Kim Osorio | |
|---|---|
 | |
| Born | June 14, 1974 |
| Other names | Kim Osorio |
| Occupation | Editor/Writer/TV Personality |
| Known for | The Source magazine lawsuit |
| Title | Author/Editor In Chief of The Source (magazine) |
| Children | 3 |
| Website | kimosorio |
Kim Osorio (born June 14, 1974 in The Bronx, New York City) is an American journalist, writer, author, TV producer and personality. She was also a cast member on the American reality TV series, "The Gossip Game" on VH1.
Osorio was born in New York City to a Puerto Rican father and a mother of mixed racial background, African-American and Chinese American. She was raised in the Castle Hill section of the Bronx where she identified with Hip Hop culture in its early years and often speaks about the influence that its had on her life. After obtaining a B.A. in Fine Arts from Fordham University, she went on to earn a Juris Doctor from New York Law School. Osorio pursued a writing career after law school, going on to write primarily about hip hop music for music publications, such as Billboard, The Source , Vibe , OneWorld and XXL magazine . In 2000, Osorio began working at the Source magazine as the Associate Music Editor and after two years, was appointed to the position of Editor-In-Chief. [1] [2] [3]
As the first female Editor-in-Chief in the history of the publication, [4] she was featured on the cover of the New York Post's Tempo section, and voted one of the Top 25 influential Latinos in New York. She was called upon by mainstream news outlets such as The O’Reilly Factor, and Fox News’ The Big Story with John Gibson, to represent hip hop culture, and began a lengthy resume as a talking head for a long list of pop culture television specials on networks such as MTV, VH1, BET, E!, Fuse, and TV One.
Under Osorio's leadership, the magazine boasted its two highest selling issues to date, September 2002 featuring Jay-Z and his Roc-a-fella roster and October 2002 featuring Ja Rule and Murder Inc. During her time at the magazine, Osorio interviewed and wrote cover stories on a number of high profile artists, including Jay-Z, Drake, LL Cool J, Rick Ross, The Wu-Tang Clan, Lil Kim, Foxy Brown, and Mase.
In March 2005, Osorio filed a harassment complaint with the magazine's Human Resources department and was terminated shortly after. In response, she filed a federal lawsuit against The Source alleging sexual harassment, gender discrimination, defamation, retaliatory discharge, and maintaining a hostile work environment. The case went on for six days, with the jury returning a verdict in her favor. [5] The judgment, originally reported at 15.5 Million, [2] was later disputed and knocked down to 8 Million. [6]
After entertainment attorney L. Londell McMillan acquired the magazine in 2009 purchasing the 3.75M of the Source Magazine's debt, [7] he re-hired Osorio. "In addition to hip hop, she has empowered women and writers in journalism for years. She is an excellent journalist online and off," said McMillan. [8] Osorio returned to The Source as Editor-in-Chief in 2012 to help restore the magazine's credibility [9] and solidify the brand's place in the Hip Hop arena. [10] She left in 2013, [11] to pursue a career full time in television.
While the lawsuit was ongoing in 2005–2006, Osorio accepted a job as the Executive Editor at BET.com. At BET, she transitioned from writer to producer, and served as on-air talent for BET News briefs and their weekly show The Black Carpet. Upon her departure from BET, she began to freelance for the cable network as a script writer, adding shows like Aaliyah: One in a Million, Notarized: The Top 100 Songs of 2011, and the BET Awards special The Chosen to her resume.
Kimberly Osorio then became an editor-at-large at BET Interactive, an affiliate of Black Entertainment Television. [2] [6] [12] [13] In the summer of 2008, Osorio left BET.com to be the VP of Content at Global Grind, where she spent four months before returning to BET.com.
As a script writer, Osorio wrote host scripts for live and live to tape TV specials, including the Love and Hip Hop reunion specials, VH1’s Hip Hop Honors, and various BET tentpole specials.
