Lil Kim exploded onto the scene in the early 1990s as part of Junior M.A.F.I.A. alongside The Notorious B.I.G. and Lil Cease, among others.
As Kim’s solo career began to take shape, she inadvertently became one of the first female rappers to bank on her overt sexuality and out-filth her male counterparts, something that really hadn’t been done yet at the time. Her debut album, Hard Core, was released in 1996 and featured Kim straddling a bear skin rug for the cover. From there, she really established herself as a raunchy, no holds barred MC who wasn’t afraid to get dirty.
As a result, Kim set the precedence for Nicki Minaj, Cardi B and Megan Thee Stallion to exist. During a recent interview with Andy Cohen, R&B legend/actress Mary J. Blige made sure to remind Nicki, Cardi and Megan fans what Kim did for women in the industry.
“My baby girl, my little sister,” Mary said. “I mean, one of the most incredible female rappers to open the door for so many women. She’s a trailblazer and one of the biggest rappers [and] most respected rappers in the business.”
When Cohen brought up the 1999 MTV Music Video Awards where Diana Ross infamously fondled Kim’s bare breast on stage, Blige — who was at the podium with Kim — admitted she wasn’t happy about it.
“I was embarrassed for Kim and I was pissed when that happened because that’s my little sister and my friend,” she said. “Kim is courageous. She’s gon’ do what Kim does so I think we all should respect it like we should respect Megan Thee Stallion and Nicki Minaj and Cardi [B]. Respect Lil Kim. This is what they do. Respect them.”
In an October 2019 interview with Beats 1 Radio, Kim talked about her sexually-charged persona and explained it was the late Biggie who picked the suggestive poster image for Hard Core — even though she was just 17 at the time.
“Biggie was always at all of my photoshoots, like he picked the Hard Core poster,” she explained. “I naturally did the pose, but I did a bunch of poses and he was like, ‘That’s the one.’
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“The record company was like, ‘Are you sure about this?’ He was like, ‘Hell yeah, put that bitch on a poster. Stop playing.’ I’m not even joking. He was just my guy for everything. Not that I didn’t know him, but I was just scared to make a move because I didn’t want to make the wrong move, so he did everything.”
What of Foxy Brown who was out at the same time as her?
Muthafucka what??
Dumbass.
See she’s totally a minor in this pic. No clue about sex. All she knows is easy bake ovens n lollipops.
The Pioneer for what? Being a skank and selling your snatch for record sales? I mean what are we talking about here? She didn’t write her own rhymes. She mutilated herself to the point of ridicule, and she hasn’t put out a dope record in 20 years at least. Queen LATIFAH is the Queen of Hiphop. Respectable, classy, talented, and graceful, the characteristics of a Queen. Which one of those characteristics does Lil Kim have?
Your queen is a dyke
So? I don’t get it.
Once again, they were not talking about just female rap pioneers, they were talking about the sex talk rappers. Its known that lil kim was a spitter before meeting BIG and Big convinced her to do the sex talk. Yes he wrote some of her lyrics like alot of other people back in the day, but Kim wrote her own stuff before during and after BIG.
Let’s be clear, for female rap a lot of it comes down to delivery. And Kim to this day may have the best voice/delivery for a female. BUT, she also had biggie writing most of that first album too. Hearing his reference track for Queen bitch fucked me up. I just knew she wrote that, it was my favorite track from a female ever smh…
I masterbated to that poster mad times back in the day lol
Don’t leave Foxy Brown and Missy Elliot off the list either. Each we’re trailblazers in their own right and as far as I know wrote their own lyrics
Are we pretending Queen Latifah and Lauryn Hill don’t exist
Neither one was sex talk rappers. Thats clearly what this article is about. So why would they be mentioned in this article?
jean grae and gangsta boo are the real queens of hip hop, period
So fucking stupid man…they dope, but that is some of the dumbest shit I’ve heard…even for 2020
Those Rap Queens back in the day were on point!! Love me some Lil Kim, Foxy Brown, Queen Latifah, MC Lyte and some Salt & Pepper!! Some of these rap chics today are a disgrace!!
Those Rap Queens back in the day were on point!! Love me some Lil Kim, Foxy Brown, Queen Latifah, MC Lyte and some Salt & Pepper!! Some of these rap chics today are a disgrace!!
Lil Kim feat Sisqo – ‘How many licks’ making them chicks on WAP look like straight up nuns
Niggaz forget about the female rapper Choice
These 3 fall so far down the list of influential female mc’s…that it’s pure disrespect to mention them with Kim…or Foxy…or Latifah…or Lauren Hill…or Roxanne…or Missy…or Da Brat…or…ahhh go fuck yourselves for this stupid shit
I hope Nicki don’t diss Mary J because if she do ima diss like her!
If they remake Charlie and the Chocolate Factory, Kim should audition to be an Oopa Loopa.
sha rock of funky four + 1 is who paved the way.
and why no on here mentioning mc lyte’s contribution to all this?
Because MC lyte was not a sex talk rapper so why would her contributions be mentioned in this article?
Some lame ass fucks on here, did y’all read the article or what? Hoes With Attitude was first but Kim let the white folk know bout that freak nasty female raps
Damn right you better recognize. Lil Kim is the real og. Cardi B is one wack ass rapper. Megan is aught and decent if shed step on the real rap shit. Same goes for Nicki.
No one is taking that away from Kim but at the same time Lil Kim is her own worst enemy, constantly trying to bring her up as if current female rappers owe her something is becoming so tired and exhausting to the point I just don’t care to acknowledge this anymore and I feel one day the industry will just stop talking about it.
Lil Kim needs to get some time to herself and come up with a game plan, actually write new material, perform it in her regular voice, and go on tour. She’s going to have to do it independently, and you guys HER FANS need to buy and stream her shit. Just because you’re older and you came first doesn’t mean that someone younger can’t come along and bring a new perspective. The ageism has to stop and these older women have to stop trying to discredit these younger artist carving a lane for themselves. Stop trying to belittle Nicki Minaj’s success.
Foxy Brown kept her shit together she was just as influential.
Actually Salt-N-Pepa paved the way for all these sexually talking rappers.
Reading is fundamental!! She said Lil Kim opened the doors for SEXUAL content in the female rap. Yes Salt n pepa talked about sex, safe sex but lil kim talked about dirty raunchy sex. Mary did not say kim paved the way for ALL female rappers. We all know that there we GREAT female rappers that had more substance than today way before kim, foxy, Minaj, megan, and cardi.
Before Lil’ Kim, there was MC Choice.. Out of Houston..
Check her out, then get back to me about raunchy.. Freaky woman hip-hop artist..
Holla..
@Makavelidadon74 on Twitter..
I’m from the east coast and never heard of MC Choice still haven’t if they that good you shouldn’t have to look them up her name should ring bells on its own!
Never heard of her. Must have been just in Houston
Lil Kim, you are an awesome queen, wife, mother, businesswoman, and above. My favorite song by you is “No Matter What People Say.” You are very strong and courageous. May God bless you with the strength, might, wisdom, knowledge, understanding, love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, gentleness, faithfulness, and self control to fulfill the next plan of God for your journey. I love you, Kimberly Denise Jones 🙂
Sincerely, Heidi Graps