Lil' Kim facts for kids
Quick facts for kids
Lil' Kim
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Lil' Kim in 2012
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Kimberly Denise Jones
July 11, 1974 Brooklyn, New York City, U.S.
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| Other names | Queen Bee |
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| Years active | 1994–present |
| Partner(s) | Jeremy "Mr. Papers" Neil (2012–2014, 2020–2021) Tayy Brown (2024–present) |
| Children | 1 |
| Awards | Full list |
| Musical career | |
| Genres | East Coast hip hop |
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Kimberly Denise Jones (born July 11, 1974), known by her stage name Lil' Kim, is an American rapper from New York City. As a teenager, she practiced freestyle rap, inspired by female hip-hop artists like MC Lyte and The Lady of Rage.
In 1994, she was discovered by the famous rapper The Notorious B.I.G.. He invited her to join his group, Junior M.A.F.I.A.. Their first album, Conspiracy, was a success and was certified gold in the United States.
Lil' Kim's first solo album, Hard Core (1996), was a huge hit. It was certified double platinum and sold over six million copies around the world. The album had three hit singles: "No Time", "Not Tonight (Ladies Night)", and "Crush on You". Her next albums, The Notorious K.I.M. (2000) and La Bella Mafia (2003), were also certified platinum.
In 2001, Lil' Kim, along with Christina Aguilera, Mýa, and Pink, recorded a new version of the song "Lady Marmalade". The song reached number one on the U.S. Billboard Hot 100 chart. It also won a Grammy Award.
In 2005, Lil' Kim served a one-year prison sentence. While she was there, her fourth album, The Naked Truth, was released and received good reviews. She returned to the spotlight in 2009 with an appearance on the TV show Dancing with the Stars. Her fifth album, 9, came out in 2019.
Lil' Kim is often called the "Queen of Rap" and "Queen Bee". She has sold more than 15 million albums and 30 million singles worldwide. Besides music, she is known as a fashion icon for her bold and unique style, which has inspired many other artists.
Contents
Early Life and Education
Kimberly Denise Jones was born on July 11, 1974, in the Bedford–Stuyvesant neighborhood of Brooklyn, New York. She is the second child of Linwood Jones, a former U.S. Marine, and has an older brother named Christopher.
When she was nine, her parents separated, and she was raised by her father. She had a difficult relationship with him and left home at age fourteen. For a time, she lived on the streets and eventually dropped out of high school.
As a teenager, Jones met Christopher Wallace, who was known as The Notorious B.I.G.. He became a very important person in her life and career. Jones attended Sarah J. Hale Vocational High School but later transferred to Brooklyn College Academy to finish her high school education.
Career Beginnings
Junior M.A.F.I.A.
In 1994, The Notorious B.I.G. helped form the group Junior M.A.F.I.A., and Jones joined them with the stage name Lil' Kim. The group's first album, Conspiracy, was released in 1995. It debuted at number eight on the U.S. Billboard 200 chart.
The album had three hit singles: "Player's Anthem", "I Need You Tonight", and "Get Money". The success of the group helped Lil' Kim launch her own solo career.
Hard Core and The Notorious K.I.M.
After her time with Junior M.A.F.I.A., Lil' Kim started working on her first solo album, Hard Core, which was released in 1996. The album debuted at number 11 on the Billboard 200, which was the highest debut for a female rap album at the time. It has sold over 5 million copies worldwide.
The album's first single, "No Time", reached the top of the rap charts. Another hit from the album was a remix of "Not Tonight," which featured Missy Elliott, Angie Martinez, Da Brat, and Left Eye from TLC. The song was nominated for a Grammy Award.
In 1997, Lil' Kim went on tour with P. Diddy, and the tour became one of the highest-earning hip-hop tours ever. That same year, she started her own record label, Queen Bee Entertainment. From 1998 to 2000, she also modeled for brands like Candie's and Versace.
On June 27, 2000, Lil' Kim released her second album, The Notorious K.I.M. It debuted at number 4 on the Billboard 200 and was certified platinum just four weeks after its release.
Mainstream Success
"Lady Marmalade" and More Hits
In 2001, Lil' Kim collaborated with Christina Aguilera, Pink, and Mýa on a remake of the song "Lady Marmalade" for the movie Moulin Rouge!. The song was a massive success, reaching number one on the Billboard Hot 100 chart for five weeks. It also hit number one in 14 other countries.
This was a huge achievement for Lil' Kim, as she became the second solo female rapper in history to have a number-one song on the Hot 100 chart. The song also won her a Grammy Award.
