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Lil' Kim

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Template:Infobox musical artist 2

"Kimberly Jones" redirects here. For the New York Yankees reporter, see Kimberly Jones (reporter)

Biography

Kimberly Denise Jones was born on July 11, 1975 in Bed-Stuy, Brooklyn, New York. Jones rose to fame in the late 90's and early 2000's arguably becoming one of the most sucessful female rappers ever. Her hardcore, eastcoast, raunchy style of Rap has influenced other female rappers including Trina, Shawnna, Missy Elliot, Remy Ma, Lil' Kia, and Khia. Jones was the first female rapper to ever reach number-one on the Billboard 200, reach the top twenty in the UK, to assess three consecutive Platinum albums, and to have 220,000 copies sold in the first week or more.Kim has released four studio album's and one compilation album and has sold over 18 million albums throughout her career.

Jones has been serving a 366 day prison sentance in a Philadelphia Detention Center since September 19, 2005 after being convicted of lying to a federal grand jury over a 2001 shooting outside a New York radio station. Following her release on Monday July 3, 2006, Lil' Kim will remain under house arrest for 30 days.

Early years

Kimberly Jones grew up in Brooklyn, New York in the neighborhood of Bed-Stuy. At the age of nine her parents divorced leaving her at home with her father. The realtionship between Jones and her father was frequently negative and at one point ended when Kim attempted to stab him after an already physicall fight between father and daughter. Jones was purportedly living on the streets when she met the late Christopher Wallace a.k.a. rapper The Notorious B.I.G. who was a key figure in her personal and artistic life particularly when Wallace had gained popularity and influence through his relationship with Bad Boy Records.

The Junior M.A.F.I.A. & Hard Core

File:Kim hardcore.jpg
Hard Core (1996)

In late 1994 Wallace was instrumental in intoducing and promoting the Brooklyn based group Junior M.A.F.I.A. wich included Jones (aka "Big Momma" or "The Lieutenant")at the time, to the mainstream. The group released their first single, "Playas Anthem", which went atop the Rap charts. Lil' Kim made her first appearance by writing her own 16 Bars. The next singles "Need U Tonight" featuring Aaliyah and "Get Money", were both certified gold and made the top 20 on the Hot 100. The album debuted @ No. 8 on the Billboard 200 selling nearly 90,000 copies in the first week. The album has sold over 1,000,000 copies to date.

After a year with Junior M.A.F.I.A. Jones began a solo career with recording her debut Lil' Kim album. Hard Core was released on November 12, 1996. The album debuted at #11 on the charts selling over 100,000 in its first week. The album's lead single "No Time", a duet with Puff Daddy, reached the top 20 on the Hot 100 and made it to number-one on the rap charts for nine weeks. It follow-ups "Ladies Night", "Big Momma Thang"(a promo-single only), and "Crush on You" proved to be even bigger sucesses. The album soon certfied multi-platinum selling 2.2 million copies in the US and 5.1 million worldwide and garnered many awards.

The Notorious K.I.M.

File:Lil Kim-Notorious Kim.jpg
The Notorious K.I.M. (2000)

From 1998-1999 Kim toured and modeled for various fashion and pop culture companies. In 1999 she performed in P. Diddy's "No Way Out" tour. In the same year she launched her own label Queen Bee Entertainment. On June 27, 2000 Kim released her second album The Notorious K.I.M.. The album art and content unvieled a re-vamped image for Lil' Kim. This included a phisically fit if somewhat sugically altered cosmetic appearence as well as a thoughtfull and somewhat introverted lyrical content. The album contained singles "No Matter What They Say" and "How Many Licks?".The Notorious K.I.M. debuted at #1 on the Rap charts and #4 on Billboard 200, selling over 227,000 copies in its first week. The album went on to sell 1.5 million in the US.

Moulin Rouge

In 2001 Kim was involved in a collaborative remake of LaBelle's classic song "Lady Marmalade", working with singers Mya, P!nk, and Christina Aguilera. The song reached the number oneposition on the Hot 100 for five consecutive weeks. She also recorded a new entrance theme for then World Wrestling Entertainment (WWE) Women's champion Trish Stratus titled "Time to Rock N Roll", which is used currently during broadcasts. The single was released on WWE Anthology, a compilation of entrance theme music to various Professional Wrestling superstars.

La Bella Mafia

File:LBM2.jpg
La Bella Mafia (2003)

On March 4, 2003, Kim released her third album, La Bella Mafia. Highly rated (4.5 mics) by music magazine The Source. La Bella Mafia spawned the hit "The Jump Off" featuring Mr. Cheeks, which climbed to number 17 on the Billboard Hot 100. Then, came the single "The Magic Stick" feat. 50 Cent. The single hit number 2 on the Hot 100, without a video ever being shot for the single.

La Bella Mafia debuted at number five on the Billboard 200, selling 166,000 copies in the first week. By the end of 2003, it went Platinum, eventually selling over 5 million copies worldwide. Kim was nominated for five Source Awards and won two ("Female Hip-Hop Artist of the Year, and "Female Single of the Year"). This album also got two Grammy Award nominations: Best Female Rap Solo Performance ("Came Back For You") and Best Rap Collaboration ("Magic Stick"). She was also nominated for Best Pop Collaboration with singer Christina Aguilera for the song "Can't Hold Us Down", from Aguilera's album Stripped.

