Lil’ Kim says Nicki Minaj brought beef on Herself
Lil’ Kim says Nicki Minaj is to blame for their beef
Brooklyn rap icon Lil’ Kim is speaking out with clarity and conviction, accusing Nicki Minaj of igniting their ongoing beef. As the tension between the two female MCs dominates headlines and social media threads, Lil’ Kim explains why she believes Nicki Minaj brought the situation on herself. In a recent appearance on MTV’s “RapFix Live,” Kim makes it clear that this feud is not about pettiness—it’s about respect, legacy, and standing firm for her fans.
Why Lil’ Kim Believes Nicki Crossed the Line
During her sit-down with Sway on “RapFix Live,” Lil’ Kim doesn’t hold back. She claims the origin of the feud lies in Nicki Minaj copying her style and failing to pay homage. For Kim, who helped redefine what it meant to be a woman in hip-hop during the 1990s, it’s not just personal—it’s principle.
“They thought I was gonna sit back and let them do what they were doing,” Kim told Sway. “I’m on my Hollywood sophisticated, but I’ll bring it back if I have to… I’m G’d up from my feet up. If I have to handle my business, I’mma handle my business.”
Kim makes it clear that this isn’t a publicity stunt or a play for attention. It’s a response to what she perceives as a direct attack on her artistry and legacy. She believes Nicki’s meteoric rise was built on borrowed swagger—hers.
Behind the Scenes: Lil’ Kim Tried to Mentor Nicki
Interestingly, Lil’ Kim says she initially had no problem with Nicki Minaj. In fact, she reveals that she reached out to Cash Money Records and was in talks with Birdman about mentoring the Young Money newcomer. The idea was to pass the torch in a way that honored hip-hop’s lineage.
However, things didn’t go as planned. According to Kim, once Nicki caught wind of what was being discussed, she rejected the idea entirely.
From that point forward, Kim says Nicki took an oppositional stance, and that’s when the public jabs began. While the media painted Kim as the aggressor, she insists that Nicki drew first blood—not just with music, but with attitude.
Lil’ Kim vs. The Machine
Kim is careful to explain that her issues aren’t just with Nicki Minaj—they’re also with the massive machine behind her. The Brooklyn veteran points directly to Universal Records, which distributes Young Money, as part of the challenge.
“She has a powerful building behind her,” Kim notes. “But what kind of message would that send to my fans if I just sit back and watched?”
Kim describes the conflict as a David vs. Goliath situation, where she’s standing up against a corporate-backed star with mainstream momentum. And yet, she remains undeterred, asserting that her loyalty lies with her fans.
“My fans were more fumed than I was. They were looking like, ‘Do you see this? Do you hear this?’ I owe my fans a whole lot.”
Foxy Brown Chimes In on the Drama
Foxy Brown, another veteran female MC, has also weighed in on the situation. In an interview with Billboard, Foxy criticizes Kim for using the Nicki Minaj feud as a promotional tool, suggesting that airing grievances in public isn’t the best route.
“Had [Kim] let the people say, ‘Oh [Nicki], you’re trying to be Kim,’ then it doesn’t come directly from her,” Foxy explains. “But when you’re using that as a platform to bring your new album out, that’s like, ‘Oh my God, wait a minute.’ I don’t condone it at all; I don’t think it’s cute.”
Foxy acknowledges that Nicki Minaj clearly drew inspiration from both her and Kim but says Nicki hasn’t disrespected anyone but Kim directly. She also points out Kim’s long-standing pattern of public feuds with other women in the industry, including Faith Evans, Charli Baltimore, and Remy Ma.
“At some point, it’s like, O.K., Kim, you’ve had a problem with Foxy, you’ve had a problem with Nicki, you’ve had a problem with Faith, with Charli, with everybody. It’s like, enough already.”
Nicki Minaj Fires Back: “Where’s Your Music?”
Nicki Minaj, for her part, has taken a more dismissive stance. In a November interview with Angie Martinez on Hot 97, she called Kim a “rap bully” and accused her of projecting insecurity.
“I respect you, I love you, I’ve said it in every interview time and time again,” Nicki said. “If that’s not good enough with you mama, then it’s something deep rooted in you… She picked a fight with Foxy, then she picked a fight with Eve, then with Remy Ma… Every time you in the news is ‘cause you gettin’ at somebody.”
Nicki closes the door on engaging further with Kim, stating:
“Put your music out. When I see your name on Billboard, that’s when I’ll respond to you. Other than that, goodbye.”
Legacy, Respect, and the Stakes of the Beef
While the back-and-forth has generated headlines, there’s more at stake than just social media soundbites. For Lil’ Kim, this feud touches the core of her legacy. She was one of the first women in hip-hop to dominate both the charts and fashion world while pushing boundaries with her lyrics and image.
Nicki Minaj, by contrast, emerged in a new era—an artist who blends rap with pop, leverages social media masterfully, and benefits from major label backing. To many fans, Nicki represents the evolution of female rap. To Kim, she’s a student who disrespected her teacher.
Kim’s frustrations reflect a broader conversation in hip-hop about honoring pioneers, giving credit, and carving out space for more than one queen.
Conclusion
As Lil’ Kim sees it, the beef with Nicki Minaj is not just a misunderstanding—it’s the result of deliberate disrespect. While she acknowledges Nicki’s talent and success, she draws a hard line at what she calls style theft without homage. Lil’ Kim remains adamant that Nicki—and the industry machine behind her—underestimated the fight she’s willing to bring. Whether or not Nicki ever responds again, Kim is making one thing clear: her voice, her legacy, and her fans are worth going to war for.