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Lil' Kim is one of the most prominent female rappers to ever step foot into the hip hop arena. Originally known for her work as part of the rap group Junior M.A.F.I.A., Lil' Kim has gone on to have an incredibly successful solo career. Working alongside some of the absolute greatest MC's to ever enter into the industry, Lil' Kim has developed into a worldwide sensation.

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Born in Brooklyn, Lil' Kim overcame a tough childhood in order to work with such artists as Puff Daddy, Biggie Smalls, Christina Aguilera and more. Lil' Kim has sold more than 15 million albums worldwide, and she has been named as one of the 50 greatest MCs of all time, according to MC Kool Moe Dee. 

Outside of her work on stage, Lil' Kim has become a crossover star with numerous high-profile TV and film appearances. Lil' Kim has also carved out a name for herself as a fashion icon, thanks to her willingness to don scandalous attire. Considered a cultural icon, Lil' Kim is said to have inspired Giorgio Armani, Versace, and Marc Jacobs. As one of the most renowned hip hop artists of all time, we are only scratching the surface of Lil' Kim's incredible story.

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Struggling in Brooklyn

"I am definitely the queen. I definitely see myself as the queen." Kimberly Denise Jones was born in Bedford-Stuyvesant, Brooklyn, NY. She was the second child in her family. Her father is Linwood Jones, a former Marine, and her mother is Ruby Jones. Both of her parents came from Trinidad. Unfortunately for Lil' Kim, her parents would separate when she was only nine-years-old. Raised by her father, Kim would have a tumultuous relationship with Linwood before ultimately being kicked out of the house. Not long after that, Kim would end up dropping out of school. Kim would spend the bulk of her early years living on the streets. Forced to get by in whatever way possible, Kim would be the first to admit that she did 'whatever it took' in order to survive.

Eventually, Kim was able to break free of the streets in order to attend a prestigious school in Brooklyn, the Sarah J. Hale Vocational High School. During this period of time, Kim would meet Foxy Brown, a future musical rival, and a man named Christopher Wallace. We are talking about the Christopher Wallace who would go on to become known as the Notorious B.I.G, one of the most influential rappers of all time.  Kim performed a freestyle for Wallace and the two quickly became fast friends. Wallace would end up signing to Bad Boy Entertainment in 1992 and Kim would follow soon thereafter in order to perform as a member of Junior M.A.F.I.A. At just 4'11, it was obvious why Denise took up the moniker, Lil' Kim. Kim's relationship with Wallace would be both vital to her growth and tragic, all at once, due to Wallace's tragic and senseless murder.

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Now poised for monumental success,  even the self-proclaimed 'Queen' could not have projected what was to come next.

International Rap Star & Fashion Icon

"I love doing things people don't expect." By 1996, Junior M.A.F.I.A. had released their only album, Conspiracy (1995), to prominent commercial acclaim. The record would chart at #8 on the Billboard 200, selling more than 69,000 copies in its first week. While Wallace wrote the majority of the album, the record still served as a springboard for Lil' Kim. Only 19 at the time, Lil' Kim was able to use this success in order to segue into her role as a solo artist.

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Lil' Kim would drop her debut album in 1996 by the name of Hard Core. The record would hit #11 on the aforementioned Billboard 200, which was the highest debut for a female rapper, ever. The album would go on to be certified gold by the RIAA in 1997. While Kim was experiencing a meteoric ascent in the world of music, she was also leaving an impression on the fashion world. Thanks to her brave fashion sense, Lil' Kim was quick to grab the attention of prominent fashion companies such as Baby Phat, Versace, Iceberg, and more.  Lil' Kim was quickly becoming a cultural icon and a crossover star.

Known for her raw flow, Lil' Kim wasn't willing to let the world forget about her. In 2000, Lil' Kim would release her sophomore record, The Notorious K.I.M. The album hit #4 on the charts and it would instigate a prominent feud with hip-hop star and former schoolmate, Foxy Brown.  The record would feature one of Lil' Kim's most famous tracks, a remake of 'Lady Marmalade' that featured Pink, Mya, and Christina Aguilera. The song would appear in the film Moulin Rouge! (2001). Lil Kim would release her third album, La Bella Mafia, in 2003. This record would land Lil' Kim her first string of Grammy Award nominations.

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Despite her success as an artist and an icon, Lil' Kim couldn't stay completely out of trouble. In 2005, she was convicted of conspiracy and perjury for her knowledge of a shooting that took place in 2001. Lil' Kim would end up sentenced to a year in federal prison, and she would serve every day of her time before being released in 2006. Despite being locked away, Lil' Kim would still release her fourth album, The Naked Truth. The record would land a gold rating from the RIAA but sales were notably down. A few years later, Kim would drop her first mixtape, Ms. G.O.A.T., as produced by DJ Whoo Kid and Mister Cee, two prominent DJs's from New York City. 

Outside of her work as a musician, Lil' Kim has stayed plenty busy with other projects. Lil' Kim signed to Wilhelmina Models in 1998, and she would serve as a fashion partner for a variety of different brands. 2004 saw Lil' Kim release her designer collection of watches, called Royalty by Lil' Kim. A full clothing line would soon follow suit. Lil' Kim has since endorsed Three Olives Vodka, collaborated on comic books, movies, and television programs, and she has even opened her own beauty salon.  Her most high-profile television roles include a stint on Dancing With the Stars (2009) and The Apprentice (2004 - 2005) alongside current U.S. President, Donald Trump.

Lil' Kim is, perhaps, one of the most controversial and important female hip-hop artists of all time. Despite her high-profile feuds with people like Nicki Minaj and Faith Evans, Lil' Kim would continue to carve out her role in the entertainment world.  Lil' Kim has been nominated for 73 awards in her career, and she has won 31 of them, including 1 Grammy, 1 BET Award, and a handful of MTV Video Music Awards. Lil' Kim has released four studio albums with 9 (2019) being her most recent release.  Lil' Kim has one daughter named Royal Reign, who she had with the rapper known as Mr. Papers. Mr. Papers and Lil' Kim dated from 2012 to 2015 before splitting up. She has also been romantically attached to Jamie Foxx, Tracy Morgan, Missy Elliott, and the producer Scott Storch.