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Hosts
Peter Rosenberg (2012)
DeRay Davis (2017–2019)
Announcers
DJ Ms. Nix (a.k.a Nicole Lyn) (2012)
Ice Cube [also executive producer] (2017-2019)
Broadcast
Hip Hop Squares
MTV2: 5/22/2012 – 12/18/2012
VH1 Hip Hop Squares
Hip Hop Squares S2
Hip Hop Squares S3
VH1: 3/13/2017 – 9/17/2019
Packagers
MTV Productions (2012)
Canter/Krank Industries (2012)
Jesse Collins Entertainment
Entertain the Brutes
Cube Vision
The Firm
CBS Television Distribution

MTV2 VERSION:
"Straight out of Brooklyn, it’s Hip Hop Squares! On today's show, (insert the made-up claim titles and names of eight celebrities), and in the center square, (insert made-up claim title and celebrities' name). And now, (insert funny fact about the host), Peter Rosenberg!"

VH1 VERSION:
Seasons 1 & 2:
"Welcome to VH1 Hip Hop Squares. Come to play, stay to party. Give it up for the XO Squad. Tonight, it's (insert situation): (insert celebrity) vs. (insert celebrity). But first, let's meet the squares: (insert the made-up claim titles and names of eight celebrities), and in the center square, (insert claim title and celebrities' name). And now, the king of cameos, y'all give it up for DeRay!"
Season 3:
"Welcome to Hip Hop Squares! Tonight, (insert situation): (insert celebrity) vs. (insert celebrity). Let's meet the squares: (insert the made-up claim titles and names of eight celebrities), and in the center square, (insert claim title and celebrities' name). And now, here's your host, DeRay!"

(MTV2/VH1) Hip Hop Squares is the rap/hip-hop spin-off of Hollywood Squares. According to the tagline of both seasons 1 and 2 respectively from the VH1 version, its the show where stars were allowed to "come to play, stay to party".

Gameplay[]

Just like in Hollywood Squares, the object of the game is to get tic-tac-toe: that's three squares in a row, either across, up & down or diagonally; or be the first contestants to capture five of the squares to win. Xs are always represented by a male contestant. Os are always represented by a female contestant except in the VH1 version where celebrities (sometimes with the same gender or family members) competed for a studio audience member.

The two competing contestants would take turns picking off each of the nine hip hop stars seated in a great big tic-tac-toe board. On each star, the host asked a question to that star after which the star would usually give a crazy untrue answer (classified as a zinger) followed by his/her real answer. After hearing the real answer, the contestant in turn decided to either agree (meaning the star is correct) or disagree (meaning the star answered with a bluff). If the contestant's judgment was correct, he/she won the square (hence the phrase X or circle gets the square); if the contestant's judgment was wrong, his/her opponent won the square unless it would mean a win; when that happened nothing would be placed in that square because a win had to be earned by the contestant in control.

MTV2 Version[]

The secret square was played the same as always in Hollywood Squares but it's been renamed the "G-Spot". All "G-Spot" questions were worth $1,000 which did not count toward their final scores. If the "G-Spot" was not chosen in the second game, it was carried over into the next game. On some episodes, winning the "G-Spot" also won a prize for the studio audience.

The first two games were worth $500 and the third game is worth $1,000. If time ran out in the middle of a game, the contestants received $100 for each square captured. The player with the most money won the match and went on to play the bonus round.

Bonus Round[]

In this bonus game, the winning contestant chose which row of three stars to play with, either the top, middle or bottom. Host Rosenberg asked one question to the three stars in that chosen row: one of the them gave the correct answer while the other two gave bluffs. Choosing the correct answer won an additional $2,500, but choosing a bluff answer won nothing extra.

VH1 Version[]

In 2017, VH1 revived the show with DeRay Davis as the new host and Ice Cube as the executive producer. Ice Cube is also the announcer and part time center square (unlike Whoopi Goldberg). In addition, Davis was a former panelist on the original MTV2 version before becoming the host for the VH1 version (This also mirrors to John Davidson when he was a former panelist on Hollywood Squares [Marshall] before becoming a host of his own version of Squares in the 80s).

In this version, two hip hop celebrities compete to win money for their fans in the studio audience. Other than that, the game is the same as it has always been, but with this one exception: to make a decision, the star in control presses one of two buttons in front of him/her. Green to agree, red to disagree. In addition, starting in Season 3, the questions have props to aid the celebrities.

The first game is worth $1,000 and the second game is worth $2,000. In addition, each captured square is worth a random cash amount revealed when a star is chosen. In Season 1, cash amounts range from $300 - $900 in round 1 and $500 - $1,500 in Round 2. Starting in Season 2, cash amounts range from $500 - $1,500 in round 1 and $500 - $2,000 in Round 2.