Criminal Conviction and The Naked Truth

File:Thenakedtruth.jpg
The Naked Truth (2005)

On March 17, 2005, Kim was found guilty of conspiracy and perjury for lying to a grand jury about her friends' involvement in a 2001 shooting outside the Hot 97 studios in Manhattan — involving the entourage of rap duo Capone-N-Noreaga and her reported fellow Brooklynite rival Foxy Brown. She claimed not to have known that her manager (Damion Butler), and another friend (Suif “Gutta” Jackson) were at the scene, despite video footage showing all three exiting the building. Both men have pleaded guilty to gun charges since. In July 2005 she was sentenced to have to serve one-year-and-a-day in the Philadelphia Detention Center. She had requested to go to a camp center in Connecticut to be closer to her mother. Her lawyer stated that, "A year and a day is actually less than a year sentence, because according to federal sentencing guidelines if there's an extra day time is credited to you". A parole bill was filed that reduced her sentence. During her sentence she has written over 50 songs.

Despite her conviction Kim released a fourth album, The Naked Truth, during her sentence on September 27, 2005. It earned her a 5 mic rating from The Source, making her the first female rapper to ever accomplish this feat. The album debuted at #6 on the Billboard 200. Eight weeks later it fell from 114 to 197 selling over 10,000 copies that week. Which is pretty strange. Because normally to fall from those numbers you'd have to sell under 2,000 copies. By December the album had sold only 270,000 copies. The single Whoa was supposed to be released to help the album sales increase, but didn't release it til' February. The album has sold a woeful 326,000 cops to date.The re-release of The Naked Truth is said to be released in November 2006, marking the 10 year anniversary of her Multi-Platinum debut Hardcore.

The music video for The Naked Truth's first single, "Lighters Up" was number one on BET's 106 & Park for two weeks. "Lighters Up," was a top ten hit on the Billboard Hot R&B/Hip-Hop Singles & Tracks chart. The second single, "Whoa" was released on February 17, 2006. It even reached No. 1 on Airplay. On March 9, BET premiered the show Lil Kim: Countdown to Lockdown, which was filmed before Kim headed to jail. The show became the highest rated premiere in BET history, with 1.9 million viewers, 1.7 rating, 1.4 million households.

In May 2006, rock legend Debbie Harry released a Lil' Kim tribute song called "Dirty and Deep" in protest of her conviction. The song is available free from the Deborah Harry Home Page.

On June 6, 2006 Lil' Kim "The Dance Remixes" was released. It features 10 remixes of her most popular songs. The EP has sold under 100,000 copies to date.

Reps for Kim have now confirmed her expected released date is July 3, 2006. Upon her release from prison, Kim will serve one month house arrest.

On July 27,2006 Lil Kim's mother Ruby Jones, during an interview with BET VJ following the BET awards confirmed that Lil'Kim and other cast members were signed on for a second season of Countdown To Lockdown. The setting is said to take place at her home in New Jersey, while she is on house arrest.

Charity Work

Lil' Kim started a foundation called Lil' Kim Cares. It is a charity project that gives help to anyone who contacts the foundation through email @ lilkimcares.com. Christmas 2005, Kim's charity, along with her good friend Zab Judah's charity, donated toys, clothing, and food to underprivileged families in Philadelphia.

From 2000-2002, Lil' Kim and singer Mary J. Blige, became spokewomen for MAC Cosmetics and raised a record-breaking $4 million for people living with AIDS.

Discography

Albums

Album cover Album information
File:KimHC2.jpg
 Hard Core
File:Lil Kim-Notorious Kim.jpg
 The Notorious K.I.M.
File:LBM2.jpg
 La Bella Mafia
File:Thenakedtruth.jpg
 The Naked Truth
File:Kimmydf.jpg
 The Dance Remixes EP
  • Released: June 6, 2006
  • Chart positions: -
  • Last RIAA certification: -
  • Sales: 16,000 copies US, 500,000copies WW
  • Singles: "Lighters UP (Tego Mix)", "No Time (Incident Mix)"

Singles

Year Song US Hot 100 US R&B/ Hip-Hop US Rap UK singles Album
1996 "No Time" (featuring Puff Daddy) 18 9 1 45 Hard Core
1996 "Crush On You" 34 - 1 36 Hard Core
1997 "Crush On You" (re-release) - - 1 23 Hard Core
1997 "Not Tonight" (remix)
(featuring Left Eye, Da Brat, Missy Elliott and Angie Martinez) 		2 3 1 11 Hard Core / Nothing To Lose (OST)
2000 "No Matter What They Say" 60 15 6 35 The Notorious K.I.M.
2000 "How Many Licks?" (featuring Sisqó) 75 36 11 - The Notorious K.I.M.
2001 "Lady Marmalade" (with Christina Aguilera, Pink and Mya) 1 12 - 1 Moulin Rouge (OST)The Notorious K.I.M.
2001 "In The Air Tonite" (featuring Phil Collins) - - - 26 Urban Renewal (The Songs Of Phil Collins)
2003 "The Jump Off" (featuring Mr. Cheeks) 16 2 1 16 La Bella Mafia
2003 "Magic Stick" (featuring 50 Cent) 2 1 1 - La Bella Mafia
2003 "Thug Luv" (featuring Twista) - 60 - - La Bella Mafia
2005 "Lighters Up" 31 9 8 12 The Naked Truth
2006 "Whoa" - 30 12 43 The Naked Truth

DVD/VHS and videos

  • 2000: Best of Lil' Kim
  • 2005: Meaning of Family (not released yet)
  • 2006: The Brooklyn Queen (not release until July)

Filmography

Awards

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