VH1’s new docu-soap, “Love & Hip Hop: Atlanta,” a spin-off of the very successful original version, debuts June 18 with a cast mostly packed with names and faces that may only be familiar to Atlanta hip-hop fans. So to be broadly appealing, it will have to come down to personalities and chemistry. Will they pop? Will they entertain? Will they provide the proper amount of manufactured drama? We shall see:

- Stevie J., a three-time Grammy Award winning producer who has worked with Diddy, Jay-Z and Mariah Carey.

- Stevie J’s girlfriend Mimi Faust.

- Up-and-coming Latina rapper Joseline.

- Lil Scrappy (”Money int he Bank”), his girlfriend Erica Dixon and his mom, nicknamed “Momma Dee.”

- Atlanta rapper Rasheeda, who is still seeking a big break, plus her manager and husband Kirk Frost.

- Songbird K Michelle

- Trinidadian R&B singer Karlie Redd

There will be ten episodes.

The original version, which has already aired two seasons since its debut in March, 2011, regularly draws 2 to 3 million viewers per week in its original airing.

These shows are basically variations on the “Real Housewives” theme. Ensemble casts of women with somewhat similar interests (or geographic locations) set to argue, bicker and occasionally throw fists if necessary to get air time. VH1 also has “Mob Wives,” “Baseball Wives” and “Basketball Wives,” to name a few.

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By Rodney Ho, Radio & TV Talk