season of Growing Up Hip Hop.
Exclusive Interview with Angela and Vanessa Simmons:
Monsters & Critics: What can fans expect on this season of Growing Up Hip Hop?
Vanessa Simmons: This season is exciting because we’re introducing some new characters [some new people are coming on the show], then you get a little bit deeper look into, like, my relationships with my siblings [that] people are always so interested in, and me meddling a little bit into my sister’s love life like a bigger sister does.
Just trying to make sure, that you know, she’s making good decisions, making right choices, just being an annoying older sister basically.
M&C: What do you like most about working together?
Angela Simmons: To me because we’re family, like, I don’t know, it’s better like, you know with friends, things can get iffy. Your family’s still gonna be your family regardless of whatever happens and you know, we have so many things that we cross collaborate on, like it just makes it easier.
It definitely makes it easier to go to work right?
Vanessa Simmons: It definitely does. We’ve been doing this for a while with Run’s House and you know, there was so much fun being able to film together and get to do it at home.
It’s a blessing that all these years later that we can do this as adults, and we have children that are growing up together and to be able to work together professionally is the best honestly.
M&C: It is the best. I know with me and my sister, regardless if we have an argument, we’ll put on a normal face the next day and forget about it.
Vanessa Simmons: Oh 100 percent, me and Angela get into an argument and I don’t care. If I have something to tell you in two days, you’re picking up the phone. It’s always workable in sisters.
It could seem like the worst at the moment but it’s never, it’s never more important than the relationship.
M&C: You executive produced the series. Did you expect it to be so successful 6 seasons later?
Angela Simmons: I mean thank God, I’m glad that it has been successful. No, I mean when I started this whole journey into looking into doing something reality, I wasn’t sure what it was going to be and then it just grew into this.
There are many other ones like, Growing Up Hip Hop Atlanta, and it’s just been really great and a blessing. I feel like it’s given a lot of awareness to other people’s platforms and that’s always been my goal — to create a platform for other people that have platforms and that’s definitely done this.
We’re still here and I think television is shifting and changing so much, so for us to still be here is definitely a blessing.
M&C: What are you most looking forward to sharing with fans this season?
Vanessa Simmons: I think as the seasons go on, we all evolve as humans you know. We’ve been doing it for six seasons, I feel like you always see a new side or something new about each of us that I feel like, this is going to be another evolution of everyone. New cast members [are] added, which is going to be a lot of fun, a lot of new energy. Of course, the drama, which is what the fans want to see. The drama will definitely be there, so it should be a really good fun season.
M&C: A big topic is Angela’s love life. Everyone has been in your business since you were 18-19-years-old. You handle it so well, you seem very unbothered even though that might not be the case. Is that something you had to learn like throughout time or have you always been able to deal with it?
Angela Simmons: I would say throughout time, I think eventually you realize that regardless of someone’s opinion on your love life or whatever they’re gonna think, like, your life is going on with or without them meddling and saying what they want about your life.
That’s how I feel in relationships, I feel like people break up and get back together, you see all these things in the public, like, who cares. It’s like if we’re enjoying each other and we’re having a good time, it really doesn’t matter.
You know, even if you’re following someone’s love life, it is what is. I’ve just learned to not care.
Check out the full interview here:
Check out our other interviews with GUHH’s Stevie J and What the Flocka’s, Tammy Rivera.
Growing Up Hip Hop airs Thursdays at 9/8c on WEtv.