Hip-hop queen Lil’ Kim’s fashion legacy is undeniableNPR
The iconic looks that rapper Lil’ Kim pioneered in the 1990s helped usher in the fusion of high fashion and hip-hop.
Pool SIMON/STEVENS/Gamma-Rapho via Getty Images; Ron Galella/Getty Images; Anthony Harvey/PA Images via Getty Images; Frederick M. Brown/Getty Images; Photo Illustration by Kaz Fantone/NPR
Think of the top women rappers of our time: Cardi B. Megan Thee Stallion. Nicki Minaj. They all showcase a signature style that involves multicolored wigs, skyscraping heels and designer logos on everything. But that blend of high fashion, femininity and attitude began before any of them, pioneered in the 1990s by the original queen bee: Lil’ Kim. Ahead of its time, Kim’s ingenuity – and her place in the fusion of fashion and hip-hop – has not always been recognized. Host Brittany Luse and fashion journalist Scarlett Newman make the case for why it’s time Lil’ Kim gets the credit she deserves.
Copyright 2022 NPR. To see more, visit https://www.npr.org.