Forgotten Reflections of a Queen Bee
“Do not merely listen to the word, and so deceive yourselves. Do what it says. Anyone who listens to the word but does not do what it says is like a man who looks at his face in a mirror and, after looking at himself, goes away and immediately forgets what he looks like. But the man who looks intently into the perfect law that gives freedom, and continues to do this, not forgetting what he has heard, but doing it--he will be blessed in what he does.” ~ James 1:22-25
We love you, Lil’ Kim!
I know you hear that all the time, so it’s probably old news to you. Fans from all walks of life can’t help but tell you how they feel. Why? ‘Cause you are sick like that on the mic. You write all your material, your rhyme flow is incredible, and you have rare talent that allows you to rise head and shoulders above 99% of the MCs in the game, male or female. And you work hard to make your success work. That kind of discipline and dedication doesn’t come along all the time. Most people take their dreams to the grave because they’re too lazy or fearful to step out there and make it happen. You, on the other hand, made a decision to create your own image, and put your gift out there on your own terms. And then look at the critics like, “Whut?”

I was reading the interview Jamie Foster Brown did with you in the December 2002 issue of Sister 2 Sister, and I was amazed by the things you said about the word “image.” I also thought many of the other comments you spoke were so profound and rare, it would help if more people got a chance to read them. Since that article was so thorough and I know you kept it real all the way through, I’m going to quote from several of your remarks as recorded in that publication. From my time observing you and being exposed to who you are as a person through your lyrics, television, and this interview, I know you would never say anything you didn’t mean. Therefore, I feel confident quoting you for the purposes of this correspondence.

But like I said from the jump, Lil’ Kim, we love you. We really do. Please know, though, that the real reason we love you is because of the aspect of you that has nothing to do with hip hop. It’s because you were purposely created by God, and you were made in His image. I know that may sound weak to you, since you read the Bible daily and know this stuff already. And what do I mean by “we,” anyway? Well, when I say “we” love you, I mean those of us who have a real relationship with God and who know the true mission of Christ’s ministry. And what do “we” see in you? We see a person who God created with a divine purpose in mind. Someone God made because he wanted you to be an object of his undying love, and who has gifts more precious than platinum. These are the things that truly make you great, not your accomplishments in the music industry. Why? Because your place in hip-hop is temporary, but your place in God is eternal. Hip-hop will not last forever, but God will.

Sooner or later, all of your accomplishments here on Earth will be completely forgotten about. Don’t doubt it. So, when we focus on what lasts forever, we realize that only what you do for Christ really counts.

I was really happy to hear a lot of the spiritual things you had to say in the interview. I don’t know you personally, so there was much I had to learn about your beliefs. But I must say, I discovered quite a bit. And let me thank you for sharing this with us.

S2S: You carry your Bible around?
Lil’ Kim: Everywhere I go.

S2S: You read the Bible every day?
Lil’ Kim: Every day.

You even responded to your critics (“haters,” as some would call them) with some interesting comments. I’ll tell you this, I commend you for not being afraid to speak your mind.

“I don’t think my image is dirty. If it’s what helped me get here and if that’s what the people love, then why would I want to clean it up?”
“See, I don’t really regret anything I’ve done because a lot of what I have done has contributed to be being who I am today.”
“I’m a perfectionist, so I just want to make myself better. If I did something wrong, I just want to admit it and fix it and move on. I don’t ever want to do that again.”

You also had much to say about the way you dress and the lyrics you spit. People try to come against your style, but you don’t respond by changing, you let them know the truth from your perspective.

“It’s just an image. I wanted to do something different because everybody was looking the same. I figured that’s what was gonna make me different at the time and it worked.”
“In my mind, yeah, I am sinning. I think all of us sin to a certain extent. I don’t think anyone’s perfect … At the same time, it’s like this is what God wants me to do because if it wasn’t, I wouldn’t be doing it.”

Hmmm. Needless to say, Lil’ Kim, reading the article as a whole, and knowing something about your videos, lyrics, and life story makes me a bit confused. Since I’m a Christian, I think it’s fabulous that you read the Bible daily and that you pray all the time. Many people who claim to believe in Jesus don’t do that as consistently as you do. But then, I see other things that seem to break away from your trust and belief in God. I know that you admit that you’re sinning, and I think admitting it is a great first step. But what do you do after that?

