Safaree Samuels: Who is Love & Hip Hop star Erica Mena’s ex husband?
Safaree Samuels and Erica Mena just had a very messy breakup that played out on TV. But who is Love & Hip Hop star Safaree Samuels?
Safaree Samuels:
Safaree Lloyd Samuels was born in July 4, 1981, making him 40-years-old.
He was born to Jamaican parents in Brooklyn, New York City and has two sisters, Shaneequa and Samantha Samuels.
He attended Midwood High School before going on to become the successful rapper, songwriter, businessman, and TV presenter he is today.
Early career and relationship with Nicki Minaj:
Safaree Samuels started his rap career in the group a group called Hoodstars in the early 2000s.
In the group he was known as Scaff B (better known as SB or Scaff Beezy).
He starred alongside Loustar, Seven Up, and his then-unknown lover Nicki Minaj, who is now a chart-topping rapper and ten time Grammy nominee!
When the group decided to go their separate ways, Loustar and Safaree continued to pursue music.
Seven Up went to prison at Coxsackie Correctional Facility in New York, and Nicki Minaj continued to work day jobs in order to buy studio time, before eventually releasing her first solo mixtape, Playtime Is Over three years later.
Safaree’s path to fame:
Safaree Samuels’ music career was far from over when Hoodstars broke up.
He was more than supportive of Nicki’s solo career and it seemed to pay off.
Samuels co-wrote the single “Did It On’em” for Nicki’s debut studio album, Pink Friday back in 2010.
In 2012, he appeared in Minaj’s music video “Stupid Hoe” and has six writing credits and a feature in her second album “Pink Friday: Roman Reloaded”.
Three years later Safaree Samuels released the mixtapes, “It Is What It Is” vol 1 and 2 before starting his reality TV career.
In 2016, he joined the cast of the VH1 reality show, “Love & Hip Hop: Hollywood”, then the first season of VH1’s “Scared Famous” the following year.
In 2017, he moved back to his hometown of New York City and joined the “Love & Hip Hop: New York” cast.
Messy love life and lawsuits:
The rapper’s latest bust up with Erica Mena certainly doesn’t mark the first messy break-up for Safaree Samuels.
The Love & Hip Hop star actually dated rapper Nicki Minaj from 2002 until their breakup in 2014.
Several tracks on Minaj’s third album The Pinkprint are believed to have been inspired by the end of their relationship.
In 2016, he attempted to sue Nicki and accused her of not crediting him on The Pinkprint.
However, it didn’t take long for him to move on, as just two years later he became engaged to model, TV personality and actress Erica Mena.
Safaree and Erica:
Ever since Safaree Samuels and Erica Mena married on October 7, 2019, they have seen their tumultuous marriage play out in the public eye.
It’s not easy to keep things private when both of you are stars on the reality show Love & Hip Hop!
The former rap couple had two children together, Safire Majesty Samuels and Legend Brian Samuels.
However, they called it quits in May after Mena filed for divorce while pregnant with their second child.
This isn’t the first time the pair have threatened divorce.
Social media feuds:
The pair have had a number of very public bust ups on social media.
In November 2020, Safaree Samuels announced on Twitter he’ll be “Ending 2020 right!!! as a BACHELOR!!.”
Ouch!
However, he quickly changed his tune, tweeting: “A man is nothing without his family. Im not a bachelor & I love my wife I would never disrespect the mother of my child or wife.”
“Sorry for being childish & Salute to all the real men out there,” he added.
In a since deleted tweet, Safaree then said, “I mean this from the bottom of my heart getting married was 1 of my BIGGEST mistakes and it will never happen again.
“I’m walking away before I End up in jail over some dumb s***. Nobody is worth my freedom!!!,” the rapper said.
Erica clapped back: “Since you always run to social media like a little girl I might as well join in. I absolutely agree with you on this.
“You are the most selfish, vain and inconsiderate person. And not just with me but your only daughter!,” the model said.
“Out of RESPECT for my daughter and to honor my growth as a woman. I’m going to get back to doing what I do best.
“Make money and be only about my business. Entertaining social media with my issues isn’t my thing.”
After a series of make ups and break-ups things seem to have ended for good as on May 25, 2021, TMZ reported that Mena officially filed for divorce from Samuels.
Just one month later came the arrival of their baby boy.
