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Ja Rule gave Lil Kim her flowers during a recent 'Breakfast Club' interview, saluting her 1996 debut album 'Hard Core' and its influence on Nicki Minaj, Cardi B and Megan Thee Stallion.

Ja Rule forged successful partnerships with the likes of Ashanti, Jennifer Lopez and Christina Milian during his early 2000s heyday, but it was another female artist he was mesmerized with during his appearance on The Breakfast Club on Monday (May 9). After arguing female rappers dont get enough love when it comes to conversations about who belongs on Hip Hops Mount Rushmore the Queens, New York native gave Lil Kim her flowers for setting the blueprint that many of todays biggest stars including Nicki Minaj Cardi Band Megan Thee Stallion have followed. Lets talk about Lil Kim, Ja said. When you look at the Cardis and the Nickis and the Megans every female. And then go listen to the Hard Core album. I understand why shes so revered like that. That album is crazy. And shes spitting on that album. Shes going on that album! So I get it when these females are like, Yo, Kim was it for me. I get it now. A post shared by The Breakfast Club (@breakfastclubam) Ja Rules sentiment echoes that of Mary J. Blige, who in a 2020 interview with Andy Cohen made a similar point about Lil Kims pioneering career My baby girl, my little sister, she said. I mean, one of the most incredible female rappers to open the door for so many women. Shes a trailblazer and one of the biggest rappers most respected rappers in the business. Despite her enduring influence, Lil Kim has yet to work with either Nicki Minaj Cardi Bor Megan Thee Stallion While her interactions with Cardi and Megan have been nothing but respectful the same cant be said for her relationship with Nicki. The rap queens famously traded diss tracks and subliminal shotsduring a long-simmering feud that divided fanbases, although things seem to have cooled down in recent years. During her interview with Joe Budden in March Nicki Minaj saluted Lil Kims influence and argued she shouldve been given the cover of American Vogue already. Read more