What Do Megan Thee Stallion and City Girls Owe to Queen Latifah and Lil’ Kim? Everything.
OPINION: This article may contain commentary which reflects the author's opinion.
The legacy of Queen Latifah and Lil’ Kim looms large over the landscape of female rap, influencing the likes of Megan Thee Stallion and City Girls. These two pioneering women not only reshaped the genre in their respective eras but also paved the way for a new generation of artists to express their unique voices in a male-dominated industry. From Queen Latifah’s empowering feminism to Lil’ Kim’s unapologetic sexual liberation, the duo’s contributions have left an indelible mark on the careers of today’s chart-topping female rappers.
The Pioneering Women: Queen Latifah and Lil’ Kim
Queen Latifah, born Dana Elaine Owens, burst onto the hip-hop scene in the late 1980s with her debut album All Hail the Queen (1989), making history as one of the first successful female rappers. Her music, characterized by feminist themes and Afrocentric messages, set the stage for women to have a voice in the male-dominated world of hip-hop. Vibe magazine once hailed her as the “First Lady of Hip-Hop,” recognizing her role in breaking barriers and shaping the genre for future generations. Her career extended far beyond music, with roles in films like Chicago (2002) and TV shows such as Living Single, making her an all-around businesswoman and an inspiration for women across industries.
Lil’ Kim, who debuted in 1994 with Junior M.A.F.I.A., brought a bold new dimension to female rap. Her album Hard Core (1996) pushed boundaries with explicit lyrics and overt sexuality, earning her the title of “pussy rap” pioneer. Lil’ Kim’s raw confidence and ability to own her sexuality resonated deeply with many artists, particularly within the realm of hip-hop. She became the blueprint for female rappers who weren’t afraid to be sexually empowered and unapologetic, establishing a legacy of fearless self-expression.
Megan Thee Stallion: The Queen Latifah and Lil’ Kim Influence
Megan Thee Stallion is one of the most prominent contemporary figures in hip-hop, and her career is a testament to the profound impact of both Queen Latifah and Lil’ Kim. Megan has openly discussed how Queen Latifah influenced her business acumen and career expansion. In an interview with Glamour, she praised Queen Latifah for being an “all-around businesswoman,” noting how she inspired Megan to pursue opportunities outside of music, like her Netflix deal. This reflects Queen Latifah’s broader legacy of diversifying one’s career, an approach that has helped shape Megan’s journey as an artist and entrepreneur.
In contrast, Megan’s musical style is heavily influenced by Lil’ Kim’s boldness. Megan frequently cites Lil’ Kim as one of her key influences, with their collaboration on the Plan B remix in 2022 underscoring this bond. Megan’s mother introduced her to Lil’ Kim’s music through The Notorious B.I.G., providing an early exposure that would shape Megan’s own rap persona. In a 2024 Club Shay Shay interview, Megan recounted how Kim’s raw, unapologetic style shaped her own lyrical confidence, paving the way for her to speak freely about her sexuality and power.
City Girls: Lil’ Kim’s Blueprint, Queen Latifah’s Systemic Impact
For City Girls, the Miami duo of Yung Miami and JT, the influence of Lil’ Kim is unmistakable, while Queen Latifah’s impact is more systemic. Although City Girls have not explicitly discussed Queen Latifah’s influence, her trailblazing career likely created an environment that normalized female representation in hip-hop. Queen Latifah helped open the doors for female rappers by proving that women could not only exist in the genre but thrive within it.
Lil’ Kim’s influence on City Girls is more direct. The duo collaborated with her in 2019 on the track “Found You,” which sampled Bubba Sparxxx’s Ms. New Booty. The song aligns closely with Kim’s legacy of sexually explicit lyrics, showcasing City Girls’ unapologetic style. Articles in Forbes and Revolt TV underscore how City Girls, much like Lil’ Kim, own their sexuality through their music, using bold lyrics to assert control over their narratives. Kim’s influence on their sound is evident, reinforcing her role as a blueprint for female rappers who embrace their sexual power.
Comparative Analysis and Broader Impact
The influence of Queen Latifah and Lil’ Kim on Megan Thee Stallion and City Girls can be understood through a comparative lens. Megan has personal connections to both artists, citing Queen Latifah for her entrepreneurial spirit and Lil’ Kim for her musical style and lyrical confidence. City Girls, on the other hand, have a more direct relationship with Lil’ Kim, both through collaboration and musical style, with Queen Latifah’s impact more indirect but still significant in shaping the environment that allowed them to enter the industry.
| Artist | Influence on Megan Thee Stallion | Influence on City Girls |
|---|---|---|
| Queen Latifah | Inspiration for business ventures, career expansion | Indirect, through creating space for female rappers |
| Lil’ Kim | Musical style, lyrical confidence, collaboration | Direct collaboration, lyrical style influence |
This table highlights how these two influential women shaped the trajectory of female rap. Queen Latifah’s empowerment-focused music and multifaceted career gave women like Megan the confidence to pursue broader ambitions, while Lil’ Kim’s unapologetic sexual expression continues to resonate in the bold lyrics of City Girls and Megan. Together, their legacies have fundamentally changed the narrative for women in hip-hop.
A Collaborative Legacy
One of the most striking aspects of the ongoing influence of Queen Latifah and Lil’ Kim is the collaborative connections that bridge generations of female rappers. Megan’s collaboration with Lil’ Kim on the Plan B remix and City Girls’ joint effort with Kim on Found You are not just musical partnerships but cultural touchpoints that acknowledge the historical lineage of women in hip-hop. These collaborations, detailed in Complex and Rap-Up, show a clear respect for the trailblazers who paved the way.
Megan herself has paid tribute to the pioneers who shaped her path, publicly stating in a 2022 CR Fashion Book interview, “There is no Megan Thee Stallion without Salt-N-Pepa, Queen Latifah, Trina, Gangsta Boo, Missy Elliott, Lil Kim, Eve, and so many others.” This statement encapsulates the deep respect that today’s artists have for the women who laid the groundwork for their success.
Conclusion
Megan Thee Stallion and City Girls stand on the shoulders of giants—Queen Latifah and Lil’ Kim—whose legacies in hip-hop continue to shape and inspire the current generation of female artists. Their contributions not only revolutionized the genre but also created space for women to express themselves in ways that were previously unimaginable. As these artists continue to break barriers and redefine the genre, the influence of Queen Latifah and Lil’ Kim remains an undeniable force in the evolution of female rap.
