Nicki Minaj and Lil’ Kim Beef Is ‘Complicated,’ T.I. Says

[Transcendence]

Lil’ Kim is in full attack mode against Nicki Minaj and it may be more "complicated" than anyone realizes, according to T.I., who tells Billboard that things are bound to get sticky when a “new and younger version†of an artist comes around after one who’s been "dominating for so long.â€

 

The latest activity in the ongoing rivalry between the female rappers came on Aug. 4 when Kim unleashed her own remix of Beyonce’s “Flawless,†where she responds to an apparent jab from Minaj heard in the original remix. Days later Kim released another diss track aimed at Minaj in "Identity Theft." Minaj has done her part to keep the beef going with songs like "Stupid Hoe.â€

 

Neither side looks to be calling a truce anytime soon, so Billboard asked the opinion of someone with perspective on the matter: rapper T.I.

 

Tip, who has engaged in and helped dissolve discrepancies in the past, believes that Kim's issue with Minaj aren't specific to women -- or rappers, for that matter. "This is something that can happen to men too," he says.

 

The chatter about Minaj potentially taking Kim’s spot, or Minaj boldly proclaiming herself the Queen of Rap, doesn't help things either, T.I. says.

 

"Just because you heard another person say that you gonna be on edge," he explains. "I feel like that's more of the case with Kim and Nicki, even though I don't know what started any of this, it's a little more complicated to put to bed because of that fact."

 

He also notes that Minaj being constantly compared to Kim has an impact as well. "It's gonna put a chip on your shoulder in a different way too," T.I. says.

 

Meanwhile, T.I. says his protégé Iggy Azalea “could be†collaborating on a song with Kim soon, though he wouldn’t confirm. The Aussie rapper has been pitted against Minaj before. “That's a little more preposterous like 'what the fuck' because they're not even in each other's lane," T.I. says of the Azalea and Minaj.

 

T.I. is currently busy readying his new album, Paperwork, and prepping the latest season of T.I. & Tiny's: Family Hustle. He’s also executive producing a new reality show, The Sisterhood of Hip Hop

 

Besides readying Paperwork for release, and prepping the latest season of T.I. & Tiny's: The Family Hustle, he's executive producing a new reality show,Sisterhood of Hip Hop, which debuts on Oxygen Aug. 12.