In this episode we dive into how Lil’ Kim’s career actually ended — and why it wasn’t because of Nicki Minaj. Kim chose to walk away from the machine, and in the process she closed multiple doors that were open to her, including opportunities from the same people who helped her exit her contract.

In her pursuit of a deal similar to the one she believed Nicki Minaj had, Kim kept shutting down pathways that could have sustained her career. It wasn’t a feud that ended her run — it was a series of business decisions that limited her options.

When you look at it like a chess game, Kim didn’t get checkmated. She moved her own pieces off the board before the game was over.