Puff Daddy has credited Lil’ Kim as the "only Queen Bee".
The 46-year-old rapper – whose real name is Sean combs – made a surprise appearance at the 2016 VH1 Hip Hop Honours: All Hail The Queens, which was held at the Lincoln Centre in New York on Monday (11.07.16), to honour the ‘No Time’ hitmaker for changing the music industry.
Speaking at the star studded bash, he said: "I flew in here tonight to honour my sister, Lil’ Kim.
"Everything about you, Kim, from your music to your fashion…you brought glamour to hip-hop.
"With your style…you changed the female MC game and became one of the biggest international stars in rap history.
"Kim made rap feminine and sexy, stylish and hardcore all at the same time.
"As soon as I heard her rhyme. It was something I had never seen or heard before. I knew she was going to be a superstar."
However, the father of six – who has sons Quincy, 25, Justin, 22, Christian, 18, and daughters Chance, 10, Jessie, nine, and D’Lila also nine – has revealed the female artist’s strong persona and fearlessness is the key to her success.
Speaking about the mother of one – who has two-year-old daughter Royal Reign – Puff Daddy explained: "It’s her courage.
"She has no fear. Fearless. She’s not afraid to do things differently. She’s a diva at times. She’s high maintenance with me at times. At the end of the day, she demands the ultimate respect, and that’s how you treat a queen."
And Lil’ Kim – whose real name is Kimberley Denise Jones – responded by thanking her "sisters" Missy Elliott and Queen Latifah who influenced her career.
She said: "Thank you so much Diddy. I love you so much.
"I don’t even know what to say, I am so lost for words. The first thing I’ve got to do is thank you father God. Let, me tell you, I thank you so much father god because you keep lifting me up higher and higher event through the harshest times…
"I want to thank the whole Queen Bee Squad.
"I’ve got to thank my sisters, Missy, Latifah … You girls inspired me so much, and its an honour to be honoured with you girls."