Don't Sleep On The Queen: A History Of Fashion Moments That Prove Lil Kim Deserves The 'Fashion Icon' Award
Before Lady Gaga and Katy Perry were making jaws drop on the red carpet, there was the “Queen Bee,” Lil Kim.
The 44-year-old rap star has often said that she gave birth to some of the ideas that female rappers of today have adopted, and nothing can be more true when it comes to Kim’s fashion choices.
As if we need to prove our point, on Halloween 2017, Beyoncé expressed her love for the rapper’s fashion with a tribute photo shoot replicating some of her best looks. “Hip Hop would not be the same without our Original Queen Bee,” the superstar singer wrote on her Instagram.
If you remember, Rihanna channeled her fashion icon by wearing all-green Versace at the iHeart Radio Awards in 2015 during her “B**tch Betta Have My Money” performance.
“There are a lot of nineties supermodels that I love and I’m inspired by—but Lil’ Kim, for me, she had so many different looks,” said the pop star to Vogue.
Even Cardi B has recognized the style maven and paid homage to her fashion influence for her “Money” video.
“All of the looks were inspired by some of Lil’ Kim‘s looks. Cardi definitely pays homage to Lil Kim in the video which is cool about her,” costume designer Laurel DeWitt told Hollywood Life in December 2018.
Many people have paid homage to the “No Time” rapper, who has not only donned many high-end fashion brands, but also brought attention to up-and-coming labels who became popular thanks to her mentioning them in her quick-witted and lethal tongue raps.
Even with these facts, sadly, Lil Kim is snubbed when it comes to receiving the accolades she deserves for bridging the gap between rappers and the fashion world, that is until now, because fans are taking notice and sounding off in a big way!
Recently, Jennifer Lopez was named the 2019 recipient of CDFA's "Fashion Icon Award," and Twitter erupted with disappointment that the “Queen Bee” has yet to be acknowledged.
But we, at BET, see you, Lil Kim, and we are giving credit where it is due.
Check out five of the most iconic Queen Bee fashion moments that are not only jaw dropping but legendary!
It all started with an photo shoot in 1996 that shook up the streets.
Crotched low in a leopard bikini, and matching peignoir, the sultry rapper bluntly introduced us to sexual liberation for women.
We all knew that Lil Kim was going to shake things up when she arrived to the MTV Music Awards show in 1999.
She put her daring style on display wearing a purple jumpsuit and a pasty. Even the “Boss” Diana Ross took notice with a little boob jiggle.
Lil Kim had us in awe when she rocked almost every color monochromatically in her 1996 video “Crush On You”!
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the famed femcee “Came Back For You” in 2003 wearing a floor-length chinchilla and matching bikini
Known for her love for furs, she was gifted the matching ensemble from her longtime friend, Diddy.
Lil Kim graced the cover of "Interview" in 1999 wearing nothing but the Louis Vuitton Logo
The rapper had us all mesmerized wearing nothing but airbrushed-on LV logos.
“When I did that image, it was about the skin as a luxury item,” said LaChapelle. “I was taking cues from Harlem designer Dapper Dan. Logos hadn’t come back yet [into runway fashion]; that happened a season or two later,” said photographer David LaChappelle to Vice.
Can you hear me now? If that’s not enough for you to crown the Queen Bee with a “Fashion Icon” award, we don’t know what to tell you.
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