Erica Dixon, the girlfriend and baby's mother of rapper Lil' Scappy, chatted exclusively with TheYBF.com today about her new role on "Love & Hip Hop: Atlanta." If you don't know who she is, don't worry, we didn't either. But since we love a good love triangle and some good drama, we were quick to get to know Ms. Erica. From her relationship with her rapper boyfriend to beef with his ex to her drug addict parents, we've got it all. Check out our dish session inside....
We told you earlier about the cast of VH1's "Love & Hip Hop: Atlanta" but most of you were left with big question marks when you read off the names of the stars. One such castmate is Erica Dixon, the girlfriend of Lil' Scrappy and mother of his 7-year-old daughter Emani. Though many people don't know who she is now, Erica promises to break-out from Scrappy's shadow and show the world "I am my own woman."
We just had to know how the two co-parent and if there is/was any tension between her and Scrappy's ex, ATL rapper Diamond (who was also rumored to originally be cast for the show).
Atlanta native Erica spoke exclusively with TheYBF.com about her role on "L&H: Atlanta" and why she decided to do the show.
"I wanted people to know know who I am," she eagerly told us. "A lot of people associated Lil' Scrappy with Diamond and they assumed that my child was her child. So I just want to give people a little insight on who I am and what I have going on."
Erica revealed that she met Lil' Scrappy in 2002 right after she graduated high school, and they began a relationship that has been "on and off" over the years. Now this may strike some as odd since the rapper is commonly associated with his ex-chick Diamond. So what's up with all the overlap?
"We've been a relationship on and off for ten years. During that off period, he was with Diamond. That situation came along years down the line during the whole Crime Mob thing after he signed with Lil' Jon."
Well that explains it.
Erica added that there was NEVER a love triangle. "When Scrappy was with Diamond, he was not with me."
When asked if she ever has any contact with Diamond, Erica set the record straight:
"She was in a relationship with him, not me....so we don't have a relationship. But with a situation like that you have your ups and downs....but this is about me right now. I don't want to dwell on her. Whatever relationship they had is in the past."
But with Atlanta's hip hop community being so small, one would imagine the couple must still have some type of dealings with Diamond. In fact, rumors have been swirling that Diamond quit the show when she found out that Erica and Lil' Scrappy's mother, Mama Dee, had signed on. We inquired about the rumor. And Erica stayed mum due to being barred from talking too much about the show. Heaven forbid anything is revealed before the show actually airs.
Outside of the show, Erica says she is in the beginning stages of a couple of things: Developing an online clothing boutique and starting a non-profit organization that targets young girls.
"I had a hard childhood growing because I didn't have my mom around at all times," she explained.
Erica revealed that her mom was a drug addict and was in jail for her the first 6 years of her life. And because her father battled an alcohol addiction, she was raised by an aunt and uncle.
"But I've grown from that and I want youn girls to know that you can still grow up and be anything you want to be." She adds that she and her parents are in a much better space now and she has great relations with both of them.
With her own childhood being so rough, she makes it a point that Emani doesn't have those same issues.
"We are great parents. I am a mother first and Scrappy is a great Dad. He is crazy about his little girl. He is very invloved in any and everything she had going on."
She added that Mama Dee even gets in on the action making Christmas cookies, carving pumpkins for Halloween and is a fun grandmother. Does Erica have any regrets about the show? She said, "I like the castmates and the show itself was a great opportunity."
Check out "Love & Hip Hop: Atlanta" on Monday, June 18, 7PMc.
Watch Erica's "Cast Profile" here:
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