Lil’ Kim: Custom Made (Give It To You)

As I begin to type I immediately  feel conflicted about writing an article on someone who I consider to be my ultimate worldly influence, mentor in my head, best friend, favorite female rap artist, hero, I could seriously go on and on about the Queen Bee herself Lil’ Kim. I can remember my first introduction to her as it seems like yesterday and not twenty years ago when I walked into my neighbors house after school to hear an unfamiliar voice coming from their tv room. “…Grab on it quick as this chick get deep” the young girl from Brooklyn uttered as I forgot everything and wanted more, despite being 9 years old I just needed to get to know her. The crass and direct lyrics showcasing her light/deep voiced flow mixed with hood and confidence the pint size rapper was enough for me to know that I was too young for her kind of entertainment. She was a teacher and I was the student eager to learn everything that was Little Kim (at the time). I would then go on a rampage walking 6 miles to Dazz Records which was where you went when you wanted any and everything music back then. I saved all my money to get a cassette single of Junior M.A.F.I.A.’s Get Money. I was sold, her enthusiasm for sexual talk mixed with a diary of street metaphors was enough to let me know that she was THE REAL Queen Bee. The Notorious B.I.G.’s influence along with the Bad Boy Family stamp helped sell her to the world when I had already knew that my loyalty lied with the young Biggie proclaimed queen. Over the years I would absorb everything Kimberly Denise Jones whether it was begging my mother to purchase Right On and Word Up magazines or buying her ‘alleged’ porn tape from the bootleg man I would never not support Kim. She helped me understand what it meant to be different as I was just that, different. An obviously gay Black teenage boy sitting in my room studying her provocative lyrics and ever changing stage looks. For hours hanging up pictures while blaring her lyrics from my CD walkman was the highlight of my days. The internet and social media craze had not been thought about so I had to rely on anything I could get my hands on to re-ignite my fire for Lil’ Kim. One thing was for sure, she always gave something to gush over, remember “titty out like what I don’t give a fuck.”She reminded us in her lyrics of how much of a free spirited chameleon she was and over twenty years later she remains just that.

Which brings me to the point of why I am writing this. After awakening to at least 33 text messages all of the same thing is what alarmed me only to find that they all were about the same thing asking the same question. What happen to Lil’ Kim’s face? Have you seen Kim lately she looks bad? What’s wrong with Lil’ Kim she used to be so pretty? These messages were coming from every which way and much to my dismay even CNN the acclaimed news network had presented the same question. Now everyone who knows me knows that I live for Kimberly and everything that is associated with the Lil’ Kim brand but I could not answer any of those questions. Instead I would immediately defend her and bring up how she has always played with her looks as it is apart of everything Lil’ Kim. Could it have been in relation to a few alleged abusive relationships? These variables may have played a part in her wanting to just adjust her look. Truth is I don’t know what led to Kim possibly playing with her face, I could only speak for my experience when seeing her in person. My dreams of laying my own eyes on the queen would eventually happen around 2011 during a New York stop on her then Return Of The Queen tour. As my sister and I stood in a line that wrapped around the block 3 times I would get more than I bargained for as a pearl two-door Bentley GT coupe would pull up and stop right where we stood. After seeing Kim’s brother Chris, her then make up artist and body guard Big Grizz (yes I know everyone) exit the vehicle I knew this was IT! She graciously exited the vehicle wearing a light pink Juicy Couture sweat suit, a solid four feet eleven and fresh faced as she wanted to be I was in awe. She was nothing like any of the pictures I had seen up until that point. There was clear evidence of her face being slightly lighter but she was beyond beautiful and so naturally still Little Kim. Once inside I would notice how light she really looked and how the make up she wore was mixed with the horrible lighting was not a good mix. I wanted to scream as I knew the internet would have yet another field day tearing down yet another bad photo of Lil’ Kim. Fast-forward four years later to me seeing her again at a ratchet club appearance but I could not resist, it was too close to home and it was the Queen Bee so how couldn’t I. The experience was unparalleled to my previous experience although talks of her appearance were even more prevalent I knew what I was in for and that was a dynamic performance by the Queen herself. I stood directly at the stage throughout the entire time literally having a front-row seat (standing) to get another look at her face. She was nothing short of beautiful and smelled heavenly, although she’s never directly addressed plastic surgery rumors, once again it was evident that her nose was not the same as the one from 96′. Even her ass had a little bit more than Jesus probably intended but we live in an age where everyone with the money to do it plays with their look. With plastic surgery being just as common as going to the nail salon and getting  a polish change why is her appearance an issue? As she stood in front of me with better make up, clothing and hair than before she was stunning and looked like money. I had two friends with me whom I had completely tuned out as I was in a daze at the fact that my face had been practically buried in her crotch the entire night, she would even go on to take my iPhone and pose for a selfie. LIT is an understatement spewing out hit after hit as the club shook like a category 5 earth quake. Lil’ Kim was still the Queen Bee and it was felt all around.

So why is her appearance more relevant than any new music or business venture she may be involved in? Maybe it’s because today’s society is made up of superficial values perpetuated by social media likes, blogs and comment sections that usually go against anything that is not depicted to be beautiful, relevant or appropriate to the standards of people who were babies when Lil’ Kim was in prime. Leaving it up to those who know her as the Queen Bee and not Beyonce either (I LOVE BEY THOUGH LOL) to defend her title and legacy. Understanding how she had always played with her look and her as a legend alone is just not to be compared to any other female or rapper for that respect. You can guarantee that a Lil’Kim classic verse will come on while you’re in the club or traffic jam solidifies her as somebody who has done more than had a little work done. So why are we paying more attention to her looks which are not as bad as the media depicts after a little make up play and photo filters. Has her talent been replaced by her ever changing looks enough to ignore her illustrious bars on her new mixtape Lil’ Kim Season? As she quotes in her rendition of Plies’ Ritz Carlton, entitled Fountain Bleu “..a wealthy gutter bitch out of public housing where we scream fuck the where we scream fuck the other side, no arousement Chanel laboard 250 wiley, I’m talking $250,000 ($50,000) spent a wraith off in Neiman Marcus I should get payed to shop at Neiman Marcus.” Lil’ Kim speaks on how being a wealthy, gutter bitch is something she is not new too. Proclaiming her as the Queen Bee more now than ever being on the cusp of an upcoming nation wide tour, new music and many more appearances it seems as if her facial features still won’t hold back her undeniable talent. Having recently attended the Barclays Center Bad Boy Reunion show I can attest to what she told us long ago, she’s rich and she’s gonna stay that so shut up BITCH!