This Is Who I Am
Lil Kim Feat. Mashonda Lyrics
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I introduce to you (Where Brooklyn at? Where Brooklyn at?)
The Queen Bee (Where Brooklyn at? Where Brooklyn at?)
She hold the crown in this game (Where Brooklyn at?
Where Brooklyn at?)
Ladies and Gentleman
It's the worlds famous, Lil' Kim, Queen Bee
No matter what you do, you can't take the hood out me
People been around me for years, don't know shit about me
Dedicated, like Muslims makin' selat
People steady try to make me into somethin' I'm not
That's why I had to cut the grass, so I could see the snakes
Copped the house on the hill so I could see the lakes
What you thought? I'm a girl, couldn't make it alone
Time to turn the heat up and get back in the zone
One day my hairs orange, the next day it's green
The trendsetter's back on your TV screen
This is who I am (This is who I am)
This is what I be (This is what I be)
People runnin' 'round (People runnin' 'round)
Tryna change me (Tryna change me)
Oh, no, no, no, no (Oh, no, no, no, no)
No, no, no (No, no, no)
Oh, no, no, no, no (Oh, no, no, no, no)
No, no, no (No, no, no)
About five feet even, kinda small in the waist
Rap's sex symbol, real pretty in the face
So what I got even bigger titties than the lakes
Still a sophisticated lady with millions in the safe
Switch up flows like I switch up my clothes
More than Wilt Chamberlain switched up his hoes
I'm a profectionist, gotta stay on my toes
Anything goes when you play with the pro's
I got everybody rappin' about jewelry and cars
Lil' Kim give you a platinum sixteen bars
I'm the real thing, ya'll kareokee stars
This is who I am
This is who I am (This is who I am)
This is what I be (This is what I be)
People runnin' 'round (People runnin' 'round)
Tryna change me (Tryna change me)
Oh, no, no, no, no (Oh, no, no, no, no)
No, no, no (No, no, no)
Oh, no, no, no, no (Oh, no, no, no, no)
No, no, no (No, no, no)
I'd rather be dead and rich than broke and livin'
Without rap, I probably woulda been sellin' dope in prison
With some Vera Wang khakis and Nolteychucks
Suckin' the warden's dick in the back of the bus
But God made me what I am today
So I say things ya'll afraid to say
Just 'cause you got a head start that don't make you strongest
He who burns last, burns the longest
Fuck what they say about me
Fact is I'm the legacy of B.I.G.
The Queen of New York, let's get this straight
I'm about to be elected mayor of 718
This is who I am (This is who I am)
This is what I be (This is what I be)
People runnin' 'round (People runnin' 'round)
Tryna change me (Tryna change me)
Oh, no, no, no, no (Oh, no, no, no, no)
No, no, no (No, no, no)
Oh, no, no, no, no (Oh, no, no, no, no)
No, no, no (No, no, no)
This is who I am (This is who I am)
This is what I be (This is what I be)
People runnin' 'round (People runnin' 'round)
Tryna change me (Tryna change me)
Oh, no, no, no, no (Oh, no, no, no, no)
No, no, no (No, no, no)
Oh, no, no, no, no (Oh, no, no, no, no)
No, no, no (No, no, no)
If you in the club
You are listening to the sounds
Of the [scratch] Queen Bee baby
Ride the bar, Queen Bee baby
Mashonda on the hook
I go by the name of the Monster
Swizz Beatz
You are listening to the Queen Bee
Bee baby
The lyrics to Lil Kim’s This Is Who I Am celebrate her individuality and authenticity amidst the pressures of the music industry to conform to the expectations of others. The song opens with Swizz Beatz introducing Lil Kim as the “Queen Bee” and acknowledging her position as a leader in the rap game. Lil Kim then declares that she is who she is and cannot be changed, despite attempts by others to mold her into something she’s not. She asserts that she is dedicated and true to herself, cutting out those who are snakes in the grass.
