Kimberly Denise Jones, also known as Lil' Kim, was born on July 11, 1974, to parents Linwood Jones and Ruby Mae. She is of Native American and African American descent, standing at just 4 feet 11 inches tall. Despite her small stature, she made a big impact in the music industry as one of the few female rappers in a male-dominated field.
Born in Brooklyn, New York, Lil' Kim grew up in a broken home, with her parents divorcing when she was just nine years old. She was left under the custody of her father, with whom she had constant fights. As a teenager, she ran away from home and lived with friends, drug-dealing boyfriends, and occasionally on the streets.
It was during this tumultuous period that Lil' Kim met her mentor and life saver, Christopher Wallace, also known as Notorious B.I.G. He helped her clean up her life and develop a career in music. Lil' Kim took the stage name "Lil' Kim" after her height and began performing with the rap group Junior M.A.F.I.A.
In 1995, Junior M.A.F.I.A. released their debut album Conspiracy, which debuted at #8 on the Billboard Hot 100 and spawned the hit singles "Player's Anthem" and "Get Money." Lil' Kim's popularity continued to grow, and she appeared on records by Mona Lisa, the Isley Brothers, Total, and Skin Deep.
In 1996, Lil' Kim released her solo album Hardcore, which debuted at #11 on the pop charts. The album's marketing campaign was provocative, with Lil' Kim appearing in a bikini and furs in advertisements and album covers. Despite the controversy, the album was a hit, and the single "No Time" became a #1 rap single.
Tragedy struck when Lil' Kim's father figure, Notorious B.I.G., was murdered in 1997. The incident left Lil' Kim shaken, and she took a hiatus from recording her own music. However, she continued to work on other projects, including a string of collaborations and the launch of her own record label, Queen Bee Records.
In 2000, Lil' Kim released her long-awaited album Notorious K.I.M., which debuted at #1 on the Billboard R&B/Hip-Hop Charts. She continued to make music, releasing her third full-length album La Bella Mafia in 2003, which debuted at #5 on the pop charts.
Lil' Kim also branched out into acting, making her film debut in the 1999 teen flick She's All That and appearing in the 2002 comedy Juwanna Man. In 2001, she gained her first #1 hit on the Billboard Hot 100 with a remake of Patti LaBelle's hit "Lady Marmalade," which won a Grammy in 2002 for Best Pop Collaboration.
Lil' Kim's fourth studio album, The Naked Truth, was released in 2005, debuting at #6 on Billboard's Top 200 Albums chart. Throughout her career, Lil' Kim has been known for her provocative lyrics and style, as well as her unapologetic attitude and determination to succeed in a male-dominated industry.
