Teairra Marquisha Thomas (born December 2, 1987), known professionally as Teairra Marí, is a R&B/pop singer and actress, originally from Detroit, Michigan. She rose to fame when Jay Z signed her to Def Jam Recordings at the age of 16, alongside Rihanna. She was dropped from the label in 2006, after poor album sales, and she has struggled to revive her music career ever since. Teairra joins the supporting cast in season , acting as a friend and confidante to Emily. Several episodes during the season were filmed in Miami, originally intended to set up a spin-off starring Teairra and Erica Mena. She does not return to the show after the season's Miami trip. In 2014, Teairra joined the cast of "", becoming one of the show's original eight cast members. Mendeecees Harris (born October 26, 1978) is a real estate entrepreneur and entertainment manager. He was born in Harlem, New York to Panamanian parents. He owns the Beat Factory Studio in The Bronx and manages several NYC-based rappers, such as Vado and Webstar. He has been in a relationship with Yandy Smith since 2008, and has two children from previous relationships, Lil Mendeecees, born to Samantha Wallace on October 9, 2005, and Aasim, born to Erika DeShazo on September 7, 2011. He also had a casual fling with Rashidah Ali, years before their appearance on the show together. Mendeecees joins the supporting cast in season , which chronicles the birth of Omere, his first child with Yandy, and the couple's engagement. However, later in the season, their wedding plans are interrupted when Mendeecees faces legal issues and is forced to turn himself into custody for multiple drug and trafficking charges. Mendeecees is locked up awaiting sentencing during season , but continues to make appearances on the show via phone call conversations with Yandy. Mendeecees returns in season after getting bail, and Yandy gives birth to their second child, Sylar. On May 25, 2015, Yandy and Mendeecees were married live on VH1 as part of the special "Love & Hip Hop Live: The Wedding". In season , Mendeecees is sentenced to eight years in jail and turns himself in again in the finale. While he is behind bars in season , Yandy admits that her televised wedding was "symbolic" and that her marriage to Mendeecees is not legal.