| The Essence Article |
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| She is no stranger to contradiction or controversy. Marketing herself as a sexually outrageous diva trafficking in inimitable style, undeniable talent and pornographic raunch, Lil' Kim has become contemporary pop culture's most notorious "It" girl. Alternately referred to as a hell kitten, Queen Bee, hip-hop's nasty girl, sex symbol, glamour baby, diva ho and disgrace to Black womanhood, the 26-year-old rapper has risen to icon status as an entity that defies simple explanation. She is a self-proclaimed feminist who is a poster girl for plastic surgery; a Black sex symbol who re-created herself to look like a blond Barbie doll; a symbol of female sexual liberation and independence who lives with a houseful of men (whom she supports) because she has said she's afraid of being alone; a femme fatale who makes men pay for the pooh while still seeking courtship, romance and true love. |
| Like those other blond ambitions before her, Madonna and Monroe, she's in a quest for fame and love that seems to know no limits. At the 1999 MTV Music Awards, you remember, the rapper shocked millions (not to mention copresenter Diana Ross) by showing up in a jumpsuit that left one breast exposed except for a nipple-covering applique. She instantly became an image of sexual fearlessness that intrigued women and men alike. Touted in the media as a symbol of sexual independence, Kimberly Jones shocks, appalls, entertains and delights those who follow her--fans who number in the millions, across ages and colors. |
| Corporate America's response has been a stream of endorsement offers--from Iceberg Jeans and Candie's shoes to M.A.C.'s Viva Glam III lipstick. In the past year alone, the fashion icon has graced the covers and pages of such magazines as The Source, XXL, Vibe, Out, Honey, Vogue and Harper's Bazaar. In Interview she appeared wearing only head-to-toe Louis Vuitton body tattoos. |
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| Louis Vuitton |
| Her image itself is, of course, nothing new. Toying with the madonna-whore dichotomy that has fascinated us since biblical times, Lil' Kim shows a persona that's simply an urban take on an age-old contradiction. To put it in Lil' Kim terms: Sex is power; bitches do what they have to do to get paid. And even in these postfeminist times, when opportunities and Black female role models are more plentiful than ever, many Black women find Kim's message empowering |
| Truth be told, there are many of us--intelligent, politically astute, moral, spiritually focused sisters--who are just as enthralled with her act. But what is it that fascinates us? Is she the bad girl some sisters secretly long to be? Is it that the troubles she sings about are "authentic"? Or is the illusion of erotic power particularly seductive for women who are victims of racism and sexism? "There's a bit of bad girl inside all of us," says psychologist Dr. Gwendolyn Goldsby Grant. "Our fascination with Lil' Kim's image doesn't mean we agree with her or that we want to be like her. It enables us to explore our fantasy world and indulge our curiosities in a safe space." Whether we embrace her music or are repulsed by it, our fascination tells us as much about ourselves and our society as it does about Kim. |
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| I was shock by the article and never thought a black magazine will say anything like that about any black artist. Essence supposes to be there for us as a people. I mean a lot of people do not agree with a lot of artists lyrics. People rap about different things. You should not bring a person down because of his or her character. Lil Kim has a sexual pornographic character that most people understand. Male gangster rappers rap about violence and portray a thuggish image in which whites do not like. Lil Kim is a sexual diva rapper that portrays a pornographic image. They have men the raps about things that are much worse than Kim raps. Talking about sex in lyrics is never worse than talking about violence in lyrics. We have enough of killing in our communities. Kim is just being different. I see she makes a beautiful fashion icon also. Foxy is no different from Kim. I saw her in concert. Actually, she is biting off Kim style to me. |
| Lil Slim's Response |
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| Anyway, Kim has a pornographic style that is different from other females. There is nothing wrong with being different. It is sad to say that we hate on our own people when whites give us recognition. Yes, whites fashion designers love her because she makes a beautiful fashion icon. She wears all types of designer clothes just like the blue one at the music awards with one of her breast showing. I mean Marilyn Monroe, Peggy Sue, and other whites were not insulted by there on people. Especially, in white publishers or editor’s magazines. They all applauded them I believe. Now us, we bring our people down once they get to the top just by being original like MARIYLN and BETTY PAGE. KIM was just being herself. |
| I mean not everybody is perfect. Not everybody is fit to be a doctor or a lawyer, etc. College life is not for everyone. A person cannot be what people expect then to be. They can only be what they are. For instance, they have a lot of drug dealers in our communities and everything because they have no other way to make a living. Not everybody is fit to work hard. I know they should to better themselves and our community but that is not there life style. They are to the street life and that is the only way that they can make it. Therefore, it is the same way with Kim. She just being herself because that’s the only way she can make it. Now, I love Kim as an artist and will continue to love her. Her and my favorite R&B singer Mary J. Blige are close friends and I want them to stay that way. If anything happens to them, I will be very hurt. |