Osorio transitioned to non-scripted television in 2015, and has gone on to Executive Produce reality television shows such as Love and Hip Hop,Black Ink Chicago, [14] Growing Up Hip Hop, Hustle In Brooklyn and Hustle & Soul [15] and The Impact: New York .
In September 2008, Osorio released a book titled Straight From The Source: An Exposé from the Former Editor in Chief of the Hip-Hop Bible [16] detailing the events of her time at The Source. [17]
Osorio is an invited speaker at various universities across the country as well as industry conferences, sharing both her personal and professional experiences with the masses. She has also served as Principal For A Day at high schools and elementary schools in the Bronx through the PENCIL [18] organization.
Osorio filed her report to the Equal Employment Opportunity Commission (EEOC) in 2005 with fellow employee, ex-marketing VP Michelle Joyce, outlining their case of sexual harassment. [4] [19] [20] The jury rejected the case brought forth by Michelle Joyce, but Osorio's case went ahead. [21] It is now known that as early as 2004, Osorio began talking to lawyers regarding the merits of her case. [1] The affidavit filed with the EEOC detailed the work environment at The Source, as well as threats and conduct of workers. [4] [5] Osorio soon after sent an e-mail to the magazine's Human Resources department outlining her complaint, and after refusing to withdraw her e-mail she was fired. [22] Her employers claimed it was because of poor performance, particularly her decisions on magazine covers and certain negative reviews of artists' CDs. [5] [2] [3] [6] [12] [23]
Osorio outlined the environment which was present at the magazine: employees often watched pornographic movies, hung pictures of females in G-strings, smoked pot and called women bitches. [2] [3] [5] She also claimed that rumors constantly were made detailing untrue stories of her being sexually involved with industry artists. [3] [5] [12]
The trial lasted 8 days, with Scott being asked to leave, or threatened with removal from the courtroom by Judge Jed S. Rakoff. [5] The Source filed for bankruptcy protection shortly before the verdict was handed down. Kenneth P. Thompson, who represented Osorio in her case, commented that he was not worried about the filing because, "They're still a viable company." [2] [5]
After 2 weeks, a jury of six men and two women concluded that while Osorio had not been a victim of sexual harassment, [2] [5] [12] the co-founders of The Source, David Mays and Scott, had in fact terminated her in retaliation, and that Scott had defamed her character in an interview. The total judgement was $7.5 million. [2] [3] [5] [6] [12] [17] "This verdict shows that all women must be treated with dignity and respect, no matter what industry they work in," attorney Thompson said.
On November 1, 2006, Judge Rakoff rejected the appeals of Mays, Scott and The Source. [24]
Kim Osorio was a main cast member on the VH1 reality TV show, The Gossip Game . [25] [26] The show followed the careers and personal lives of seven female media professionals working in the urban entertainment industry as radio personalities, journalists, and bloggers. The seven cast members are Vivian Billings, K. Foxx, JasFly, Sharon Carpenter, Candice Williams, and Angela Yee. The show focused on the competitive nature of media coverage of entertainment industry, as well as the particular difficulties female media professionals face when working in a male-dominated field.
The show was produced by VH1 in conjunction with Magilla Entertainment, Mona Scott-Young, and District Media. The Gossip Game consisted of eight episodes, with the premiere airing on VH1 on April 1, 2013.
| Year | Series | Role | Network | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2016 | Hustle & Soul | Co-Executive Producer | WeTV | |
| 2016 | One Shot | Consulting Producer | BET | |
| 2017 | VH1 Hip Hop Honors: 90's Game Changers | Consulting Producer | VH1 | |
| 2017-2018 | Love & Hip Hop: New York (season 8) | Co-Executive Producer | VH1 | |
| 2018 | Hustle In Brooklyn | Co-Executive Producer | BET | |
| 2019 | Black Ink Crew Chicago (season 5) | Executive Producer | VH1 | |
| 2019 | Growing Up Hip Hop New York (season 1) | Co-Executive Producer | WeTV | |
| 2019 | Love and Hip Hop (season 10) | Executive Producer | VH1 | |
| 2021 | Growing Up Hip Hop (season 6) | Executive Producer | WeTV | |
| 2022 | Rap City '22 | Co-Executive Producer | BET | |
| 2023 | My True Scam Story: Jennifer Williams | Executive Producer | VH1 | |
| 2024 | The Impact New York | Executive Producer | VH1 |
Lana Michele Moorer, better known by her stage name MC Lyte, is an American rapper. Considered one of the pioneers of female rap, MC Lyte first gained fame in the late 1980s, becoming the first female rapper to release a full solo album with 1988's critically acclaimed Lyte as a Rock. The album spawned the singles "10% Dis" and "Paper Thin".
