Lil' Kim Biography

I am honored and quite proud that a class is being taught on my sensationalist lyrics, unique style and fashion and leadership role within the hip-hop community.
- Lil' Kim

In 1996 Lil' Kim mostly known as Queen Bee strted her career as a solo artist with the release of her debut solo album, Hard Core with the help of Notorious B.I.G.. Lil's 'Hard Core' album was well-received critically as well as commercially.

Hard Core album sales were buoyed due it's first single, 'No Time', featured Puff Daddy on the chorus and became hit instantly on hip-hop radio. The second single, 'Crush On You,' featured on Junior Mafia member, Lil Ceaser, and was an even bigger hit, thanks in part to the track's memorable and colorful video.

Kim released a remix of 'Not Tonight' a very explicit track off of Hard Core, for a film soundtrack in 1997. The song and video were both hugely successful. 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 and Lil' Kim.

Lil' Kim returned, after an absence from music, with her second full-length album in 2002, The Notorious K.I.M. was not as successful as debut album commerialy.

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.

Lil' Kim teamed up with Pink, Mya, and Christina Aguilera on a remake of Labelle's 'Lady Marmalade' in 2001, for which Kim provided a new rap verse. This track was featured in Baz Luhrmann's Moulin Rouge and was produced by hot hip-hop producers Rockwilder and Missy Elliott.

In this song the four singers dressed in very skimpy clothes and heavy makeup, just like women who appear at the Moulin Rouge would typically be dressed. This is the first major pop radio hit video of Lil' Kim.

Lil' Kim released her third studio album, La Bella Mafia, in 2003. The first single and video was a sizeable hit, 'The Jump Off' featured rapper Mr. Cheeks. Lil' 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.

'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. Simply as her music, Kim is notorious for her avant garde style.