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Lil’ Kim’s Last Days

Serving a year and a day in federal prison for perjury and conspiracy, female rapper Lil’ Kim remains on the scene through radios and televisions everywhere. March 9, 2006 marked the premiere of “Lil’ Kim: Countdown to Lockdown,” a BET mini series that captures Lil’ Kim’s last days before going to prison.

 

Produced by Tracey Edmonds and co-produced by Queen Bee Productions, the mini series doesn’t solely focus on Kim’s trial, charges, or sentencing. It focuses more on the people around her who support her and the things that must get done before she goes to prison. The show also portrays Kim as an artist who loves her fans and strives to please them.

 

During the first episode Kim shot the video for her song “Lighters Up,” but after viewing it she wanted to “throw up.” This was a big deal for Kim because she felt that she hasn’t had a self- pleasing video since “Crush on You.” Kim was also upset because she wanted to leave her fans with a good video before her incarceration.  Making a video that will satisfy Kim and hopefully boost her record sales becomes the biggest issue during the first and second episode.

 

Although, Kim contemplated the quality of “Lighters Up” for the sake of her fans, Kim’s fans and others showed her tremendous support for the premiere episode. Nationally, 1.9 million viewers tuned in to watch Countdown, making it the #1 Original Series on cable among Black households so far in 2006, according to a BET press release.

 

 

During the second episode, Kim’s manager, Hillary and video producer, Kirk focus on shooting a better video for her song “Whoa.” Preparing for this video meant bringing in Kim’s best friend and co-defendant, Mo as well as enduring hours of shopping which Kim’s assistant, Lala can’t handle. The producers not only capture the life of Kim, but the hectic lives of her friends and staff as well. Lala who is away from her husband and kids loses her patience for Kim because of the stress she feels for being away from home while Mo is struggling with the thought of leaving her kids behind when she goes to prison.

 

Countdown is thirty minutes full of drama, upsets, and the reality of a star whose crew make her look like and angel. “I think the show is a little short, but it’s interesting. After watching the previews I thought that Lil’Kim was the one who was always yelling and ready to fight, but when I watched the show I saw that it was the people around her that were more confrontational and problematic,” said Sharone Cunningham, a sophomore majoring in mass communications major at Virginia State University.

 

A new episode of Countdown is scheduled to premiere on BET each Thursday at 9:30 p.m. until the six part series is over. Stay tuned for more drama and excitement as the countdown to Lil’ Kim’s last days as a free woman continues.