Kimberly Denise Jones(born July 11, 1974),[2]better known by her stage nameLil' Kim, is an American rapper. She was born and raised in New York City and lived much of her adolescent life on the streets after being expelled from home. In her teens, she wouldfreestyle rap, influenced by fellow female hip-hop artists likeMC Lyteandthe Lady of Rage. In 1994, she was discovered by fellow rapperThe Notorious B.I.G., who invited her to join his groupJunior M.A.F.I.A.; their debut album,Conspiracy,generated two top 20 singles in the United States and wascertified goldby theRecording Industry Association of America(RIAA).
In 2005, Lil' Kim served a one-year prison sentence for lying to a jury about her friends' involvement in a shooting four years earlier. During her incarceration, her fourth album, The Naked Truth, was released to positive reviews from critics. A reality series covering her sentence, Lil' Kim: Countdown to Lockdown,premiered on BET in 2006. She then released her first mixtape, Ms. G.O.A.T. (2008) and returned to the public eye in 2009 with an appearance on Dancing with the Stars. Throughout the 2010s, she continued to release music and perform sporadically, collaborating with artists such as Faith Evans, Remy Ma, and Fabolous. Her fifth studio album, 9, was released in 2019.
Lil' Kim has been referred to as the "Queen of Rap," as well as her alias "Queen Bee" by several media outlets. She has sold more than 15 million albums and 30 million singles worldwide. Her songs "No Time," "Big Momma Thang," and "Not Tonight (Ladies Night)" were each listed on Complex's list of the 50 Best Rap Songs By Women.[6] In 2012, she was listed on VH1's 100 Greatest Women in Music list at number 45, the second-highest position for a solo female hip-hop artist.[7]
Aside from music, she is also known for her risk-taking and luxurious approach to fashion which has inspired many artists; she has been cited as a fashion icon.[8][9] Her collaboration with celebrity nail artist Bernadette Thompson for the 1999 "Money Nails" design she wore is credited with bringing intricate nail art into mainstream fashion and has been exhibited at the Museum of Modern Art.[10] Lil' Kim has been noted for helping women embrace their "sexuality and femininity" in a way that was a stark contrast at the time from other female artists.[11]
Early life, family and education
Jones was born in the Bedford–Stuyvesantneighborhood of Brooklyn, New York City, the second child of Linwood Jones, a former U.S. Marine.[12] She has an older brother, Christopher.[13] As a child, Jones attended Queen of All Saints Elementary School in Brooklyn.[14] When she was nine years old, her parents separated, and Jones was raised by her father, with whom she had a tumultuous relationship.[14] At fourteen, she left home, began living on the streets, and ultimately dropped out of high school.[15]
As a teenager, Jones met Christopher Wallace, known professionally as the Notorious B.I.G.Wallace was a key figure in both her personal and artistic life, particularly after he gained popularity and influence through his relationship with Bad Boy Records.[16] Jones attended Sarah J. Hale Vocational High School for two-and-a-half years. She and her friends often skipped school. As she was not completing her schoolwork, the decision was made for her to transfer to Brooklyn College Academy to finish her remaining year and a half of high school.[17]
Career
In 1994, B.I.G. was instrumental in introducing and promoting the Brooklyn-based group Junior M.A.F.I.A. Jones, who had adopted the stage name Lil' Kim, was a member of the group. The group's debut album, Conspiracy, was released to mediocre reviews and moderate sales on August 29, 1995, but debuted at number eight on the U.S. Billboard 200 chart, selling 69,000 copies in its first week of release. Wallace wrote and ghostwrote most of the album's material.[18]Three hit singles came from Conspiracy: "Player's Anthem," "I Need You Tonight," and "Get Money."[19] The RIAA certifiedConspiracy a Gold album on December 6, 1995. "Player's Anthem" and "Get Money" were certified gold and platinum respectively.[20] Lil' Kim's increasing popularity as a member of Junior M.A.F.I.A. allowed her to start a solo career shortly after the Conspiracy album was released. By late 1995, she began working on what would become her debut album, Hard Core.
1996–2002: Hard Core and The Notorious K.I.M.
