Lil' Kim Non-fan Agrees with the First Black Barbie, Nicki Minaj Stole Kim's Style
Is Nicki Minaj a Carbon Copy of Lil' Kim?
When I hear people say that Lil' Kim should just shut up and let Nicki Minaj have her time, they're not taking into account the fact that Lil' Kim has specifically targeted artists who came out as a copycat version of her. She wasn't causing beef with Lauryn Hill or Missy Elliott or Queen Latifah or Left Eye or Salt n' Pepa or MC Lyte. She came for those who just flat out were profiting from being a carbon copy of her lyrics, her style and tried as much as possible to look like her. Hip-hop heads had a fit when Ja Rule came out looking like Tupac and accused Jay-Z of copying Jaz from time to time. So why is it somehow okay for one female lyricist to completely copy off of another memorable female lyricist?
I don't know Lil' Kim to speculate on whether she's jealous of Nicki Minaj's style, but I don't think she has anything to be jealous of. How can you be jealous of someone who tries her damndest to look exactly like you? Both women are very pretty without all the makeup, wigs and super tight clothing on. Quiet as its kept, they'd still have the same amount of talent with or without all the gear, but the strange things they do with fashion make them a little more interesting.
Graphic lines about "I think it's time to put this pussy on your sideburns" is about as tacky as Lil' Kim's raunchy lines, but talking about sex doesn't make you a great rapper. If that's the case, author Zane would be one of the best rappers ever. The idea that Nicki Minaj is a feminist is about as illogical as saying you should use a lightbulb to bathe. The two just don't go together and makes me wonder whether new school hip-hop fans need to do some serious research about women's rights and feminism.
But even as a non-Lil' Kim fan, I don't understand the argument that Lil' Kim is supposedly mad because Nicki Minaj is hotter than her. Lil' Kim's career spans over two decades long and she's got a firm place in hip-hop. As much as she didn't like the 2009 film "Notorious" and made ignorant commments about Naturi Naughton's complexion, Lil' Kim even had a character modeled after her. From Junior Mafia days to now, it's not like Lil' Kim just completely forgot how to rap. She did a prison stint for getting caught up in the no-snitching rule and it may have made her more quiet, but talent doesn't die with age.
I take issue with young hip-hop fans snubbing hip-hop pioneers especially, but Lil' Kim is not a pioneer. However, she was here before Nicki Minaj. Initially when I heard the comments from Ray J. and herself, I was thinking, "How can Lil' Kim be mad at Nicki Minaj when she is copying off of Mattel products?" But Barbie can't rhyme. Barbie hasn't rolled with a group of Kens and outdid them on their own tracks. That was Lil' Kim.
I had a two-hour long debate with someone who said Nicki Minaj was wack. I can't agree with that either. While I think it's illogical to rap "I really like your kitty cat and if you let me touch her" and "I'm looking for a cutie, a real biggole ghetto booty," and then be upset when people think she's a lesbian, she does have some strong lines here and there. The asbestos one has always stuck with me, but she's had a few more.
While this isn't my style of hip-hop music, I had to write this entry just to say that Lil' Kim has a point. I don't think Nicki Minaj should kiss the ground Lil' Kim walks on, but she surely needs to form her own style instead of cashing in on someone else's. It not only hurts her as an artist, but it also makes hip-hop fans wonder can Nicki Minaj form her own place in the industry longer than the year she's been hot. Longevity is key, and she's still too unoriginal for people to think she's hotter than Lil' Kim. I'm definitely a huge fan of Drake, but Ray J. and Kim were right this time. Pay homage. Get your own style.
And both women should be weary of Mattel finally paying attention and suing them for making a profit off of their Barbie dolls.
Published by Shamontiel
Shamontiel is the author of Round Trip and Change for a Twenty, and in mid-October became the Chicago Tribune s Digital News Editor. She works on National Travel, Health and occasionally Breaking News, and w... View profile
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22 Comments
Post a Comment...like Lil' Kim. If you bite somebody's style, why would you NOT expect that person to respond? I heard a mix from her about how she was tired of paying homage and it was her turn. I totally and completely respect that. I'm not a fan of hers, but I get it. My only problem is that she didn't come out with her own style. She came out, rode Lil' Kim's bandwagon and then suddenly wondered why Lil' Kim responded in turn. Think about it. I don't recall Lil' Kim losing her mind when Missy came out or Eve or any other female emcee with her own style. Now Foxy Brown was leaning towards Lil' Kim's style a lil' bit, too, and there was controversy there as well. But Nicki took it WAY further in the copycatting.
