Lil’ Kim is taking humility to a whole other level. She reached icon status years ago, but even with six Grammys and numerous hit records, the rapper still doesn’t feel like she’s made it yet.
“I’m always learning,” Lil’ Kim said last week as she sat on Mastercard’s She Runs This: Celebrating Entrepreneurship in Business and Hip-Hop panel at 10 10 Wine in Inglewood, California. “People ask me questions all the time like, ‘When did you feel like you finally made it? When was your I’ve made it moment?’ and I’ve never had it.
“I really didn’t. I’m very grateful to God for all the opportunities that I have had. I’ve always been striving for more. It [won’t feel] right until my whole team is winning.”
The “Jump Off” rapper strutted out to cheers and applause and flashed a smile as she took her seat, rocking sparkly rhinestone-encrusted gold booties paired with green cargo pants, a matching strappy top, and a waist belt. Lil’ Kim topped her look with plenty of bling—namesake-emblazoned diamond drop earrings and a “Lil’ Kim” diamond chain.
She sat on the panel alongside rapper MC Lyte, celebrity stylist Misa Hylton, multiplatinum songwriter and artist Jozzy, and other entrepreneurs who gave advice about entrepreneurship and lessons they’ve learned throughout their careers. The panel was moderated by music journalist Naima Cochrane.
Lil’ Kim said one of the major things she learned is the importance of sisterhood. “Most of the time, I was, like, the baby [and my sisters] really protected me,” Lil’ Kim said. “Sometimes you feel like you’re by yourself, especially in the male-dominated world. It’s a little different today, but when we were coming up, [the music industry] was more male-dominated. It was hard.”
“But when I was around the comfort of my sisters, that was when I was at my peak. I felt the most powerful and strong and I felt the sisterhood. We did everything together. When we all had time off, [we would say] ‘Let’s drive to Virginia. We can go to a haunted house. We would just be on a beach. Me, [Queen] Latifah, Missy [Elliott], Da Brat, we would be driving behind each other. We took that time out to comfort each other. And I think that’s important. To have a sisterhood.”
She extends that sisterhood to new music artists too. Lil’ Kim said she has “whole debates on the phone” with Coi Leray and feels good when she can help younger rappers.
“That’s one of the best parts [of my music career now],” Lil’ Kim said. “It takes you to the next level. Now you are responsible for your new little sister. And why not? It’s a really great feeling. I just had a show the other day and I brought Lola Brooks on and she was crying outside of stage.”
“That made me feel like this is my job. And she was like, ‘I can’t believe it.’ You want them to have that feeling because you know what that feeling is like. When they get there and you’re a Black sister and feel like ‘I conquered this’ and the whole world knows your name…you want your sister to feel that.”
As for advice she would give younger women who want to start a business or thrive in the music industry, Lil’ Kim said, “Be honest in everything you do.” She talked about the importance of knowing your strong points and keeping it real with yourself about areas you need to improve.
Being financially savvy or surrounding yourself with people is also essential, she said. “I’m invested in myself [now],” Lil’ Kim said. “I learn how to manage my money better. Surround yourself around the best people who can teach you stuff. I had a problem with that. I wasn’t around the right company a lot of times.”
“And you want to be around those smart people financially who can actually help you. I’m not saying you have to get rid of your friends you’ve had for a long time. Surround yourself with real powerful, financially well-off, intelligent people as well.”
