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Lil' Kim

Hip-hop queen Lil' Kim's fashion legacy is undeniable

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 hide caption

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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

It's Been a Minute

Hip-hop queen Lil' Kim's fashion legacy is undeniable

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.

Hip-hop queen Lil' Kim's fashion legacy is undeniable

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New Music Friday: Our Top 6 Albums Out Oct. 11

Rapper Lil' Kim performing at the 2019 BET Hip Hop Awards in Atlanta, Georgia. Her new full-length, 9, is on our shortlist for the best albums out on Oct. 11. Aaron J. Thornton/WireImage hide caption

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All Songs Considered

New Music Friday: Our Top 6 Albums Out Oct. 11

Our shortlist of the best new albums out this week incudes Big Thief's Two Hands, rapper Lil' Kim's first new studio project in 14 years, a solo album from Sonic Youth's Kim Gordon and more.

New Music Friday: Our Top 6 Albums Out Oct. 11

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