Lil’ Kim rose to prominence as a female rapper in the mid-90s, thanks to her explicit lyrics, hyper-sexual persona, and guidance from hip-hop icon The Notorious B.I.G. To learn more about the star’s life, visit brooklyn-trend.com.
Parents’ Divorce
Born Kimberly Denise Jones on July 11, 1974, in Brooklyn, New York, Lil’ Kim’s parents, Ruby Mae Jones and Linwood Jones, were both from Trinidad. She has an older brother, Christopher. As a child, Kim was sent to the well-regarded Catholic school “Queen of All Saints” in Brooklyn in an attempt to provide a stable learning environment.
But that stability crumbled after her parents’ marriage fell apart when Kim was eight. Her father, a former military man, became physically abusive toward her mother. Kim recalls seeing her mother with black eyes and her father telling people she had fallen. Afterward, Kim moved with her mother and brother to the suburb of New Rochelle, where some of the girls in their new, all-white neighborhood teased Kim because of her skin color. Ruby Mae, unable to support the family, eventually gave Linwood custody of their two children. Linwood remarried. His relationship with Kim became irreparably damaged after she started dating boys at age 13.
According to Kim, her father’s verbal abuse became more frequent, and their relationship turned violent. Kim once hit him with scissors, so it’s not surprising that she left home at 14. In the following years, she often stayed with neighbors or various older men who would shelter and feed her in exchange for sex. She worked at department stores (following her mother, who worked at Macy’s) and ran errands for drug dealers. Kim remembers doing whatever she could to make ends meet during this period. She has also hinted at being sexually abused, although she has never named her abuser.
Wallace and Kim
Kim attended Sarah J. Hale Vocational High School in Brooklyn and later Brooklyn College Academy. Her future rival, Foxy Brown, also attended the same high school, though Brown is a few years younger. By the time Kim met Christopher Wallace at age 17, she had dropped out of school completely.
Wallace invited Kim to join his group “Junior M.A.F.I.A.” Led by him, the group released a series of singles, and in 1995, their debut album, “Conspiracy.” With the single “Player’s Anthem,” Lil’ Kim was introduced to the world. She modeled her vocal flow after The Notorious B.I.G.’s—Wallace’s stage name—adding a certain growl and ferocity. At the same time, her image revolved around a girl’s sexual appeal. This was Wallace’s idea: for Kimberly Jones to create the alter ego of Lil’ Kim. He encouraged her to cultivate the lewd style that would be dubbed “gangsta-porn-rap.” Both Christopher Wallace and Lil’ Kim were certain that sex sells best.
Lil’ Kim released her debut solo album, “Hard Core,” in November 1996 on Undeas Records, a subsidiary of Big Beat, which is also a subsidiary of Atlantic Records. Wallace served as the executive producer. He also contributed rap verses on four of “Hard Core’s” songs, showcasing even more of the raunchy and lyrical wordplay that the public had already heard on “Conspiracy.” Critics loved Kim’s raw, unapologetic flow, which was much more explicit than that of established female rappers like MC Lyte and Queen Latifah. The album debuted at number eleven on The Billboard 200 album chart and was certified double platinum by the Recording Industry Association of America.
A Star-Studded Female Quartet
Kim’s next album, “The Notorious K.I.M.,” wasn’t released until 2000—almost four years after her debut. For this album, she worked with Puff Daddy, having collaborated with him during her hiatus to stay connected to Biggie’s legacy. Guests included Grace Jones, Redman, CeeLo Green, and Mary J. Blige. The album debuted at number four on The Billboard 200 chart, was certified platinum, and was generally well-received by both audiences and critics.
Lil’ Kim’s celebrity status skyrocketed with her next project. In March 2001, she teamed up with singers Christina Aguilera, Pink, and Mýa—with producers Missy Elliott and Rockwilder—to remake Patti LaBelle’s legendary “Lady Marmalade” for the “Moulin Rouge” soundtrack. Although it was never officially released as a single, it held the number one spot on the Billboard 100 chart for five weeks. The following year, it won a Grammy Award for Best Pop Collaboration with Vocals, cementing Kim as one of the most popular female rappers of the early 21st century.
Debuting at number five on The Billboard 200 chart in March 2003, Lil’ Kim’s third album, “La Bella Mafia,” featured collaborations with Missy Elliott and 50 Cent—with Timbaland and Kanye West as talented producers. Like its two predecessors, the album was also platinum-certified. At the time, Missy Elliott was the only other female MC with three platinum albums under her belt.
