MediaPunch / AKM-GSIVH1 rolled out the red carpet for Lil' Kim at the Hip Hop Honors: All Hail the Queens tribute event in New York City Monday. Shortly after the original Queen Bee arrived, the rapper, 40, posed for photos with her 2-year-old daughter, Royal Reign, who made her red carpet debut. The event also honored four other female MCs: Missy Elliott, Queen Latifah and Salt-N-Pepa.
During the show, Faith Evans reflected on Lil' Kim's legacy and introduced a musical tribute. Lil Mama performed "Crush On You," Teyana Taylor performed "No Time," and Taylor, French Montana and The Lox performed "All About the Benjamins." Later on, Lil' Kim took the stage and did a medley of her most iconic hits: "Big Momma Thing," "Queen B" and "Lighters Up."
Diddy made a surprise appearance and spoke fondly of his friend. And, because it was almost her birthday, Diddy brought out a birthday cake and led the crowd in singing "Happy Birthday."
"Thank you so much, Diddy. You are my baby, too. I love you so much. Thank you. Imma get you later, though! I love you!" Lil' Kim said as her fans applauded. "I don't even know what to say. I'm at a loss for words. But the first thing I gotta do is thank you, father God. Let me tell you, I thank you so much, father God, because you just keep lifting me up higher and higher, even through the harshest times. He lets me know He's always there, even when I think He's gone, and that's the one thing that keeps me going. I want to thank my beautiful mother. I love you so much. My beautiful baby Royal Reign is in the building. My beautiful baby! I want to thank the whole Queen Bee squad…Let me tell you, if I could take you guys with me everywhere I go, I would do that, because you guys help me to get through everything as well and y'all make me want to keep going every single time. I gotta thank my sisters: Missy, Latifah, Salt-N-Pepa."
As the camera panned to her fellow honorees, Lil' Kim continued, "You don't understand. You girls inspire me. It's an honor to be [here], being honored with you girls. I love you so much."
Lil' Kim also took a moment to address the some of the issues currently currently plaguing the nation. "I just want to say that brutality has gotten to an all-time high. It is horrible. We as a people can stick together and do something about that, and speak our voice and our opinion and really just support the community," the rapper said. "And you know what? Love is bigger than anything."