Is Lil' Kim Dissing Nicki Minaj Just to Stay Relevant?

By Jason Newman Posted Feb 17th 2011 11:13PM

Pop-Ed: Rapper Lil' Kim is out to reclaim her erstwhile position at the top of the female rapper food chain by doing what any desperate rapper does to get back into the spotlight: Start beef with the younger competition.

Those familiar with 'All About Eve' will recognize the story, with newcomer Nicki Minaj playing Eve Harrington to Kim's Margo Channing. Now, Kim's ratcheted up the stakes, decapitating Minaj on the cover of her latest mixtape 'Black Friday' (pictured here) and recently releasing the nearly seven-minute long title track attacking Minaj.

The feud started in spring 2010, when Kim publicly excoriated Minaj and claimed the latter's style -- specifically Minaj's love of wigs popularized by Kim in the mid-1990s -- ripped off her own pioneering look. Days later, Kim told a radio station:

"When [female rappers] come in the game and they realize that I'm not going away and my fans are still here and they can't just step on me, they get upset and then they don't want to be my friend anymore. I think that's really childish and stupid. Because all I ask for is respect, and I show the same respect back. Pay homage, at the end of the day a lot of things go on behind the scenes that people don't know about. It will be aired out, because you can't hide the truth."

The beef escalated from there, with the two rappers exchanging words in interviews and selected tracks.

Feuds in hip-hop, of course, are as old as the genre itself. Yet many of the classic lyrical battles -- Common vs. Ice Cube, Kool Moe Dee vs. LL Cool J -- seemed less focused on commerce and more about actual respect and lyrical superiority. In this post-Biggie/Tupac era, rap beefs feel like just another line item on a record label's publicity plan. You can argue that in terms of sales, Kanye West won the 50 Cent/Kanye West "beef" in 2007, when 50's 'Curtis' was released the same day as Kanye's 'Graduation.' The real winner: the shareholders of Universal Music Group, parent company of both artists.

Paradoxically, though, this latest act of desperation that is the Minaj beef may be exactly what Kim needs to regain her reputation in hip-hop (though the queen title is probably gone for good). Her debut album, 1996's 'Hard Core,' went double platinum and established her as the Queen of Hip-Hop. But since then, the rapper has released three albums to varying degrees of success, with 2005's 'The Naked Truth' barely making a dent in the genre. (A year in jail on perjury charges in 2005 didn't help.)

On 'Black Friday,' the rapper sounds rejuvenated, delivering a four-minute, near-continuous riposte filled with renewed energy and clever one-liners ("You and Diddy, sorry bunch of swagger jackers/I mothered you hoes, I should claim you on my income tax"). In the video, Kim is seen stomping on a brightly colored wig favored by Minaj. The video ends with a quote from Michael Jackson (via Herman Melville), saying, "It's better to fail in originality, than to succeed in imitation ... period."

Hip-hop is not 'Highlander.' There can be more than one female emcee rhyming at the same time. But Lil Kim vs. Nicki Minaj is far from the Jay-Z/Nas 'King of New York' battle of 2001, in which the two hip-hop titans both solidified their already dominant positions in the genre. The more shots that get fired Nicki's way, the more desperate and sad Lil' Kim looks to get back to her position circa 1996.

As the once-beloved actress Margo Channing spirals down into obsolescence in 'All About Eve,' she tells her friend, "And what is [Margo], besides something called a temperament, which consists mostly of swooping about on a broomstick and screaming at the top of my voice? Infants behave the way I do, you know. They carry on and misbehave ... when they can't have what they want, when they feel unwanted or insecure or unloved."

You're welcome, Kim.

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Tags: Hip-hop, Lil kim, Nicki minaj

Comments

(34)

Thursday 17 February

By alisha

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i like nicki, and there are songs that i like by kim. i dont know why there can only be one female rapper at a time. this so-called beef is quite elementary. kim's latest song is good though, but she looks awful.

By ?

The Doll Looked More Human Than Lil' Kim

By cherryannajones

Lil Kim doesn't need beef to be relevant. I'm so sick of all these youngsters and media writers penning articles based on a fad. Kim has PROVEN she's queen and she didn't have to imitate anyone to grab and hold on to that title. The proof is in the pudding and Minaj should have known better. Diddy dressing her image and Wayne writing her lyrics. That chic is for teenagers and those are her fans. Kids who don't know any better. She should refrain from stating that she isn't going anywhere. Ten years is going to be tough in an industry where you're here today and gone tomorrow as soon as another fresh face and round butt dons a pair of stilletos. I don't think she has 10 years in her. What's next? Trina's image? Eve? She's a gimmic and just like "please don't squeeze the Charmin and "where's the beef" she'll fade. Kim has lasted as long as she has because she brings something to the table that can't be duplicated. She's timeless, like Chanel.

By jlwilliams22

"Is Lil' Kim Dissing Nicki Minaj Just to Stay Relevant?"

Is the Pope Catholic?

I love Kim but this is just so damn sad. Just sad, Kim.

By brwatty

High Rank Vote down Vote up Report this

Queen of Rap? Is that like the King of Bulls__t?

Friday 18 February

By daniel

Who cares? They're both dumb skanks...

By soididtoo

I really wish these two female ARTIST, will STOP this FEUDING.

By takirah

I couldnt agree with the title more....Lil Kim has lost her groove as well as her damn mind! I will give her credit where credit is due. back in the days (that being the key words) Kim was on top. She was the best. but ever since this Jail thing its been nothing but donwhill since then. I think she knows she is being replaced (quite easily) and the only way to stay in the lime light is to bash the younger generation. What kim needs to realize is that her time is up. She should be gracious and step aside OR shut up and do her own thing instead of feeling threatened. Some one said Lil Kim doesnt even look like herself any more... I think she has personal issues she needs to resolve. she is going down a Michael Jackson Path quite fast.....I mean ok a boob job here is ok but she is starting to look like an old Asian lady....I like Nikki, I support her but my liking for lil kim is done. I think this move is cheap and childish and she is only doing it to stay in the news.

By Kristy

OoOo That don't even look like Lil' Kim anymore.... and she sounded pitiful. I think it's time to hang it up. And by the way I am a Lil' Kim fan.

By Juanita

Lil kim queen??? must be news to Missy Elliott

By Jay

If Kim is the "queen," she probably wouldn't feel so threatened by fresh meat in the genre, especially if Minaj sucks so much. It's a big world out there, just do your thing and mind your own business. Don't like Minaj? Ignore her. We'd all feel a lot better about ourselves and live happier lives if we cared a little less about the happenings of others and just focused on what we enjoy.

Wednesday 23 February

By jalv

So people steal people's style who cares and that whats lil kim needs to understand ... she might have been good then but her time is over..and that just the way it is

Friday 18 March

By Courtney Loft

totally agree

Sunday 01 May

By tera hill

everyone copies everyone even in the video the girl next to kim was a nicki clone. yes it's been 10 years since kim's been in the game but she has put out [good] music in 5 sooo yeaa...? kim is definitely trying to stay relevant she admits it in several interviews she says things like "you help me, i help you thats what i always believe" she's even willing to make a song with nicki after all this beefin, "for the right price" she says.lil kim been starving since 05. then the dancing with the stars money ran out, she gotta eat too right? i leave u with these words. the great nicki minaj said it best "hang it up, flat screen" ps black friday is hot garbage and the video was mad cheap, jus like kim's botch plastic surgeries.

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