If you keep up on current events/gossip in hip-hop then you've probably known about the tension/feud/beef between Lil Kim and Nicki Minaj. It's not something that I felt like commenting on for a long time because to be honest I LOVE both artist. And that's not lip service. I truly enjoy the music of, am excited about the success of both of these women. And as often with beef, fans and admirers are expected to take sides. Who are we truly loyal to?
That's not where I'm going to take this post. I think, both of these women are extremely intelligent business women as well as dope artists. I refuse to throw one under the bus for the other.
Okay but lets back up for those that don't know what I'm talking about. In the latest manifestation of the beef between Kim and Nicki, there have been tracks released. Now first comes "Roman's Revenge" a song off of Nicki's first major album release Pink Friday. "Roman's Revenge" features fellow rapper-icon Eminem. While there are no specific mentions of Lil Kim, it definitely seems (to me at least) that there are some subliminal shots in the song towards her. And even if you are of the opinion that "Roman's Revenge" is not about a particular artist--it's still not terribly flattering towards many of the female rappers who have been in the game for a minute.
Now to be honest, I LOVE THIS SONG. I think the song is a perfect "Kiss My Ass Haters" song. However, I also think that female rappers are put in specific conundrum each time they come out. Whereas being generally boastful and arrogant in a song is acceptable (and to an extent expected) from male rappers it is NOT from female rappers UNLESS they are boastful about their bodies or sexual appetite/prowess. Nicki saying "I'm the bestest" earlier on was not taken as a subliminal when I don't believe that it was. I also think that Nicki entered into an already stacked game wherein, female rappers really aren't expected to get along with other female rappers, and where industry execs think good beef sells records. Now YMCMB is not known for getting into a ton of beefs with other rappers (but the CMB part is known for diddy-ing some of the most talented artists supposedly in their camp *cough*Juvenile*cough*Mannie Fressh*cough) but there is overall a culture of singularity that springs up around female rappers. Some people want to call this crabs-in-the-bucket syndrome but I actually think it has less to do with the mentality of these women individually and more to do with a systematic pitting of artists against each other in a way that male rappers do not experience. T.I. and Wayne can coexist as two of the hottest Southern rappers in the business (and go back and forth between who actually sells 1 million records.) When a female artist comes out however she is immediately compared to and graded against all other artist, her grade is then used to either uplift or degrade all other female artists. Female rappers have to be extremely intentional about NOT furthering that bullshit because unlike with male rappers it constantly festers and doesn't really ever disappear.
Lil Kim responded to the song with a little track called "Black Friday." Now keep in mind Kim is not only a female rap veteran (hmm military metaphors?) but also no stranger to beef with other female artist (damn I love listening diss tracks between Kim and Foxy.) Kim also courts controversy constantly because of her physical appearance and the storm shadow of bad business deals that continue to plague her career (a lot of it being shady male executive constantly trying to play her in my opinion.)
Like I said on my last post...LOVE this song too. I wish it was to a different beat but in terms of lyrical prowess I think Kim went in. More than a diss track aimed at Nicki, I like this song because I think it is an excellent example of why Kim is who Kim is. Why in years plagued by *snitches*, jail time, bad business deals, (what she said was) misrepresentation in a major film, a great mixtape and then not so great singles--Kim is still relevant and has a huge fan base.
Kim's career in my opinion is indicative of the sexism and boys-club mentality of the rap music industry. I'm not even talking about the artistic side of things. In terms of business, Kim has been constantly and unfairly plagued by men who felt they could manipulate and deceive her because of her gender. As those dudes have learned--it's just not true. Kim's longevity in rap music for me is a testament to her (and her fans) resistance to the bullshit. And I don't think that should be taken for granted. Whereas many female rappers have switched lanes going into fashion, television, etc etc and no longer actually make records, Kim continues to put stack her chips behind her talent as a lyricist. And I deeply respect her for that because I imagine it is not easy and she is SOOOO much more talented than a lot of dudes who get protracted shine because they have record companies willing to continue to fuel their whack projects by virtue of their genitalia.
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Additional Links of Interest:
Lil Kim Interviewed by Angie Martinez Post Black Friday
Nicki Minaj Interviewed by Sway About Competition in Hip Hop Community (Post Black Friday)
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