Lil' Kim

Kimberly Denise Jones, known professionally as Lil' Kim, is an American rapper. Born on July 11, 1974, in New York City, she had a challenging upbringing and spent her teenage years on the streets after being expelled from home. Lil' Kim's talent for freestyle rap, inspired by influential female hip-hop artists like MC Lyte and the Lady of Rage, caught the attention of rapper The Notorious B.I.G. In 1994, she joined his group Junior M.A.F.I.A., contributing to their successful debut album, Conspiracy. Lil' Kim gained further recognition with her own debut studio album Hard Core in 1996, which achieved double platinum certification and produced hit singles like 'No Time' and 'Crush on You.' She remains a prominent figure in the rap industry.