Lil Kim
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Kimberly Ann Jones, professionally known as Lil Kim (also called The Queen Bee, The Lieutenant, and The Queen Bitch such as the QB of all bitches) is a United States rapper who was born in the Bedford-Stuyvesant neighborhood of New York City on July 11, 1976. She first appeared in the music industry in the early 1990s, as a member of the East Coast hip hop group, Junior M.A.F.I.A.. Kim's songs have a reputation for being graphically sexual and explicit. Kim made her film debut in She's All That (1999). She now lives in Teaneck, New Jersey.
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Biography
Early History
Kim began her career as a solo artist with the 1996 release of her debut solo album, Hard Core. Hard Core was well-received critically and commercially; sales were buoyed due to her association with the Notorious B.I.G. Its first single, "No Time", featured Puff Daddy on the chorus and became an instant hit on hip-hop radio. In early 1997, the second single, "Crush On You," featured fellow Junior Mafia member, Lil Ceaser, and was an even bigger hit, thanks in part to the track's memorable and colorful video.
During the summer of 1997, Kim released a remix of "Not Tonight" a very explicit track off of Hard Core, for a film soundtrack. The remix featured a sample of the Kool and the Gang song "Ladies' Night" and was a girl-power anthem, featuring rhymes by Angie Martinez, Da Brat, TLC's Lisa Lopes, and Missy Elliott, in addition to Kim. As was the case with "Crush On You," the song and video were both hugely successful.
2000 to 2002
In 2000, Lil Kim returned, after an absence from music, with her second full-length album, The Notorious K.I.M. It was not as commercially successful as her debut album, but it spawned two moderate hit hip hop singles, "No Matter What They Say" and "How Many Licks," which featured Sisqo on the chorus and a risque video that only had limited play on MTV.
In spring of 2001, Lil Kim teamed up with Pink, Mưa, and Christina Aguilera on a remake of Labelle's "Lady Marmalade," for which Kim provided a new rap verse. The track was produced by hot hip-hop producers Rockwilder and Missy Elliott and was featured in Baz Luhrmann's Moulin Rouge!. The song's video featured the four singers dressed in very skimpy clothes and heavy makeup, like women who appear at the Moulin Rouge would typically be dressed. The video was Kim's first major pop radio hit.
2003 to present
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Most recently, Kim released her third studio album, La Bella Mafia, in spring of 2003. The first single and video, "The Jump Off" featured rapper Mr. Cheeks, and was a sizeable hit. Kim also appeared in a posthumous music video for Aaliyah, "Miss You", in which Kim, Missy Elliott, Brandy, Tweet, DMX, Montel Williams, and several others pay tribute to the deceased R&B star.
During the summer of 2003, "Magic Stick," the second single from La Bella Mafia, became one of the year's biggest hits, thanks in part to guest raps from 50 Cent. It is one of the few songs in recent years to have hit number one without the aid of a music video, and is Kim's most successful single to date.
In the past, Kim has been featured on hit songs by Ray-J, Mobb Deep, The Lox, and the posthumous Notorious B.I.G. track, "Notorious B.I.G." which contains an extremely blatant sample of Duran Duran's 1980s hit, "Notorious".
On March 17, 2005, she was convicted of perjury and conspiracy, but acquitted of obstruction of justice, in connection with her presence at a shootout between members of her "entourage" and that of rivals Capone-n-Noreaga. She is to be sentenced in June and could receive up to 30 years in prison. While many rappers have gone to prison, Kim, 29, would be the first big-name female to do time.
On her fame
In addition to being recognized for her music, Kim is notorious for her avant garde style. In what is probably her most memorable public appearance, Lil Kim showed up at the 1999 MTV VMAs with an entire breast hanging out and only a tiny piece of fabric over the nipple. Kim's outfit became even more controversial later that night, when she appeared on stage with Mary J. Blige and Diana Ross to present an award, and Ms. Ross reached over, cupped her hand under Kim's exposed breast and jiggled it while both laughed heartily. It was later described as Ross getting to second base with Kim on national television.
Discography
Albums
- Hard Core
- Release date: 11/12/1996
- Billboard peak: #11
- Sales (USA): 2 Million
- Notorious K.I.M.
- Release date: 06/27/2000
- Billboard peak: #4
- Sales (USA): 1 Million
- La Bella Mafia
- Release date: 03/04/2003
- Billboard peak: #5
- Sales (USA): 1 Million
Hit singles
- 1996 "No Time" #20 US
- 1997 "Crush on You" #36 UK
- 1997 "Not Tonight" #6 US, #11 UK
- 1998 "Hit 'em with da Hee" (Missy "Misdemeanor" Elliott feat. Lil Kim) #25 UK
- 1998 "It's All About the Benjamins" (Puff Daddy & The Family feat. The Notorious B.I.G., Lil Kim, The Lox, Dave Grohl, Perfect, Fuzzbubble & Rob Zombie) #18 UK
- 2000 "No Matter What They Say" #35 UK
- 2001 "Lady Marmalade" (with Christina Aguilera, Mya & Pink) #1 US, #1 UK
- 2001 "In the Air Tonite" (feat. Phil Collins) #26 UK
- 2003 "The Jump Off" (feat. Mr. Cheeks) #17 US, #16 UK
- 2003 "Magic Stick" (feat. 50 Cent) #2 US
- 2003 "Can't Hold Us Down" (Christina Aguilera feat. Lil Kim) #12 US, #6 UK
- 2005 "Sugar (Gimme Some)" (Trick Daddy feat. Ludacris, Lil Kim & Cee-Lo) #20 US
Filmography
- She's All That (1999)
- Longshot (2000)
- Zoolander (2001) (Cameo)
- Juwanna Mann (2002)
- Gang of Roses (2003)
- Nora's Hair Salon (2004) (Cameo)
- You Got Served (2004) (Cameo)
- There's a God on the Mic (2005) (documentary)
External links
- The official site of Lil Kim (http://www.lilkim.com)de:Lil' Kim