Lil Kim is no stranger to controversy. From performing unthinkable acts on Sprite cans, to sharing an embrace with Diana Ross (sans bra) Lil Kim was a publicist’s dream…and nightmare. Even with all those public displays, though, she’s a private individual. From Iceberg shirts to chinchilla bikini sets, Kimberly Jones is not only a trendsetter, but a blueprint for every female rapper. Here are 7 things you may not know about her.
Photo Credit: Getty Images
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1. At one time, there was an accredited course at Syracuse University titled “Hip-Hop Eshu: Queen Bitch 101” (Class Code: English and Textual Studies 350).
Throughout the semester, students were asked to analyze a skit off of Kim’s sophomore album, The Notorious K.I.M, an article titled “Law And Disorder” by Dasun Allah and J.F. Ratcliffe, which chronicled the government surveillance of rappers, and an open letter by intellectual critic Sylvia Wynter titled “No Humans Involved.”Photo Credit: Getty Images
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2. Cam’ron wrote “Crush On You” for $5,000.
During an interview with Cipha Sounds and Peter Rosenberg back in 2011, Killa Cam revealed that he was given $30,000 from Mase to write five songs for Lil Cease. He wrote “Crush On You” for Lil Cease, but at the last minute it was given to Lil Kim. He also didn’t receive any residuals from the song.Photo Credit: Getty Images
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3. Diddy didn’t sign Lil Kim to Bad Boy because he strongly believed that a female rapper was incapable of making platinum records.
Well, Lil Kim proved him wrong because Hard Core sold 1.4 million records; The Notorious K.I.M. sold 1.41 million (worldwide 3.23 million;) and 1.1 million records with La Bella Mafia. So in part, he was right. Kim couldn’t make platinum records. She made multi-platinum records.Photo Credit: Getty Images
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4. Lil Kim has a foundation called Lil Kim Cares.
In 2004, Kim started a foundation called Lil Kim Cares, which raises funds for programs that assist with homelessness, violence against women, child neglect, transitional living, HIV/AIDS prevention and awareness.Photo Credit: Getty Images
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5. She turned down the role of “Evelyn” in the Spike Lee film She Hate Me because she thought that it would damage her image.
The movie follows a recently fired executive who becomes a sperm donor to make ends meet. Evelyn was a character in the film who happens to be a lesbian who’s pregnant. Surprisingly, she was nominated for a Screen Actors Guild Award for this role.Photo Credit: Getty Images
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6. When Lil Kim was 15 years old, she was kicked out her dad’s home because she (allegedly) stabbed her father with a pair of scissors during a heated argument.
Her father remarried and she felt that he was being influenced by her new stepmother. During this time, she spent a lot of moments with Lil Cease, Capone and Nino Brown, and Junior M.A.F.I.A. was formed shortly after.Photo Credit: Getty Images
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7. She’s good friends with Miley Cyrus.
Miley appeared in the video for “Twisted” and she paid homage to Lil Kim this past Halloween by dressing up as her. She told MTV News, “It was so much fun. Me and Kim, we decided to shoot it out in California…Long story short, she surprised me and came out to set. She said she wasn’t going to be able to make it… so she surprised me and came and we had a great time.”