Drake hits back at Lil’ Kim
Drake Labels Lil’ Kim’s Recent Onstage Antics Towards Nicki Minaj as “Disrespectful”
Drake is speaking out, and he’s not holding back. The Toronto rapper, who typically avoids confrontation, is now defending his Young Money labelmate Nicki Minaj in her brewing feud with Lil Kim. Known for his laid-back, diplomatic approach to rap politics, Drake’s recent comments show just how deeply the Lil Kim situation has affected him.
The tension started when Lil Kim, during a comeback concert in Queens, New York, openly dissed Nicki Minaj. She accused Minaj of stealing her style without showing proper respect to the women who came before her. Kim has since said that she doesn’t hate Nicki—she just wants acknowledgment for her influence, especially when it comes to the “Barbie” aesthetic that Minaj has adopted.
Drake, however, is not buying the explanation. Speaking to DJ Envy on MTV’s “Sucker Free,” Drake expressed disappointment, saying, “I just feel Lil Kim is a ‘G’ in the game…you don’t have to get on stage and announce your presence and tell people to pay homage. That’s a given.”
Drake Breaks His Silence
For someone who typically ignores rap beef and internet drama, Drake’s remarks come off as personal. “I watched Nicki pay homage to her time and time again and I just didn’t respect [Kim’s diss] at all,” he said. “And whoever else was on stage with her, I don’t respect that either. You’re just wearing your heart on your sleeve, showing that you’re upset.”
Drake’s frustration seems to stem from what he views as a lack of maturity. “Nobody’s done that to me yet,” he added. “But I would never expect Jay[-Z] or [Kanye West] to get on stage and be like, ‘Yo, pay homage to me!’”
Because of this, Drake is confused on why Lil’ Kim has chosen to behave this way.
Nicki Minaj Maintains Her Poise
While Drake is speaking out, Nicki Minaj herself is staying relatively silent, handling the situation with restraint. Last week, she posted a cryptic tweet that seemed to address the feud without naming names: “Raise ya hand if u don’t have 2 diss ppl to feel better about urself. Jealousy is a disease. It kills @ a fast pace. Kisses 2 my bad b*tches.”
Minaj, who has built a rapidly growing fan base with her flamboyant style and animated delivery, is no stranger to criticism. Yet she’s managed to rise through the ranks while sidestepping much of the drama that often comes with fame. Her affiliation with Young Money, a label that values collaboration over conflict, has certainly helped shape her path.
Young Money’s Philosophy: No Time for Beef
Young Money founder Lil Wayne has long made it clear that he’s not a fan of unnecessary drama. His vision for the label has always been about building bridges, not burning them. That philosophy is evident in the way both Drake and Nicki Minaj have carried themselves.
Drake emphasized this ethos during a recent concert in Connecticut. While bringing Nicki on stage, he told the crowd, “You the baddest WOMAN to do this rap sht. I don’t give a fck what Lil’ Kim or nobody else is talkin’ about, you’re the baddest chick to ever do this sh*t.”
The crowd roared, Nicki smiled and hugged him, and for that moment, the energy was all love.
Not only does Drake not have respect for Lil’ Kim, but he also has no respect for the people who went on stage and made fun of Nicki Minaj. Despite his feeling of disdain for Lil’ Kim, Drake said he has no plans of recording a diss record. However, he does expect to hear one from Lil’ Kim in the near future.
Lil Kim’s Perspective
Lil Kim, a veteran in the rap game, feels slighted. She believes that Nicki Minaj has borrowed from her legacy without giving credit where it’s due. In an interview, Kim said, “All I ask for is to be respected — pay homage. If you’re gonna swagger jack somebody and take their style, at least pay the respect.”
To her credit, Kim says she’s tried to embrace new female MCs. “What happens is when you come into the game and realize that I’m not going away…then they don’t want to be my friend anymore,” she added.
But from Drake’s point of view, Nicki has already done her part. “She’s paid homage. She’s done that,” he insists. “And this just wasn’t ‘G’ at all.”
Respect vs. Recognition
At the heart of this feud lies a recurring issue in hip-hop: the balance between honoring your influences and carving your own path. For Nicki Minaj, her style is both a tribute to the women who came before her and a unique evolution of their groundwork. For Lil Kim, the issue seems less about Minaj’s talent and more about the perceived lack of acknowledgment.
But when is enough enough? Nicki has often cited Missy Elliott and Lauryn Hill among her influences and has even praised Kim in the past. As Drake and others see it, the public demand for homage may be more about insecurity than legacy.
Where Does It Go From Here?
Drake has made it clear that he’s not interested in taking this feud any further. “I have no plans of recording a diss track,” he said. “But I expect one from her.”
That final remark may be the most telling. Drake’s focus is on protecting his team and calling out behavior he sees as divisive. While he won’t escalate the situation musically, he also won’t let perceived disrespect slide without a response.
Whether this situation blows over or flares up again, one thing is certain: the rap game is watching closely.
For now, Nicki Minaj continues her ascent, unbothered in public but clearly supported behind the scenes. And Drake—ever the diplomat—has shown that even peacemakers have their breaking point.
Lil Kim’s next move remains to be seen. But as history has shown, hip-hop thrives on competition. Whether that means more bars or just more headlines, this chapter is far from over.