In 2002, Lil' Kim recorded an entrance theme for WWE Women's Champion Trish Stratus called "Time to Rock 'n Roll". The song was used until Stratus's retirement.
La Bella Mafia
On March 4, 2003, Lil' Kim released her third album, La Bella Mafia. It debuted at number 5 on the Billboard 200, and critics gave it positive reviews. The album's first single, "The Jump Off", was a top 20 hit.
The album was certified platinum in the U.S., selling over 1.1 million copies. Lil' Kim was nominated for five Source Awards and won two. The album also received two Grammy Award nominations.
During this time, an English professor at Syracuse University began teaching a course about Lil' Kim's lyrics, and she was even a guest speaker. She also appeared in the video game Def Jam: Fight for NY.
Later Career and Projects
The Naked Truth and Ms. G.O.A.T
Lil' Kim released her fourth album, The Naked Truth, on September 27, 2005. The album debuted at number 6 on the Billboard 200 chart. It received a 5-mic rating from The Source magazine, making her the only female rapper to ever get this perfect score.
The album's first single, "Lighters Up", was a top ten hit on the R&B/Hip-Hop chart. In 2006, a TV show called Lil' Kim: Countdown to Lockdown premiered on BET. It became the highest-rated premiere in the network's history.
In 2008, Lil' Kim announced she was leaving Atlantic Records to release her music independently. She released her first mixtape, Ms. G.O.A.T., which stands for "Greatest of All Time," on June 3, 2008.
Dancing with the Stars and Mixtapes
In 2009, Lil' Kim competed on the eighth season of Dancing with the Stars with her partner Derek Hough. She was a fan favorite and finished in fifth place.
In 2011, she released her second mixtape, Black Friday. That same year, she performed in Australia with artists like 50 Cent and G-Unit.
On Valentine's Day 2012, Lil' Kim released the song "If You Love Me" as a gift to her fans. She also went on her Return of the Queen Tour that year. In 2014, she released another mixtape, Hard Core, for free on her website.
9 and Recent Work
In 2017, Lil' Kim was featured on the song "Lovin You for Life" by Faith Evans. She also released a promotional single called "Took Us a Break". In 2018, she released another single, "Spicy," featuring the rapper Fabolous.
In 2019, she starred in the VH1 reality show Girls Cruise alongside other stars like Mýa and Chilli from TLC. The show followed them on a 10-day cruise in the Caribbean.
Her fifth studio album, 9, was released on October 11, 2019. It featured collaborations with artists like Rick Ross and City Girls. Lil' Kim has said that the album is a two-part project.
Legacy and Influence
Many news outlets have called Lil' Kim the "Queen of Rap". Newsweek magazine once called her the "First Lady of Rap". Her music often focused on female empowerment and confidence.
Her first album, Hard Core, is considered a classic and opened the door for a new generation of female rappers. Complex magazine said that with her debut album, "women in hip-hop finally had options."
Besides music, Lil' Kim is known for her unique and daring fashion sense. She has been called a fashion icon by many, including Vogue editor André Leon Talley. Designers like Marc Jacobs and Versace have said she was an inspiration.
Many artists have cited Lil' Kim as an influence, including Rihanna, Cardi B, Megan Thee Stallion, Nicki Minaj, and Miley Cyrus.
Personal Life
In her teens, Lil' Kim met Christopher Wallace, also known as The Notorious B.I.G. He was a key figure in her life and career.
On June 9, 2014, Lil' Kim gave birth to her daughter, Royal Reign. Her daughter has already started modeling and walked in a New York Fashion Week show in 2023.
Lil' Kim was in a relationship with Royal's father, a rapper named Mr. Papers. As of 2024, she is dating Tayy Brown, a rapper signed to her record label.
Discography
Studio albums
- Hard Core (1996)
- The Notorious K.I.M. (2000)
- La Bella Mafia (2003)
- The Naked Truth (2005)
- 9 (2019)
Collaboration albums
- Conspiracy with Junior M.A.F.I.A. (1995)
Tours
Headlining
- The Notorious K.I.M. Tour (2000)
- 2010 Tour (2010)
- Return of the Queen Tour (2012)
Joint tours
- No Way Out Tour (with Puff Daddy & The Family) (1997–1998)
- Winterbeatz Australia (with Fabolous, Mario, 50 Cent and G-Unit) (2011)
- Bad Boy Family Reunion Tour (2016)
See also
In Spanish: Lil' Kim para niños
