How Diddy Once Responded to Lil’ Kim Dissing ‘Notorious’
Sean Diddy Combs was once used as partial inspiration for the 2009 film Notorious, which was based on Biggie Smalls’ rise in rap. The feature would see a few of Biggie Smalls’ loved ones and associates on the big screen. One of them was Lil’ Kim, who had a pretty negative opinion of her portrayal in the film.
Lil’ Kim has always hated ‘Notorious’
Lil’ Kim has been very candid about her feelings towards the feature Notorious. When the film first came out back in 2009, the rapper was critical about the way her character was written.
“The film studio and producers involved were more concerned about painting me as a ‘character’ to create a more interesting story line instead of a person with talent, self-respect and who was able to achieve her own career success through hard work,” she said in a statement according to CBS News.
Lil’ Kim believed that the authentic relationship between herself and Biggie Smalls was nowhere to be found in the film.
“Even though my relationship with Big was at times very difficult and complicated [as with most relationships we have all experienced at one time or another], it was also genuine and built on great admiration and love for each other,” she added. “Regardless of the many lies in the movie and false portrayal of me to help carry a story line through, I will still continue to carry his legacy through my hard work and music.”
Diddy eventually caught wind of Lil’ Kim’s feelings towards the film. But the controversial music mogul harbored no ill will towards the rapper.
“The only thing that I can say about the movie … that was great from their relationship is that he really respected her as an artist, as an MC and was into her like that,” Diddy once told MTV News. “All the other extra stuff, it was a movie. And Kim will have her chance, her own movie will come out there. Give Kim her chance. Don’t believe what you saw in the movie; it wasn’t only about that. She was with us, that was our queen. She’ll always be the queen. She got every right to feel that way. The movie is really about Big. Don’t focus on none of our parts; focus on Big as the man.”
How Lil’ Kim would’ve handled ‘Notorious’ differently
Lil’ Kim hasn’t changed her mind about Notorious over the years. In an interview on The Fat Joe Show (via Revolt), the female emcee doubled down on her opinion towards the film.
“I hate that movie. To me, it was like a spoof,” Lil’ Kim said.
But this time the rapper confided what she would’ve done a little differently that might’ve improved the movie in her eyes. One of the first things she would’ve done was change the casting. It was noted that Power actor Naturi Naughton played Lil’ Kim in the movie. But Lil’ Kim would’ve picked someone from her own hometown to portray her onscreen.
“I would go to Brooklyn and find a girl within that period that I feel represents Brooklyn, knows what it’s like to grow up in Brooklyn,” she said. “And then once I got in the movie, and I get a little older, I would play myself from that stage. But from that point, I gotta go to Brooklyn and give some little girl from Brooklyn a chance to really, really show, I know who Lil Kim is for real.”
Lil’ Kim claimed she had dreams about Biggie Smalls
Lil’ Kim asserted that she received frequent visits from Biggie Smalls in her dreams, which played a part in her response towards the movie. She claimed she knew Smalls even better than his mother Voletta Wallace did.
“I’m a very spiritual person and he’s come to me many times in my dreams,” she once told Rap Radar (via MTV News). “But I don’t think he’s happy at all, at all! Because Ms. Wallace doesn’t know Biggie at all and she barely knows Christopher, if you know what I mean. At all! And I was around. Even before he blew up so crazy, so I know how he felt about his mom. And Biggie was so much more than what they put him out to be in that movie. And to be honest with you, I know for a fact he’s not happy. He’s not satisfied at all.”
