Episode #134 | 6.20.23
Lil’ Kim: Shootouts, Lusty Lyrics, and Loyalty in the Land of the M.A.F.I.A.
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In this episode
Lil’ Kim is the queen of hard core. She practically invented hard core sex positivity with her raunchy raps and head-turning getups. She survived a hard core beef that ended in a spur-of-the-moment shootout. Then she became the first female rapper to serve hard core time in prison…and release a full-length album from her cell. As Lil’ Kim blazed through the 1990s and early 2000s with searing bars about what she did in the bedroom, listeners idolized her unpolished and truthful takes on feminine sexuality. But in the end, it was a reckless lie that put her behind bars.
Sources
God Save The Queens: The Essential History of Women In Hip-Hop by Kathy Iandoli
The Fabulous Life of Lil’ Kim (VH1)
Lil’ Kim: Countdown to Lockdown (BET)
Lil’ Kim Details Her ‘Very Violent’ Relationship With The Notorious B.I.G. (HipHopDX)
The Mask of Lil’ Kim (Washington Post)
Life Lessons From Lil’ Kim (Interview)
The Meaning of Lil’ Kim (Pitchfork)
Lil’ Kim: It Has Been Said (XXL)
A Whole Lotta Lil’ Kim (Newsweek)
Lil’ Kim Present at Hot 97 Shootout, Police Say (MTV)
Rap Diva Has Lil’ To Say On Shooting (New York Post)
Lil’ Kim pal admits role in shootout (Today)
Prosecutor Says Lil' Kim Lied To Protect 2 of Her Associates (New York Times)
Lil' Cease Says He's No Snitch For Testifying Against Kim (MTV)
Lil’ Kim Hit By Big Bang – Another Rap ‘Pal’ Sings on the Stand (New York Post)
Lil’ Cease Refutes Kim’s Statements, Capone Testifies (All HipHop)
Lil' Kim Guilty Of Telling Lies About Gunfight (New York Times)
Lil’ Kim Gets One Year In Prison (New York Times)
Lil’ Kim Charged With Perjury and Obstruction (Los Angeles Times)
Lil’ Kim begins jail sentence (Los Angeles Times)
Lil’ Kim Says She Was ‘Greeted With Open Arms’ In Prison (MTV)
Lil’ Kim’s New Album Is Out, Even If She Isn’t (ABC)
Lil’ Kim gains early release (Los Angeles Times)
Woman is found dead at club three days after party for Lil' Kim (New York Times)
A Fan's Night Out, Hoping to Meet Lil' Kim, Then a Deadly Turn (New York Times)
Barback admits luring victim to Times Square club roof and killing her: cops (New York Daily News)
Jermaine Dupri Interview (REVOLT)
C-Gutta on Shooting a Man During Lil Kim & Foxy Brown Entourage Altercation at Hot97 (Vlad TV)
James Cruz on Getting Caught in Lil Kim & Capone-N-Noreaga Shooting at Hot97 (Vlad TV)
Disgraceland is a podcast about musicians getting away with murder and behaving very badly. It melds music history, true crime and transgressive fiction. Disgraceland is not journalism. Disgraceland is entertainment. Entertainment inspired by true events. However, certain scenes, characters and names are sometimes fictionalized for dramatic purposes.
Credits
Hosted by Jake Brennan.
Written by Victoria Wasylak.
Copy editing by James Sullivan.
Mixed and engineered by Sean Cahalin.
Score by Jake Brennan.
Additional music and score elements by Ryan Spraker.
Additional music services by Bryce Kanzer.
Ad music composed by the late, great Ian Kennedy.
Disgraceland theme song, “Crenshaw Space Boogie” written and produced by Jake Brennan. Performed by Jake Brennan, Bryce Kanzer, Jay Cannava, and Evan Kenney. Mixed and engineered by Adam Taylor.
*illustrations by Avi Spivak @avispivak