Kimberly Denise Jones (born July 11, 1975 in Brooklyn in New York City, New York), also referred to as '''Lil' Kim & a Queen Bee''', is an American rapper.

In a period of the late '90s and 2000s, Lil' Kim has risen to become one of the most prominent female rap artists of her time. As a recording creative person, her uninhibited "hardcore XXX" style of rap has paved a way for several more female rap creative person, including Trina, Jacki-O, and Terror Squad's Remy Ma.

Biography

Early years

Lil' Kim (nicknamed due to her Little joe'Xi" frame) was born Kimberly Denise Jones on July 11, 1975, in Brooklyn, New York. At the age of nine, her parents separated, and until the time she became a teengaer, she lived with her father. However, due to their strained relationship, she moved in with friends and spent most of the time out on the streets, surrounded by people who dealt drugs and living the street life. She then met Christopher Wallace (A.K.A. Notorious B.I.G.) who had just signed a record deal with Bad Boy Records and wanted to bring her in on his success.

The Junior M.A.F.I.A. and Hard Core

Christopher introduced Kim to New York rap group Junior M.A.F.I.A., in which Kim became the only female member. In 1995, they released their debut album Conspiracy, which debuted at #8 on the U.S. Billboard 200 chart and spawned the top twenty hit "Develop Money."

After her success with the Junior M.A.F.I.A., Kim went solo, releasing her controversial debut album Hard Core on November 12, 1996. Despite its critical acclaim among music critics, it is probably remembered most for the promotionals than anything else (one "coming presently" poster had Kim sitting in an open squatting position.) Still, the sexual ad campaign seemed to only fuel Kim's success, as Hard Core became a hit, debuting and ultimately peaking at #11 on the Billboard 200 and going on to acheive double-platinum status. The lead single, "There is no Period" (featuring Puff Daddy), became a top twenty hit; its follow-up, "Non Tonight," proved to be an even bigger success, as it went on to reach the top ten of the U.S. Billboard Hot 100 singles chart.

All seemed to be going well for Kim until the spring of 1997, when her mentor and love Notorious B.I.G. was murdered. Although singer Faith Evans is listed as his widow, Kim made it known that she and Biggie were in love and was visibly emotional at his funeral; she was even pregnant from him, although she had an abortion.

The Notorious K.I.M.

After Biggie's death, Kim took a break from her own music, but still made guest appearances on other artists' albums. In 1998, she toured with Puff Daddy on the "No Way Out" tour. 1999 saw the launch of her own record label, Queen Bee Records, and in 2000, Lil' Kim returned with a new look and a new album. The Notorious K.I.M. debuted at #4 on the Billboard 200 chart and was later certified platinum. The two singles released in the U.S., "There are no Matter What It Say" and "How else Numbers of Licks?," both performed poorly on the charts and only made it into the lower reaches of the Billboard Hot 100. The record on a whole was also not received as well as her debut by critics.

It wasn't until 2001 that Kim had her first true mainstream hit. She teamed up with Christina Aguilera, Mya and Pink to remake LaBelle's class hit "Lady Marmalade" for the Moulin Rouge! soundtrack. The single peaked at #1 on the Hot 100 for five consecutive weeks, making it Kim's first #1 single and her the first female rap artist to hit #1 on the chart. The song subsequently was one of the biggest hits of the year, and went on to win a Grammy for Best Pop Collaboration with Vocals.

La Bella Mafia and The Naked Truth

On March 4, 2003, Kim released her third platinum album, La Bella Mafia. The album debuted at No. 5 on the Billboard 200 selling 166,000 copies in its first week. So far the album has sold 1.1 million copies in the US. The album spawned two hit singles in "The Go for it Off," which peaked within the top twenty, and "Magic Stick," which featured 50 Cent, peaked at #2 on the Billboard Hot 100 and became one of the biggest hits of the year.

Aside from her music, Kim also was involved in several other projects during this time, including roles in such films as ''Nora's Hair Salon and Gang of Roses''. She even started her own watch collection: Royalty by Lil' Kim.

