Following the death of Playboy founder Hugh Hefner, hip-hop artists swarmed social media to pay their respects and remember the legacy and influence he had on the culture. Lil’ Kim joined in on the tributes and posted a series of images of her and the iconic publisher and a brief speech where she revealed her regrets on passing up on the opportunity to work with Hefner and Playboy.
Known for her fearlessness and owning her sexuality in an industry that often objectifies women, Kim carved out her own lane in hip-hop, something she says Hefner admired about her, even if she didn’t see it herself. “Hugh believed in my beauty more than myself, he always put me on a pedestal,” she said under photos of Hefner kissing her on the cheek. “If you got to know him it was a pleasure and honor. He was such a great wonderful spirit and so much fun!”
She later adds that she was offered a huge deal from the Playboy owner, but turned it down. “I remember turning down a non-disclosed 7 figure offer from Hugh and till this day I regret it,” Kim says. “Not because of the money, but because it would have been an honor to be a part of this beautiful mans archive and historic catalog.”
Despite rejecting Hefner’s offer, Kim says he remained kind and “never changed up.”
“Every time I saw you, even after the fact that we didn’t get to make history 2gether, our love for each other always remained the same. I Love You to the heavens Hugh and I will miss you dearly.”
View Kim’s tribute below.
