Lil Kim

Background

Kimberly Denise Jones, best known as Lil Kim, was born and raised in Brooklyn, New York. Lil Kim’s childhood was full of hardship as her parents divorced, and even though she was in her father’s custody, they did not have great relationship, which resulted in her father kicking her out of the house. She lived most of her teenage life on the streets when she was only in high school. In 1994, at the age of 19, she met the Notorious B.I.G, as known as Biggie Smalls, a famous rapper at that time. She was invited to be a part of his hip hop group called Junior MAFIA She continued her education at Sarah J. Hale Vocational High School at the same time.

With Junior MAFIA, Lil Kim worked on “Conspiracy,” the group’s debut album. When it was released in 1995, it had a steady increase in sales, which made it to two top 20 singles in the United States and was certified gold by the Recording Industry Association of America. The group’s and the album’s popularity catapulted Lil Kim’s solo career as a female rapper. Lil Kim released her debut album, “Hardcore,” in 1996, and the Recording Industry Association of America certified it as double platinum with more than six million copies sold worldwide. Four years later, in 2000, she released “The Notorious K.I.M”, which was also certified platinum. In 2001, she remade the single ‘Lady Marmalade’ with Christina Aguilera, Pink, Missy Elliot, and Mya. The single then peaked at #1 on the U.S Billboard Hot 100, and the song earned her a Grammy Award for Best Pop Collaboration the following year.

Her success does not blind her from other issues that humanity is facing today. She is passionate about raising awareness and supporting good causes. She established her own foundation to raise funds for homelessness, H.I.V./AIDS, and violence against children and women. On February 9, 2013, she participated in a fashion show that raised $300,000 for H.I.V./AIDS patients. Not only that, but she has also been an L.G.B.T. advocate, performing in gay pride festivals, including the Atlanta Black Pride, and New York’s L.G.B.T. Pride March. She is undoubtedly a star.