Criminal Conviction
In 2005, Kim was found guilty of conspiracy and perjury for lying to a grand jury about a shooting incident involving the entourage of rap duo Capone N Noreaga and her reported fellow BK rival Foxy Brown. She was sentenced to a year and one day at the Federal Detention Center in Philadelphia, which she reported to on Monday, September 19. Her designated federal inmate prison number is 56198-054.

Despite all of this, Kim still released her next album, ''The Naked Truth, during her sentence on September 27, 2005. The album debuted at No. 6 on the Billboard 200 selling 109,000 copies in its first week and its primary single, "Lighters Higher," has already become a top forty hit.

Discography

Albums

!align="left"|Album information |- |align="left"|Hard Core Released: November 12, 1996 (U.S.) Chart positions: #11 U.S. (#3 R&B) RIAA certification: 2x Platinum |- |align="left"|The Notorious K.I.M. Released: June 27, 2000 (U.S.) Chart positions: #4 U.S. (#1 R&B) RIAA certification: Platinum |- |align="left"|La Bella Mafia Released: March 4, 2003 (U.S.) Chart positions: #5 U.S. (#4 R&B) RIAA certification: Platinum |- |align="left"|'''The Naked Truth Released: September 27, 2005 (U.S.) Chart positions: #6 U.S. (#3 R&B) RIAA certification: TBD |}

Singles

|rowspan="Two"|Year |rowspan="Two"|Title |colspan="Phoebe"|Chart positions |rowspan="Ii"|Album |-

| US Hot 100 | US R&B/Hip-Hop | US Rap | UK Singles Chart | CAN |- | 1996 | "There are no Time" | #18 | #9 | #1' | - | - | Hard Core |- | 1996 | "Crush in You" | - | - | - | #36 | - | Hard Core |- | 1996 | "Non Tonight" | #6 | #3 | #2 | #11 | #10 | Hard Core |- | 2000 | "There are no Matter What It Say" | #60 | #15 | #6 | #35 | - | Notorious K.I.M. |- | 2000 | "How else Numerous Licks?" (feat. Sisqo) | #75 | #36 | #11 | - | - | Notorious K.I.M. |- | 2000 | "In the Air Tonite" (feat. Phil Collins) | - | - | - | #26 | #18 | Urban Renewal |- | 2003 | "A Go for it Off" (feat. Mr. Cheeks) | #17 | #8 | #7 | - | - | La Bella Mafia |- | 2003 | "Magic Stick" (feat. 50 Cent) | #2 | #2 | #1 | - | - | La Bella Mafia |- | 2003 | "Thug Luv" (feat. Twista) | - | #60 | - | - | - | La Bella Mafia |- | 2005 | "Incumbency Bitch" | - | - | - | - | - | The Naked Truth |- | 2005 | "Lighters Up" | #31 | #9 | #8 | - | - | The Naked Truth |}

DVD/VHS and videos

1997: #2 X-Rated 2000: ''Best of Lil' Kim 2005: Meaning of Family

Filmography

1999: She's All That 1999: Longshot 2002: Juwanna Mann 2003: Those Who Walk in Darkness 2003: Gang of Roses 2004: Nora's Hair Salon 2005: Lil' Pimp''

Awards

Grammy Awards 2002: Best Pop Collaboration with Vocals ("Lady Marmalade")

MTV Video Music Awards 2001: Video of the Year ("Lady Marmalade") 2001: Best Video from a Film ("Lady Marmalade")

My VH1 Awards 2001: Favorite Video ("Lady Marmalade") 2001: Is It Hot In Here Or Is It Just My Video? ("Lady Marmalade")

Soul Train Lady of Soul Awards 1997: Best Video by a Female - Rap/R&B ("Crush On You") 1998: Best Video by a Female - Rap/R&B ("Ladies Night/Not Tonight")

Source Awards 2003: Female Artist of the Year

Teen Choice Awards 2001: Choice Song of the Summer ("Lady Marmalade")