Mary Jane Blige is an American singer, songwriter, and actress. Often referred to as the "Queen of Hip-Hop Soul" and "Queen of R&B", Blige has won nine Grammy Awards, a Primetime Emmy Award, four American Music Awards, twelve NAACP Image Awards, and twelve Billboard Music Awards, including the Billboard Icon Award. She has been nominated for three Golden Globe Awards and two Academy Awards, including one for her supporting role in the film Mudbound (2017) and another for its original song "Mighty River", becoming the first person nominated for acting and songwriting in the same year.
Kimberly Denise Jones, better known by her stage name Lil' Kim, is an American rapper. She was born and raised in New York City and lived much of her adolescent life on the streets after being expelled from home. In her teens, she would freestyle rap, influenced by fellow female hip-hop artists like MC Lyte and the Lady of Rage. In 1994, she was discovered by fellow rapper The Notorious B.I.G., who invited her to join his group Junior M.A.F.I.A.; their debut album, Conspiracy, generated two top 20 singles in the United States and was certified gold by the Recording Industry Association of America (RIAA).
Deidra Muriel Roper, known professionally as DJ Spinderella or simply Spinderella, is an American DJ, rapper and producer. She is best known as a member of the hip-hop group Salt-N-Pepa. Roper occasionally appeared in The Salt-n-Pepa Show, a reality TV series focusing on reforming the group and which aired on the VH1 network in 2008.
Martin is an American television sitcom that aired for five seasons on Fox from August 27, 1992 to May 1, 1997. The show starred comedian Martin Lawrence as the titular character. Lawrence also played several other characters. Martin was one of Fox's highest rated shows during the sitcom's run. Martin has frequently been regarded as one of the most influential and "pivotal" for sitcoms of all time. In 2024, the cast reunited at the 75th Primetime Emmy Awards.
Clifford Joseph Harris Jr., better known by the stage names T.I. and Tip, is an American rapper. Born and raised in Atlanta, Georgia, Harris is known as one of the pioneers of the hip hop subgenre trap music, along with fellow Atlanta-based rappers Jeezy and Gucci Mane. Harris first became aquainted with local music executive Kawan "KP" Prather, and joined his company Ghet-O-Vision Entertainment by the late 1990s. He was led to sign his first major-label record deal in 1999 with its parent company LaFace Records, an imprint of Arista Records. His debut studio album, I'm Serious (2001) was met with lukewarm commercial reception and became his only release with the label. He then signed with Atlantic Records, where he soon reached his mainstream breakthrough and co-founded his own label imprint, Grand Hustle Records by 2003.
Tameka Dianne Cottle-Harris, known professionally by her nickname Tiny, is an American singer-songwriter. She rose to fame in the 1990s as a member of the multi-platinum R&B vocal group Xscape. She received a Grammy Award for her writing contributions on the TLC hit "No Scrubs". Cottle is also known for her marriage to T.I. She acquired the nickname "Tiny" due to her small stature of 4'11".
Raqiyah Mays is an author, screenwriter, executive producer, podcaster, journalist, and former radio personality, Born in Newark, NJ, Raqiyah was featured in The Limited clothing store's 2015 nationwide "New Look of Leadership" campaign, honored as a female leader for her empowerment hard work.
