She chose to debut the song to honor Biggie Smalls legacy.
(Shell also play atribute concert Wednesday night.)
I was his biggest fan.
Credit: Gilbert Carrasquillo/Getty Images
Their relationship iswell-documentedand began when Kim joined Biggies Junior Mafia Crew in 1995.
He knew I would be the number one female artist, she says.
He knew I would be the biggest female rapper.
Evan Agostini/Liaison
I think I inspired him to want to do different things and be different.
We were a match made in heaven, like Sonny and Cher or Ashford and Simpson.
ENTERTAINMENT WEEKLY: How did you end up working with Kevin Gates on #Mine?
I called him up one day and I was like, I love you, Im a huge fan.
From Instagram you’ve got the option to tell hes a cool person.
I think we had a lot in common when we vibed on the phone.
I was like, I want gansta love, and he was like I got you.
It was picture perfect.
Were you looking for a specific song to record or just feeling him out?
When I make music, I never know what song is going to be that one.
When I didNaked Truthit was a serious time in my life.
I hadgone to prison, I had all that stuff.
My music was really serious at that time.
But even during the serious times, being sexy is always a must.
Thats the Lil Kim brand of owning your own sexuality.
All of my albums have never, never, never not had a sexy song on there.
Thats how I talk in real life.
But #Mine to me has that sexy feel even though its still gangsta.
Is that the kind of music youre going to put out this year?
Thats it: Gangsta love, sexy club fun.
This record with Kevin was a blessing and we just took it and went with it.
He was just so awesome about the whole process.
It was produced by these awesome new producers Millz for Millz Production and Taz Taylor.
So are you in the studio?
Im in the studio every other day.
Whenever I can find a break from the little one [daughter Royal Reign].
Who else are you working with?
I have a couple people but I really dont want to say.
I want to leave a little mystique.
Are you aiming to put out an album this year?
I never aim to put out an album.
Wed get so caught up in making good singles and good music where we would just be vibing.
When the time was right wed drop an album.
Honestly Im just having fun making music right now.
Was there a time when you werent having fun?
It came to a point when life got serious.
Sometimes the music wont always be the focus but its always there in the back.
Music is what I am.
Its what Im made of.
When I had my baby, music definitely wasnt my focus.
When I was pregnant, music wasnt my focus.
Has being a mother influenced the way you want to make music?
[Lil Kim gave birthin 2014.]
Not at all, because its like watching a good movie.
Entertainment is what I do.
When she gets older Ill verify I show her the difference.
If anything it makes me a better artist.
Youre working on a fashion line too.
Sometimes Im representing for the juicy girls and sometimes Im representing for the slim girls.
Which artists are you interested in today?
I listen to a little bit of everyone Future, Rihanna, Drake.
I like J Cole.
I could be listening to Taylor Swift then change over to Kevin Gates.
What did you think of theKanye Wests Yeezy Season 3 show?
Yourphoto with Kim Kardashianwas a hit.
When no one knew who he was, he and I were just working.
I knew he was different.
Different from other rappers?
He was different from the music at the time.
I didnt realize he was such a fan of mine.
I was on the Kanye wave before everyone was.
How has rap music changed since then?
Honestly, when youre a real artist you dont ever separate the genres.
If youre a good artist, youre going to be reinventing your musical style every single time.
I dont feel one person is one way all the time.
