A Night to Remember: Lil’ Kim’s Return to Sydney
Lil’ Kim made a memorable return to Sydney during her Vivid Sydney show at Carriageworks, where she took the opportunity to connect with her fans in an intimate way. As she stepped offstage and into the crowd, she shared her heartfelt love for them, which was clearly reciprocated by the approximately 2,500 attendees who had purchased tickets to witness her performance live.
The venue, located in a historic railway workshop in Eveleigh on Gadigal land, provided a unique backdrop for the event. Among the audience were many middle-aged hip-hop enthusiasts, some of whom had been fans since the release of Lil’ Kim’s groundbreaking debut album, Hard Core, in 1996. This album, which sold six million copies worldwide, marked the beginning of her legendary career. Her follow-up, The Notorious KIM (2000), further solidified her status as a trailblazer in the genre.
Fans from different generations were present, with some younger attendees recognizing her significance in hip-hop history. One fan even showcased his admiration by revealing a permanent Lil’ Kim tattoo on his thigh, a testament to his deep connection with the artist.
A Performance That Dropped the Beat
Lil’ Kim, now 51, made her entrance to the remix of Mobb Deep’s Quiet Storm, where she featured. The diminutive rapper, standing around 151 centimeters tall, appeared under a cloud of smoke, greeted by enthusiastic cheers from the crowd. “I love you, Sydney,” she declared, prompting the audience to make noise from the middle of the venue.
Surrounded by backup dancers, she took control of the mic, declaring, “I know I’ve been gone for a minute but I’m back with the drop.” She then moved to the beat, delivering a high-energy performance that captivated the crowd.
This was her first visit to Australia in 15 years, following her performance at the 2011 Winterbeatz Festival. The Vivid concert was a celebration of her first two albums, though she has also released other studio albums such as La Bella Mafia, The Naked Truth, and 9, along with mixtapes and singles.
Before arriving in the country, Lil’ Kim engaged with her Instagram followers, asking them which songs from her first two albums they wanted to hear. While some suggestions were accurate, others were not. She embraced this feedback, performing truncated versions of most tracks.
A Set List That Delivered
The set list included hits like Magic Stick (a collaboration with 50 Cent), Lighters Up, Money (from The Lox), Power Respect, No Time, Crush on You (featuring Sisqo), and Get Money (featuring The Notorious BIG and Junior MAFIA). The audience responded with screams, cheers, and even amateur rappers rapping along to Big Momma Thang word for word, as well as singing along to the Grammy-winning Lady Marmalade from the Moulin Rouge! soundtrack.
There was one moment when the cheers turned to boos when Lil’ Kim brought out her partner, Tayy Brown, who performed a few tracks before the two sang Love for Ya together later in the set. “The first place that song charted was here,” she said, expressing her gratitude to the crowd.
During the Not Tonight remix featuring Da Brat, Left Eye, Missy Elliot, and Angie Martinez, Lil’ Kim paused on Left Eye’s verse. “That song really makes me miss my sister Left Eye,” she said, paying tribute to the late TLC star. She then acknowledged “family who may no longer be with us.”
A Celebration of Black Women
Lil’ Kim will perform at Festival Hall in Melbourne tonight as part of the Rising Festival. Despite the short duration of her performance—just over an hour—the energy and excitement she brought to the stage left a lasting impression on the crowd.
Prior to her set, Malyangapa and Barkindji rapper Barkaa took the stage, delivering tracks like her cult hit King Brown. Many in the crowd had specifically come to see her, and she expressed her excitement about the experience. “I remember putting Hard Core in my ears when I was a little girl, listening to Lil’ Kim,” she said. “This is f** surreal.”
She continued, “Everything I do is for the Black women that look like me, that walk like me, that talk like me. Ain’t nothing better than f** Black women.”
Opening Acts That Set the Tone
Before Lil’ Kim took the stage, a pop-up collective of DJs, MCs, and performers called Rocky Stallone & Friends warmed up the crowd, setting the tone for an unforgettable night.