Haris, thanks for commenting. I can't say I agree, but to each his own. Lil' Kim left because she got locked up. It wasn't like she just got bored with hip-hop. She was going through legal troubles and was involuntarily taken out of the game. I don't really feel like Nicki Minaj offers anything positive to the hip-hop game. Yes, she makes young girls want to dress up like Barbie Dolls and "put this p*ssy on your sideburns" and talks a LOT about lesbian love, but I'm of the era of MC Lyte, Queen Latifah and Salt n' Pepa with women who were actually talking about something that could HELP us. Lauryn Hill was the last female artist I got excited about, minus Missy Elliott who leans to both hip-hop and R&B. Eve was all right too when she wasn't calling herself a b*tch, but lyrically, I think all of the other artists I mentioned have her beat. I really wish she would've come out with her own style though. She came out and even did the open-leg pose
its ok to have references to artists from the past. Look at lady gaga, shes like a blast from the past madonna but with some differences. we all have big artists in each era. old ones get old. I think we need a nicki minaj right now-esp for the many black women and girls out there. shes a solid performer and thinks outside the realm of the old hiphop that lil kim performed through. Basically, Lil Kim should appreciate it. Lil kim isnt out there filling up stages or performing. She came and she left-even with a new release it wont matter. Shes done. It hurts, but Nicki Minaj is everything Lil Kim couldnt be-physically and sales. Why blame Nicki Minaj for sharing her talents. Minaj is just in the right place and the right time. Teens appreciate her a lot more bc its a different era.
...one thing. It's not logical. I don't have any interest in her as an artist because I sincerely feel like she's a carbon copy of another artist. I wrote this entry simply to confirm it. I'm not a Lil' Kim fan, but I felt like she deserved credit for Nicki Minaj even getting her foot in the door. She stole her entire style.
Quesha, everybody who is an intellectual is not one and the same. Can you give me a particular song that makes Nas and Tupac alike? Tupac was spitting on cameras and throwing a fit about random stuff. Nas was way cooler than that and chose to stay calm, cool and collected. As far as taking on politics, the pioneers were doing that. NWA and Public Enemy were just as likely to talk about the government. Can you provide me with a song? As far as Jay-Z and Biggie, Jay-Z was wearing gold teeth and rapping faster. Biggie wasn't wearing flashy stuff outside of shirts and rapped slower. A bunch of rappers were rapping about selling drugs so that's not anything new. Can you give me a particular song? As for Nicki Minaj, if she says she's not gay, in my mind, she's not gay. It's not my job or even of personal interest to me to find out if she is gay. The only thing I want her to do is actually be herself. Don't make a song saying one thing and then get frustrated when people think you are that o
do you think nicki minaj will ever come clean about her sexuality? I think that she is showing herself, but at the same time she is denying herself! she has lyrics that say she likes girls, but she says in interviews that she doesn't. I just feel there are similarites in biggies's and jay-z's lyrics. Especially the Jay Z from the 90's and the early 2000's. Same with nas and tupac. They seem like intellectuals.
Quesha, tell me about the similarities between Jay-Z and Biggie because I don't see them outside of telling the occasional story. Jay-Z is more party and slick. Biggie had a tougher edge even with the crazy shirts. I've seen Jay perform live. Biggie had a lazy feel. Jay-Z is oozing swagger. Although both Nas and Tupac are more conscious, that's where it ends. Mos Def and Talib are also conscious, but Tupac was way more aggressive and also seemed to be flirting with the ladies nonstop. Nas seems to be focused more on the hood to the White House. Every male rapper who has had a firm stamp in hip-hop had something to make him different. What makes Nicki Minaj different? She's copying off of Barbie Dolls and Lil' Kim. I just want her to do something to show us herself.
I think nicki minaj definitely took some pointers from lil' kim. but don't all female rappers nowadays take somethng from another female rapper? i don't think any rapper is completely original. some of the greatest rappers have been called copy cats. Jay-Z copied Biggie, Nas copied Tupac. I don't agree that she is a feminist, but she does seem like she draws women.
...lyric I heard on Drake's album. Nicki Minaj was rhyming about "Who looks at the price tags anyway?" And I was thinking, "Why are these two featured at all?" It's just not for me. I don't understand the logic in saying Nicki Minaj is a feminist and called out the writer who said it. While it's convenient to say she's a "new" feminist, new feminists don't backtrack, they improve on women's rights. Nicki Minaj is feeding into the stereotype that women have to be raunchy, look like Barbie, blink a lot to look sexy (equal to that whole "batting my eyes" deal) and feed into a man's wet dream in order to sell a record. Female hip-hop pioneers weren't doing that. You didn't hear MC Lyte, Yo Yo, Monie Love, Queen Latifah, or even Lauryn Hill talking about how great their head game was. They didn't have to wear Spandex clothes to make fellas listen to their lyrics.
AOkay12, ah, about Soulja Boy. Well, clearly Twitter didn't care for him from that #ifsouljaboyisarapper trending topic that went on for days. The dance to me was cool, good cardio workout. I learned it to exercise because it was fun. If he'd have left out that one line, I'd have been good. Hip-hop always had party music with its conscious music. I can dig the balance. But it irritates me when female rappers (or male rappers) rap about something and then get mad when you call them on it. I remember Trina getting upset that people thought she was a ho even though she had a lyric "fucked about five or six best friends." Nicki Minaj was frustrated by people thinking she was bisexual or a lesbian. Um, Nicki, did YOU hear your lyrics on Usher's song? It's not hard to figure it out. I just wish rappers would rap about what they clearly do on a daily basis. I also wish folks would rap about something that matters. Lil' Wayne talking about my "b*%tches suck the brown off" was the tackiest lyri