Rap Star′s Final Hours of Freedom Documented in BET′s LIL′ KIM: COUNTDOWN TO LOCKDOWN Season Finale, Premiering Tonight at 9:30 P.M. ET/PT
In tonight′s season finale of BET′s hit reality series LIL′ KIM: COUNTDOWN TO LOCKDOWN, it is the day of her surrender and Lil′ Kim′s family, friends and business associates are trying to adjust to what life will be like once the pint-sized diva begins her 366-day jail term in Philadelphia′s Federal Detention Center. Viewers can witness the final chapter in her journey during the episode premiere on Thursday, April 20 at 9:30 p.m. ET/PT.
"Today I′m going away. I′m turning myself in to U.S. Marshalls," says Lil′ Kim in the show′s intro. "It still feels surreal, but I gotta do what I gotta do."
The first order of business on her to-do list is to undergo a major transformation: though rap superstar Lil′ Kim is the one who was convicted for false statements to a Grand Jury about an incident occurring outside a New York City radio station two years ago, Kimberly Jones is the one serving time. That means bye-bye weave, high-glam makeup, fashionista wardrobe and acrylic nails.
Lil′ Kim also ponders what else she′d like to do before lockdown -- like maybe "have sex." Her mother, however, is just trying to cope with the fact that her daughter is going to jail in a matter of hours. She is so stressed that she actually faints when the family minister leads a prayer session with Lil′ Kim and members of her close-knit inner circle.
BET′s cameras captured the emotion as Lil′ Kim and her entourage were transported from her New Jersey mansion to Philly on a tour bus. Initially, Lil′ Kim's legal team believed their client would receive the same kind of ′Camp Cupcake′ location granted to Martha Stewart to fulfill her term of incarceration. But instead of chilling in the West Virginia countryside, Lil′ Kim will be serving hard time at Philly′s Federal Detention Center. Despite this fact, Kim vows to remain strong and "thug it out."
As the bus draws closer to its destination, her entertainment attorney and business manager Londell is busy running interference with the feds who have issued a warrant for the rap diva′s arrest because she is already an hour late. Though he′s not a criminal trial attorney, Londell ruminates on whether "all of this could have been avoided" had he handled her defense.
That′s a common theme among the other passengers on the bus -- particularly with Lil′ Kim′s brother, Chris. He still can′t wrap his head around the how′s and why′s of his sister′s incarceration. Just before stepping off the bus, an emotionally-spent but resolute Lil′ Kim expresses her love for everyone, exhibiting the courage that has awed observers and "camp Kim" insiders alike with a simple statement:
"A cell can only hold my body, not my mind," she says to her supporters. "I love you, and I will see you soon -- sooner than you think."
LIL′ KIM: COUNTDOWN TO LOCKDOWN debuted on BET on March 9. The six-episode series chronicling the rapper′s last 14 days of freedom was produced by BET in collaboration with Edmonds Entertainment and Queen Bee Entertainment. The premiere episode drew a whopping 1.9 million viewers, making Lil′ Kim the most watched original series in BET′s 25-year history. It is also the highest- rated cable original series among black viewers this year.
Lil′ Kim has been incarcerated since September 19.
