On Tuesday (October 8), Lil Kim closed the 2019 BET Hip Hop Awards with a career-spanning medley.
The rapper opened with “Lighters Up”, and went on to perform “Crush On You”, as well as her verse on Puff Daddy’s “It’s All About The Benjamins”. Kim was joined by Junior M.A.F.I.A, the rap group assembled by Notorious B.I.G., to perform their hit “Player’s Anthem”. Her upcoming album collaborators O.T. Genasis and Musiq Soulchild also took to the stage during the medley.
The rapper had just been awarded the I Am Hip Hop Award by Rick Ross, thanking friends, family, and Biggie Smalls in her acceptance speech. “I don’t know if y’all know what it’s like to have an angel following you all the time,” Kim said, “but that’s Biggie. I’m gonna always love him and I’m gonna always ride for him. I don’t play about him. That’s just what it is: Brooklyn. I love you to the heavens Biggie.”
The performance comes just days before the release of 9, her first studio album in 14 years. Kim has so far released three tracks from the album: “Go Awff”, “Found You”, and the Rick Ross-featuring “Pray For Me”, which dropped last week.
Watch the performance below.