Remember that earlier I told you we love you, right? That’s the truth, and the reason was clearly explained. I think it’s important that you know who else we also love: young people out there who spend much time listening to your music. Especially young girls who simply idolize you. We love them, too. And when we see that your admission that you read the Bible and pray completely contradicts the lifestyle you lead … let’s just say we realize that God has given us an assignment.

 The charge God is offering right now is that we do everything we can to save our youth from the poison you and others feed them everyday, so that they will grow up as godly, productive members of society who live for the Lord and know who they truly are in Christ. Sorry, Kim, but those of us who know that God’s plan is to reconcile humankind to Himself have an obligation to save our youth from the destruction you’re feeding them. Madness that can alter their lives forever.

I can hear you saying, “It’s not that deep, girl.” Allow me to serve notice that it is that deep and then some. Though your lyrics suggest that you are the powerful one in the sex, rap, and relationship game, it’s actually you who is literally getting tricked by the game and falling victim to its entrapment. That’s why you won’t walk away. I won’t attempt to speak about your past and the pain you’ve undoubtedly suffered (we all have), but God would rather you allow Him to heal you rather than prostitute your gifts, justify it, and then say He endorses it!

Please reread the quote from James 1 that can be found at the top of this page. See, I believe you when you say that you read the Bible and pray daily. No one can have a real relationship with God otherwise. Please keep on doing it, because I know it gives you strength.

But what do you do with what you read?

Nearly every time I see you, Kim, you are dressed like someone interested in selling her body. I see cleavage, breasts dangling out, butt cheeks, thighs everywhere and so on. There are a lot of girls out there who watch you on TV and want to be like you. Shouldn’t you portray a positive, righteous image of what Black womanhood is really about? Did Harriet Tubman risk her life walking hundreds of miles on foot for you to look like a wayward woman on international television?

“I also want women to dress modestly, with decency and propriety, not with braided hair or gold or pearls or expensive clothes, but with good deeds, appropriate for women who profess to worship God.”
- 1 Timothy 2: 9, 10

I won’t delve into all of your lyrics, Kim, but I will ask you about some common themes I have heard. I’m glad you write your own rhymes, but what is the content of your expressions? You use profanity like it’s going out of style, you spit filth that reflects a lack of class and true femininity (though you do possess the intellect to express yourself differently), you arrogantly talk about your “successes” in doing things you know God isn’t pleased with (as if it’s something to be arrogant about), and you rhyme about your ability to turn men out until they will never be satisfied having sex with another woman. What is that about? As a result, Kim, you have contributed to millions of young, unsupervised girls sincerely believing that their worth is in their ability to make men’s heads turn. Unfortunately, they don’t realize that even a rat with boobs will catch some men’s attention, and it’s not because the girl’s appearance is so special that he’s instantly ready to “commit” to her for the rest of his life. Not only that, because of your “image” and glamorizing lyrics, untold numbers of young girls are having sex too early, getting pregnant, having abortions, and getting their hearts broken. As a result, they pass their experiences and bitterness on to their own children, and the cycle continues. Kim, you may assert that your music is only “entertainment,” and that parents should take hold of the responsibilities by monitoring television and radio with their children, but many children simply are not in functional family environments therefore the media’s impact is quadrupled! What do you say to them? Did Sojourner Truth die having spent her entire life fighting for the dignity of Black women for you to slap her memory in her face by rhyming about your sexual dominance?

“The tongue has the power of life and death,
and those who love it will eat its fruit.”
- Proverbs 18:21

“The mouth of the righteous brings forth wisdom,
but a perverse tongue will be cut out.”
- Proverbs 10:31

Lil’ Kim, for the sake of your image before Almighty God; for the future of each and every young girl who idolizes you in a deeper way than you imagine, and for the hope of walking in the high, righteous purpose for which God called you, please bring your destructive actions to a conclusion. Millions of people are depending on your decision to live according to the teachings of the Bible you study each and every day. Your soul’s destination is dependant on your ability to truly connect with God to the point that your actions will be converted and your salvation will be evident by your obedience. God is depending on you to line up with the reason He created you in the first place. And that reason is not so you could talk nasty, show your body parts, and bring down a whole confused generation of youth to live under their God-given potential.

The next time you study the Word of God, Kim, please seek to do what it says.

Be a true Queen Bee by walking in righteousness before your God.

-Your Sister, Eve the Zealot (Yuinon Local 202)

June 2004


"THE DI-SECTEES"