Lil Kim

Fun Fact: Towards the end of his life, Kim nurtured a romantic relationship with the late rapper Notorious B.I.G. that caused a rift between Kim and R&B singer (and Biggie’s widow), Faith Evans.

Claim to Fame: Rap legend, Notorious B.I.G. discovered Kim in the streets of Brooklyn, and brought her into his group, Junior Mafia, where she catapulted into success with her sexually raunchy, and groundbreaking verse off 1995’s “Player's Anthem."

Kimberly Denise Jones, better known by her stage name Lil' Kim, is an American rapper and singer who was part of the group Junior M.A.F.I.A.

Jones was born and raised in Brooklyn and lived much of her adolescent life on the streets after being expelled from home. From the influence of fellow rapper The Notorious B.I.G., she began her music career in 1995 with the group Junior M.A.F.I.A., whose debut album Conspiracy generated three hit singles. In late 1996, her solo debut album Hard Core was released. Hard Core was certified double platinum and spawned chart-topping hits "No Time" and "Crush on You". Her following albums, The Notorious K.I.M. and La Bella Mafia, were also largely successful.

In 2005, Lil' Kim served a yearlong 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 poor sales and modestly charting singles. Lil' Kim returned to the public spotlight in 2009 with an appearance on Dancing with the Stars.


Lil' Kim was born Kimberly Denise Jones on July 11, 1975, in the Bedford-Stuyvesant neighborhood of the New York City borough Brooklyn. At the age of 9, her parents separated, and her father raised her until he expelled her from home. After all the drama at home, she decided to live with friends, family or on the streets. While struggling through her personal life, Kim met rapper Notorious B.I.G., who was a key figure in both her personal and artistic life, particularly when Wallace had gained popularity and influence through his relationship with Bad Boy Records.



In 1994, B.I.G. was instrumental in introducing and promoting the Brooklyn based group, Junior M.A.F.I.A., which included Lil' Kim. The group's first and only album was titled Conspiracy. The Recording Industry Association of America certified Conspiracy Gold on December 6, 1995, marking sales of 500,000 units. "Player's Anthem" was Gold, and "Get Money" went Platinum.

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