Rev’s a hard dude to figure out. One moment it feels like he might actually take pleasure in embarrassing his kids, especially the impressionable little fellas Diggy and Russy. Then the next moment he proves the undisputable heavyweight champion of dads. Look no further than Episode 6, where Rev gets jealous the boys are sleeping over at other kids’ houses (it’s actually a little adorable) and practically forces them to host friends for “Camp Rev.” He even promises there will be relay races! But just when it seems he does in fact seem hell-bent on embarrassing them, he busts out the turntables and starts cutting up “The Breaks” as the kids get into (Russy getting down to Kurtis Blow is near priceless) and then telling campside stories about, you know, making Hip Hop history. “To some people I’m the coolest dude in America,” Rev tells the boys. I wouldn’t go that far, but top 500 for sure.
The episode isn’t so fun for Jojo, who’s gotta wake up at the crack of dawn to meet Uncle Russell. Jojo catches Russell in the act – of meditating – before he gets a daylong lesson of how to approach a successful business career. Russell ultimately wants Jojo to takes over one of his bazillion businesses, but for now just wants some input on how make his Phat Farm clothing line appeal more to young folks. Jojo’s got the flavor he’s looking for. After taking him out for a luxurious lunch at “Curry in the Hurry” (a favorite among NYC cabbies), Russell introduces him to the staff at Phat Farm he’ll work with. After Jojo’s first idea to make the pants less baggy is well received, the tide turns in a hurry when Russell leaves the room and and Jojo’s new boss gets all Devil Wears Prada on him. “First, you’re gonna start by cleaning this whole room. Then you can tell us how tight you like your jeans.” Dag!
The Simmons offspring aren’t just good kids, they’re superstars in the making, blessed with the genes, the talent and the charisma, as we saw with Jojo making moves at Phat Farm. And as we’ve seen in episodes past with Angela the soap star. In Episode 7 it’s all about Vanessa, who’s not fully satisfied by merely posing in photos in between music stars Bow Wow and Omarion for the 16-page insert she controls in Word Up! Magazine. Nah, she wants her own magazine. More power to her, but didn’t anyone else get the feeling what she really wanted most was to just throw a Magazine Launch Party? Shoot, you don’t have to start a magazine to throw a party the last time I checked.
Rev sees the budding superstar in Diggy, too, and tries to get him to dance at least four times throughout the episode. But Diggy won’t do it. Maybe the kid just doesn’t want to be the next K-Fed, that’s all. Vanessa, meanwhile, is concerned her microscopic dog Juicy might be pregnant – which seems scientifically impossible given her size, and Rev will agree – but the vet tells her she’s not. There’s also good news for Angela: Scott, the founder and head of Word Up! (not exactly how you’d expect the founder of Word Up! to look), agrees to give Angela a shot with one issue. And you know what that means. Launch party! Bow Wow, Tweetie, and even Alonzo Mourning all show up for the red carpet event (I think my invitation was lost in the mail), which looks like a blast. And to top it all off: Diggy’s dancing!