Lil Kim uses the verses to highlight her success and accomplishments, such as owning a house on a hill with a view of the lakes. She embraces her femininity, touting her beauty and even mentioning her large breasts. However, Lil Kim also showcases her skill and talent as a rapper, claiming to switch up her flows like she switches up her clothes. She is unafraid to speak her truth, declaring that she would rather be rich and dead than living a life of poverty and crime. Ultimately, Lil Kim asserts that despite what others say about her, she is the legacy of Biggie Smalls and the Queen of New York, poised for even greater success.
Line by Line Meaning
It's the worlds famous, Lil' Kim, Queen Bee
Introducing Lil' Kim as the world famous Queen Bee.
I am who I am, you just can't change me
Asserting that who Lil' Kim is cannot be changed by anyone else.
No matter what you do, you can't take the hood out me
Suggesting that Lil' Kim will always be connected to and feel at home in the hood.
People been around me for years, don't know shit about me
Pointing out that some people who have been in Lil' Kim's life for a long time still do not truly know her.
Dedicated, like Muslims makin' selat
Comparing Lil' Kim's dedication to her craft to Muslims who are dedicated to their practice of praying five times a day, called salah or salat.
People steady try to make me into somethin' I'm not
Noting that people have tried to mold Lil' Kim into a different person than who she truly is.
That's why I had to cut the grass, so I could see the snakes
Metaphorically stating that Lil' Kim had to weed out the people in her life who were trying to manipulate or harm her.
Copped the house on the hill so I could see the lakes
Purchasing a house in a location with a beautiful view, where Lil' Kim can relax and enjoy her surroundings.
What you thought? I'm a girl, couldn't make it alone
Challenging the idea that women cannot succeed on their own.
Time to turn the heat up and get back in the zone
Motivating herself to get back into her creative zone and produce new work.
One day my hairs orange, the next day it's green
Expressing Lil' Kim's tendency to frequently change her hairstyle and overall appearance.
The trendsetter's back on your TV screen
Promoting herself as a trendsetter who is back on television.
I'd rather be dead and rich than broke and livin'
Preferring to be wealthy and dead than financially struggling and alive.
Without rap, I probably woulda been sellin' dope in prison
Speculating that without a career in rap, Lil' Kim may have become involved in drug dealing and ended up in prison.
Switch up flows like I switch up my clothes
Comparing Lil' Kim's ability to change her rapping style to how she changes her clothes frequently.
More than Wilt Chamberlain switched up his hoes
Referring to NBA player Wilt Chamberlain's many girlfriends and stating that Lil' Kim changes up her style even more frequently than he did.
I'm a profectionist, gotta stay on my toes
Highlighting Lil' Kim's perfectionist tendencies and the need for her to always be ready and alert.
Anything goes when you play with the pro's
Suggesting that when you are working with experienced professionals, anything is possible.
I got everybody rappin' about jewelry and cars
Taking credit for introducing materialism into rap music and having other artists follow suit.
Lil' Kim give you a platinum sixteen bars
Referring to Lil' Kim's ability to produce a hit song with just 16 bars of rap lyrics.
I'm the real thing, ya'll kareokee stars
Asserting that while others may sing along to her music, she is the true talent and professional in the industry.
Fuck what they say about me
Disregarding the opinions and criticisms of others about Lil' Kim.
Fact is I'm the legacy of B.I.G.
Stating that Lil' Kim is the living legacy of rapper The Notorious B.I.G., and his influence on her career.
The Queen of New York, let's get this straight
Declaring that Lil' Kim is the reigning queen of the New York rap scene.
I'm about to be elected mayor of 718
Jokingly suggesting that Lil' Kim is so popular in her hometown that she could be elected as the mayor of the neighborhood with area code 718.
Lyrics © Warner/Chappell Music, Inc., Universal Music Publishing Group
Written by: KASSEEM DEAN, VICTOR SANTIAGO, MASHONDA K. TIFRERE
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind