The hatchet is buried! Former rivals Faith Evans and Lil’ Kim settled their longstanding feud at VH1 Hip Hop Honors: All Hail the Queens on Monday, July 11, in New York City.
As many are aware, the late Notorious B.I.G. — who was instrumental in Lil’ Kim’s success as a female MC — was married to “Never Gonna Let You Go” singer Evans, 43, from 1994 until he was murdered in 1997. Evans and the rap legend had one son, Christopher Wallace, Jr., now 19, together. During his marriage to Evans, Biggie had a high-profile affair with his mentee Lil’ Kim.
The “Magic Stick” rapper’s relationship with Evans’ deceased husband served as the catalyst for years of fighting between the two ladies. Despite their tumultuous past — full of public bashing and hurtful insults — Evans introduced Lil’ Kim to the stage at Monday night’s event where she was honored for her achievements as a hip-hop pioneer.
“The posters for her debut album were unforgettable. She brought sexy to hip-hop first,” Evans told the crowd at Manhattan’s Lincoln Center. “Lil’ Kim’s debut album, Hard Core, was the beginning of a new era for freedom for female MCs. She turned sex into power and made no rules.”
“But first and foremost, Kim was an incredible MC. Hello, she had to be!” she continued her one-time foe. “Her mentor and collaborator, the Notorious B.I.G., was one of the greatest MCs ever, if not the greatest … She matched his wits and earned her respect.”
“She went toe to toe with him,” Evans added before joking: “Sometimes she went toe to toe with me, hello! What up, Kim!?”
After the glowing preamble, Lil’ Kim, 42, took the stage to accept her award, where she thanked God, Puff Daddy and her mother, Ruby Mae Jones, among others. While she failed to mention Evans in her speech, the “Crush on You” rapper shared some kind words about her Bad Boy Entertainment labelmate during a May interview with Shade 45’s DJ Whoo Kid.
“At the end of the day, we’re family whether we like it or not, but we’ve always been fans of each others’ music. I think we are really sisters in a certain sense,” the mom of Royal Reign, 2, said. “I’m a part of the estate. She’s a part of the estate. We’re a part of Big, and we both share a lot in common … We all realized how strong we could be together.”
Lil’ Kim and Evans are currently touring the country together — along with Puff Daddy, Mase, Mario Winans, 112, French Montana, Total, The Lox and Carl Thomas — on the Bad Boy Family Reunion Tour.