Chandra Davis, a.k.a. London Charles and Deelishis, is an American model and former reality show contestant. She is best known as the winner of VH1's hit reality TV show Flavor of Love 2.
Sandra Jacqueline Denton, better known by her stage name Pepa or Pep, is a Jamaican-American rapper, best known for her work as a member of the female rap trio Salt-N-Pepa. Denton starred in The Salt-N-Pepa Show, a reality TV series focusing on reforming the group which aired on the VH1 network in 2008. Since January 2016, Denton has appeared as a supporting cast member on the music reality television show Growing Up Hip Hop which airs on We TV.
Kimberly Michelle Pate is an American singer and television personality. She is best known for appearing as a regular cast member on the VH1 reality television series Love & Hip Hop: Atlanta during its first two seasons, later returning to the show during its fifth season. Michelle subsequently signed with Atlantic Records. Her debut studio album, Rebellious Soul, debuted at number two on the US Billboard 200, and number one on the US Top R&B/Hip-Hop Albums charts. Her second studio album Anybody Wanna Buy a Heart? was released on December 9, 2014. The album debuted at number six in the US and spawned three singles "Love 'Em All", "Maybe I Should Call" and "Hard to Do". The album sold 87,000 copies in its first week in sales.
Sharon Lee Carpenter is a British broadcast journalist, television host, and producer. She has worked as an on-air personality for a number of top American television networks including CBS, BET, Sean "Diddy" Combs' REVOLT TV, and VH1. Currently, she is a host for BBC America and often contributes on CNN, Good Morning America and UK morning show "Lorraine." She also co-hosts a pop culture podcast with Hollyoaks actress Jorgie Porter, "Loose Lips." Carpenter recently won both a Telly Award and a Webby Awards honor for an Instagram Live series she created during the coronavirus pandemic - a celebrity interview show called "Let's Go Live!"
Love & Hip Hop: Atlanta is the second installment of the Love & Hip Hop reality television franchise. It premiered June 18, 2012, on VH1, and chronicles the lives of several people in Atlanta involved with hip hop music. The show features appearances from notable figures associated with Southern hip hop.
Karlie Redd born Keisha Lewis, is an American television personality, rapper, model and actress. She rose to prominence for appearing as a main cast member of VH1's reality show Love & Hip Hop: Atlanta since its premiere in June 2012.
Elliott Wilson is an American journalist, television producer, and magazine editor. He is the founder and CEO of Rap Radar. In the past, he has worked as editor-in-chief of XXL Magazine. While there, he became known for his editorials under the nickname "YN".
The Gossip Game is an American reality television series on VH1 that debuted on April 1, 2013, and chronicles the lives of seven media personalities who cover the urban entertainment market and reside in New York City. Cast member Vivian Billings confirmed via her blog in June 2013 that the series will not be returning for a second season.
Love & Hip Hop: New York is the original installment of the Love & Hip Hop reality television franchise on VH1. The series premiered on March 6, 2011, and chronicles the lives of several people in New York City, involved with hip hop music. The show features appearances from notable figures associated with East Coast hip hop. Its success has produced the spin-offs Love & Hip Hop: Atlanta, Chrissy & Mr. Jones, Love & Hip Hop: Hollywood, K. Michelle: My Life, Stevie J & Joseline: Go Hollywood, Leave It to Stevie, Love & Hip Hop: Miami and Remy & Papoose: Meet the Mackies.
Hip Hop Weekly is an American hip hop news and entertainment magazine founded in 2006. The magazine covers celebrity news, music, film, fashion, sports and features exclusive interviews with many notable figures within popular culture.
The second season of the reality television series Love & Hip Hop: New York aired on VH1 from November 14, 2011, until February 6, 2012. The season was primarily filmed in New York City, New York. It was executively produced by Mona Scott-Young for Monami Entertainment, Toby Barraud and Stefan Springman for NFGTV, and Jim Ackerman and Jeff Olde for VH1.
| International | |
|---|---|
| National | |
