Words By Ime Ekpo
The history behind the countless beefs of “The Big Big Beat” MC Azealia Banks is no secret. The many disputes of Azealia Banks are not selected by class, rank, or status. Banks has come to blows with global icons in the likes of Erykah Badu, modern day sensations such as the current Cardi B, and one, which will make any true hip-hop enthusiast cringe, a hip-hop legend in the person of Bed Stuy’s own, Lil’ Kim.
Back in May 2012, Azealia Banks took to Twitter to come for Lil’ Kim, after her attempt to collab with the Queen Bee, failed. Banks sent the track over to Kim’s camp with Kim’s verses already etched in. As someone who has already proven herself as a lyricist, Kim took offense to the “reference,” and simply gave Banks the silent treatment. Banks flooded her timeline with tweets accusing Kim of not penning her own raps and downing her common tactics. Banks later heard from Lil’ Kim’s PR team.
Earlier today, Banks issued a semi-lengthy apology to Lil’ Kim via Instagram about the failed collab, confirming her desire to still make it happen. “I’ve wanted to make music with you for so many years Kim. I have such a vision about Kim x Europa x Fashion,” Banks recalls. According to Banks in the since-deleted apology, she just wanted Kim to “understand the structure” of the song and wrote the lyrics under the impression of the Lil’ Kim mentality. There is no denial about how Banks threw shade at the rap legend in her song “Van Vogue” due to bars such as “…you been did that, you been with that, you been-been that, b*tch.” In the cyber apology, Banks takes back her shade throw in the name of being “young and excited.”
It seems like Banks might be trying something new, in the light of positivity? In recent weeks, she issued out an apology to Lil’ Kim combatant Nicki Minaj after spending years on social media expressing highly critical rhetoric about the barbie personified rapper. Now, Lil’ Kim follows as the next winner of an Azealia Banks apology, which is so far a bit impressive. Perhaps Azealia is making an attempt to turn over a new leaf, for the sake of her reputation’s livelihood.
Peep Azealia Banks apology to Lil’ Kim below, captured by Fameolous.