After a year with Junior M.A.F.I.A., Lil' Kim began her solo career by making guest performances on R&B albums and recording her debut album, Hard Core, which was released in November 1996. The album debuted at number 11 on the Billboard 200, the highest debut for a female rap album at that time,[21] and number 3 on Billboard's Top R&B/Hip-Hop Albums,[22] selling 78,000 copies in its first week of release and has sold over 5 million copies worldwide.[18] It was certified double platinum by the RIAA on March 14, 2001, after having been certified gold on January 6, 1997, and platinum on June 3, 1997.[23]
The album's lead single "No Time," a duet with Combs, reached the top spot of the BillboardHot Rap Tracks chart[16] and was certified gold by the RIAA.[23] The following single was "Crush on You," a remixed version of the track that appeared on Hard Core. A remix of the album's track "Not Tonight" saw Lil' Kim team up with Missy Elliott, Angie Martinez, Da Brat, and Left Eye of TLC with the song peaking at 6 on the Billboard Hot 100. The song was part of the soundtrack to the Martin Lawrence movie Nothing to Lose, nominated for a Grammy Award, and certified platinum.[23] She became the first female rapper to have three consecutive number ones on the Billboard Hot Rap Tracks chart.[24]
In one stockholders' meeting of Warner Bros. Records, activist C. Delores Tucker criticized the label "for producing this filth," referring to perceived graphic sexual content in Lil' Kim's lyrics, and labeling them "gangsta porno rap."[25]In 1997, Lil' Kim promoted Hard Core by performing on P. Diddy's "No Way Out" tour.[26]The tour continued through to 1998 and became one of the highest-grossing hip-hop tours of all time, grossing an estimated $16 million.[27] That same year, she launched her own label, Queen Bee Entertainment.[28]
From 1998 to 2000, Lil' Kim continued working under the management of B.I.G.'s best friend, Damion "D-Roc" Butler's "Roc Management," touring and modeling for various fashion and pop culture companies including Candie's, Versace, Iceberg, and Baby Phat.
In 1999, for a denim campaign fashion shoot, Lil' Kim debuted "Money Nails" designed by nail artist Bernadette Thompson.[10] Thompson gave Lil' Kim a manicure with acrylic nails and pieces of an actual $100 bill.[29] The look became an instant trendsetter spawning a wave of imitation looks[30]and a trending search topic on Google (at a time before the internet was ubiquitous).[29]
Her outfit at the 1999 MTV Video Music Awardsreceived widespread media attention, fueled by the "shocked" response of presenter Diana Ross, who approached and jiggled Kim's exposed breast on national television. The Washington Post considered that the incident solidified Lil' Kim's "image of sexual fearlessness" and her career as "a fashion trendsetter."[28]
On June 27, 2000, Lil' Kim released her second album, The Notorious K.I.M. The album marked a new image and revamped look for the rapper. Despite the limited success of its singles, the album debuted at number 4 on the Billboard 200 and number 1 on the Top R&B/Hip-Hop Albums chart, selling 229,000 copies in its first week.[18] It was certified platinum by the RIAA, four weeks after its release.[23] It was on this LP that the well-known hip-hop feud between Lil' Kim and Foxy Brown escalated. In 2001, Lil' Kim teamed up with Christina Aguilera, Pink, and Mýa to remake "Lady Marmalade," which was originally written about a bordello in New Orleans and performed by the group Labelle (which included diva Patti LaBelle) 25 years earlier.[31]
The song was recorded for the Moulin Rouge! film soundtrack, released in April 2001, and stayed at number 1 on the Billboard Hot 100 for five weeks. The song also went to number 1 in 14 countries around the world. This was a major accomplishment for female rap, as well as for Lil' Kim, who scored her first and only number 1 Hot 100 hit[32] and became the second solo female rapper in history to hit number one on the Billboard Hot 100 charts.[31] "Lady Marmalade" also garnered Lil' Kim her first Grammy Award. The second single, "Kimnotyze," was released as the lead single of record producer DJ Tomekk's compilation album Beat Of Life, Vol 1. It was released in Switzerland, Austria, and Germanyonly. The song was successful, becoming Lil' Kim's third consecutive top 10 hit in Germany after her number 5 hit "Lady Marmalade."
In 2002, Lil' Kim recorded a new entrance theme for then World Wrestling Entertainment (WWE) Women's Champion Trish Stratus entitled "Time to Rock 'n Roll," which was used during broadcasts, until Stratus' retirement. The single was released on WWE Anthology, a compilation of entrance theme music to various professional wrestling superstars.[33] Lil' Kim released the song "What's The Word" in mid-2002. Despite not having an official release, it went on to peak at number 9 on the Bubbling Under R&B/Hip-Hop Singles chart.[34] It would later be released on the Japan edition of her third studio album, La Bella Mafia, as a bonus track.
2003–2005: La Bella Mafia
On March 4, 2003, Lil' Kim released her third studio album, La Bella Mafia. It debuted at number 5 on the Billboard 200, selling 166,000 copies in its first week,[35] giving Lil' Kim her second consecutive top 5 album. The album received generally positive reviews from critics, receiving a score of 65 on Metacritic.[36] A buzz single, "Came Back For You," was released ahead of the album, the music video for the song featured reality television personality Victoria Gotti.[37]
The first single, "The Jump Off," featuring Mr. Cheeks, peaked at number 16 on the Billboard Hot 100. Follow up single, "Magic Stick," featuring 50 Cent, peaked at number two on the Billboard Hot 100, staying there for three weeks. The song did not have a commercial release or a music video but was successful due to high radio airplay, peaking at number one on the BillboardAirplay chart. A third US-only single, "Thug Luv," featuring Twista, was released in the last quarter of 2003 and peaked at number 60 on the Billboard Hot R&B/Hip-Hop Songs chart. The album was certified platinum in the US,[23] selling over 1.1 million copies.[38]
Lil' Kim promoted the album with a string of concerts, which also featured DMX and Nas.[39]Lil' Kim was nominated for five Source Awards and won two ("Female Hip-Hop Artist of the Year," and "Female Single of the Year"). The album also got two Grammy Award nominations for Best Female Rap Solo Performance ("Came Back For You") and Best Rap Collaboration ("Magic Stick"). She was also nominated for Best Pop Collaboration with singer Christina Aguilera for the song "Can't Hold Us Down," from Aguilera's album Stripped.
