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Lil' Kim is one of Nicki Minaj's oldest rivals in the industry. Originally named Kimberly Denise Jones, Kim is a New York-born rapper who left home at 14 and started living on the streets.
She befriended the Notorious B.I.G. on the streets, who helped promote her music group Junior M.A.F.I.A. in 1994. Kim released her studio album in 1996 and had already been in the rap industry for over a decade when Minaj debuted her career in 2007.
The beef between the two rappers started because of rumors that the younger rapper was gaining prominence by stealing Lil' Kim's style. Over time, the two dissed each other in multiple tracks and are still not on cordial terms.
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Timeline of Nicki Minaj and Lil' Kim's feud explored
2007: The promo pictures of Nicki Minaj's mixtape were rumored to be stolen from Lil' Kim's album cover
Things began to go sour between Nicki Minaj and Lil' Kim in 2007. In July 2007, Minaj released her debut mixtape - Playtime is Over. The rapper also released several promo pictures for her mixtape, one of which appeared to have been stolen from the cover of Lil' Kim's 1996 album, Hard Core.
The striking similarity between the pictures could have led to Kim's hard feelings towards Minaj. However, the younger rapper remained unaffected by it all and used the image as the cover for her 2014 track, Anaconda.
2009: Minaj and Kim allegedly met backstage at a Lil Wayne concert
The details of Nicki Minaj and Lil' Kim's first meeting are still a mystery as both artists have their own versions of the story. According to the Truffle Butter rapper, it happened at a 2009 Lil Wayne concert. Minaj approached Kim at the concert's backstage, asked her if everything was good, and then the two took pictures together.
However, while talking to Hot 97 Cipha Sounds about it, Lil' Kim denied everything Nicki said, adding:
"It didn’t go down like that. What? Are you kidding me? Picture somebody saying to me, 'We good?' I’ll ring her throat, snatch her larynx out."
Minaj and Kim appear on Birdman's Grindin' Makin' Money
On November 23, 2009, Birdman dropped his track Grindin' Makin' Money, further fueling the feud between the rappers. While Nicki Minaj and Lil' Kim were featured in the track, both claimed they were unfamiliar with the other one's presence on it.
2010: Ray J and Drake take sides in the conflict
Soon after the accidental feature incident, Lil Kim appeared as a guest in a Ray J concert. Mid-performance, Ray J - who had been friends with the Spell Check rapper for years - said:
"I’m seeing a lot of Lil’ Kim impostors. I’m not saying no names, but you know who."
A little while later, when Kim appeared on stage, she confirmed Ray's comment was pointed at Minaj, adding:
"We love her. We just want her to pay homage. If you don’t pay homage, then f**k you."
Her long-time friend, Drake, soon reciprocated the pointed hits at the Bang Bang rapper. The duo were collaborating on a performance, where Drake said:
"I don’t give a f**k what Lil’ Kim or nobody else talkin’ about. You the baddest chick to ever do this shit!"
Nicki Minaj calls Kim a "sore loser" in a radio interview
While Nicki Minaj appreciated Drake's defense, she had things to say about Lil Kim. In a live interview with Angie Martinez - the New York's Hot 97 jockey - in November 2010, Nicki said about Kim:
"She just really jumped out of the window and you got to be careful when you pick fights. That’s what I learned in this business. You just never know. I think people get me mistaken with like a real Barbie;hthey forget where I’m from. If I have to revert back, I can and I will."
The Swalla rapper continued:
"Don’t play with me… I respect you and love you. I’ve said it in every interview, time and time again. And if that’s not good enough for you mama, then it’s something deep-rooted in you. Something is bothering you inside — that’s your insecurity bothering you. It’s not Nicki Minaj;tit’s any girl that’s popping."
Minaj finally ended the conversation about Lil' Kim by saying she'd respond to the older rapper when she saw her music on the Billboard.
2011: Lil' Kim releases her second mixtape as a play on Minaj's debut album
On February 14, 2011, Lil' Kim released her second mixtape, the title of which - Black Friday - was a play on Minaj's debut album - Pink Friday. Taking a hit at both Nicki and Drake in the title track, the Lady Marmalade rapper rapped:
"This hood sh*t, you and Drake ain’t built for it."
Two months later, Nicki Minaj's blow to Lil' Kim came as Tragedy, a diss track dropped on April 2, 2011. In it, the 41-year-old rapped:
"It must hurt to sell your album off PayPal/ 'Specially when you in the game fifteen, twenty/ You was hot when Shaq teamed up with Penny/ Man, you was magic/ I mean, look at you now, ho, you just tragic/ You a tragedy, you a parody/ Last name Ann, first name Raggedy."
While Lil' Kim didn't respond to Minaj's diss with another song, she did mention in a Power 105 interview that the two "will never make amends."
Lil' Kim is on her comeback tour, which will conclude on November 30, 2024, while Minaj's ongoing Pink Friday 2 world tour concludes on October 11, 2024.