In some Season 1 episodes the first game is worth $500 and the second game is worth $1,000. In the first game, cash amounts range from $100 - $500 while the second game ranges from $300 - $900.

The Secret Square returned in Season 3 (renamed the "Hidden Square" here), played in game 1. As before, picking that square and giving a correct judgement wins a bonus prize.

The star with the most money wins the match and plays the bonus round.

Bonus Round[]

This version had three bonus round during its run:

Season 1 ("3-in-a-Row") - The nine squares would flash around the board. The winning fan would stop the board by hitting a button in front of him/her. When it stopped on a square, the winning star's symbol was placed there. Unlike All-Star Blitz's bonus round, a spin of the board couldn't land on a square occupied by a symbol. The winning team had five chances to make a tic tac toe. If the winning team succeeded, their winnings are doubled.

Season 2 ("Pick That Dough") – Each star has a prize contained in a record sleeve. Eight have cash from $1 to $5,000 while one has a top prize (either a new car, a trip, or $25,000). The winning fan picks three stars in a tic-tac-toe pattern and wins the prizes revealed.

Season 3 ("Square Secrets") – The winning fan picks three stars in a tic-tac-toe pattern. They are then told a secret about one of those stars. Picking the correct star wins $10,000.

Rating[]

72px-TV-PG icon svg

House DJs[]

Ms. Nix
Biz Markie
Spinderella
MC Lyte

Studios[]

Steiner Studios (2012)
Hollywood Center Studios (2017-2019)

Inventor[]

Based on Hollywood Squares by Merrill Heatter and Bob Quigley

Gallery[]

Logos[]

MTV2[]

VH1[]

Season 1[]

Season 2[]

Season 3[]

Merchandise[]

Prior to this, Sonic Branding Solutions (now Sonic Boom Inc.) released the game Hollywood Squares: Hip Hop Edition for mobile phones on April 1, 2006. Featuring caricature-like appearances of Method Man, Redman, Bizarre from D12, Trina, Biz Markie, Cee-Lo (Green), Pitbull, Teairra Marie and many more.

Trivia[]

Ms. Nix occasionally appeared as one of the squares (ala Shadoe Stevens).

Both DJ Ms. Nix & Peter Rosenberg appeared as Friday DJs on the venerable ABC's Good Morning America.

This is the second spinoff series to have a reboot on its own, the first was Celebrity Family Feud in 2015.

Rapper/Actor Ice Cube was the first to executive produce and become an announcer for this version as well, the second of that nature to do that is actor/comedian Kevin Hart for Celebrity Squares in 2023.

For the 2017 version, after two seasons, the dance group known as The XO Squad was removed in season 3.

Regarding the 2017 version, it was the first version to not only have celebrities as contestants but also have them played with the same gender or with families/groups on some episodes.

The set from the 2017 version was recycled for Nashville Squares in 2019. Additionally, it was also recycled into Celebrity Squares also airing on VH1 just like the 2017 version since 2023.

D.C. Young Fly was a former panelist on the 2017 version of this show before becoming the host of the sixth reboot of Hollywood Squares called Celebrity Squares also airing on VH1 since 2023.

The two-colored buttons gimmick {i.e. green to agree, red to disagree} from the 2017 version were later carried over and used on Nashville Squares in 2019 and Celebrity Squares in 2023.

This was the first version produced by Jesse Collins Entertainment, the second was Nashville Squares in 2019 while the third was Celebrity Squares in 2023.

End-of-Show Disclaimer[]

"Contestants are briefed that during some portions of the program, celebrities have been informed of their questions, answers and possible bluff answers prior to taping."

Additional Page[]

Hip Hop Squares/Episode Guide

HS Related Shows[]

Hollywood Squares – The original series.
Storybook Squares – The short-lived, kid-friendly version on NBC Saturday Morning 1969 & NBC Daytime for special weeks 1976-77.
The Match Game-Hollywood Squares Hour – The short-lived, fused version that aired on NBC 1983-84.
Paul Lynde: Off Center - An episode about the life of the late actor & comedian that aired on A&E's Biography in 2001.
E! True Hollywood Story: Hollywood Squares - an episode about Hollywood Squares that aired on E! in 2003.
The West Virginia Squares - A one-time special that aired from the stage of West Virginia on WVPB {West Virginia Public Broadcasting} official YouTube channel in 2014.
Nashville Squares – The short-lived, country music version that aired on CMT from 2019.
Hollywood Squares (channel) - A channel on Pluto TV that airs nothing but the Bergeron version 24/7 since 2023.
Celebrity Squares - The Black/African-American centric version also airing on VH1 from 2023.

Links[]

Official Site (MTV2)
Official Site (VH1)

YouTube Videos[]

Episode 18

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