The Prefix ‘Lil’

Big and small, young and old, the title ‘Lil’ has become both a loved and hated phenomenon for Hip-Hop artists. It represents a childish demeanor or a little brother/sister kind of relationship between the people who address him/her as such. It can also refer to height, ie Lil Kim, who stands at a whopping 5 feet tall. Artists like Lil Jon, Lil Wayne, and Lil Kim have maintained their respective Lils throughout their careers, while Lil Bow Wow and Lil Romeo, dropped theirs at the onset of puberty. Other artists who have both honored and shamed the Lil title include Lil Boosie, Lil Cease, Lil Scrappy, and Lil Flip.