Greg Thomas, an English professor at Syracuse University, began teaching "Hip-Hop Eshu: Queen B@#$H Lyricism 101." Lil' Kim herself was a guest speaker. Professor Thomas considered Lil' Kim's lyrics "the art with the most profound sexual politics I've ever seen anywhere."[40]David Horowitz criticized the course as "academic degeneracy and decline."[41] Lil' Kim also made an appearance on the multi-platform videogame Def Jam: Fight for NY. Lil' Kim provided voice-overs for her part in the storyline, where the player may fight an opponent to have Lil' Kim as their girlfriend.[42]
In 2004, Lil' Kim recorded a cover of "These Boots Are Made for Walkin'" which was used as the opening theme for Victoria Gotti's reality series Growing Up Gotti. That same year, Lil' Kim was featured on the remix of "Naughty Girl" by Beyoncé. In December 2004, Lil' Kim began recording a pilot for a VH1 reality show titled 718 Makeover.[43][44] The 718 in the title is the area code for Brooklyn, where she grew up. The show did not make it to air.
2005–2008: Prison, The Naked Truth and Ms. G.O.A.T
Lil' Kim performing at Way Out West festival, 2008
Lil' Kim released her fourth album, The Naked Truth, on September 27, 2005, while serving a federal prison sentence. It earned her a 5 mic rating from The Source, making her the only female rapper to ever receive a 5 mic rating. The album debuted at number 6 on the Billboard 200 chart, selling 109,000 copies in its first week of release,[45] giving Lil' Kim her third top 10 debut on the chart. The Naked Truth did not sell as well as her previous works, it only managed to reach a gold certification by RIAA. She said that her prison sentence left her with no time to promote the project.
The music video for The Naked Truth's first single, "Lighters Up," was number one on BET's 106 & Park for two weeks. "Lighters Up" was a Top Ten hit on the BillboardHot R&B/Hip-Hop Singles & Tracks chart. The single also reached number 67 on the German Single Chart, number 12 on the UK Top 75 and number 4 on the Finland Single Chart. The second single, "Whoa" was released on February 17, 2006. It reached number 22 on Airplay.
On March 9, 2006, BET premiered the show Lil' Kim: Countdown to Lockdown, which was filmed before Lil' Kim headed to prison. The show became the highest rated premiere in BET history, averaging 1.9 million viewers.[46] In May 2006, Debbie Harry released a song in tribute to Lil' Kim called "Dirty and Deep" in protest of her conviction. The song was available for free from her official website. Dance Remixes, her first compilation album, was released on June 6, 2006. The album featured remixes of songs from The Naked Truth and Hard Core. A limited pressing released only in the US, it received no promotion due to Lil' Kim being in prison at the time of release and failed to chart. On August 31, 2006, Lil' Kim presented the award for Best Male Video at the 2006 MTV Video Music Awards; it marked her first televised appearance since being released from prison.[47] She also made appearances on the show The Pussycat Dolls Present: The Search for the Next Doll and Pussycat Dolls Present: Girlicious in 2007 and 2008 as a judge.
In January 2008, Lil' Kim announced that she had parted ways with Atlantic Records, choosing to release future projects independently. She stated she had no hard feelings toward Atlantic, but felt comfortable enough with her knowledge of the music business to do it alone.[48] Lil' Kim released her first mixtapeMs. G.O.A.T., an acronym for "Greatest of All Time,"[49][50] on June 3, 2008.[51]It was produced by New York City DJs Mister Ceeand DJ Whoo Kid.[52] Among critics, the mixtape received generally positive reviews.[53][54][55] It has been called a representation of Lil' Kim's return to the streets.[56] Tito Salinas of All Hip Hop says "Lil' Kim shows that her time behind bars did not rust all of her swag away" on Ms. G.O.A.T.[54] On the other hand, Ehren Gresehover of New York Mag says that although one of the tracks "The Miseducation of Lil' Kim" is not bad, he wished it was Lauryn Hill making a comeback instead.[57]
2009–2011: Dancing with the Stars and Black Friday
On March 10, 2009, the song "Girls" by Korean singerSevenfeaturing Lil' Kim was released through digital stores as his U.S. debut single. Lil' Kim appeared in the music video that was released on the same day. "Girls" was produced byDarkchild. On March 24, 2009, she released the song "Download" featuring R&B singersT-PainandCharlie Wilson. It was written by Lil' Kim and T-Pain and produced by Trackmasters. The song samples "Computer Love" by Zapp. Although it missed the Hot 100, it did chart on theBillboardHot R&B/Hip-Hop Songs chart, peaking at number 21.
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