Lil' Kim

Lil' Kim, born Kimberly Denise Jones in Brooklyn, New York, emerged in the mid-1990s as a member of Junior M.A.F.I.A., the group assembled by The Notorious B.I.G., whose debut album «Conspiracy» included standout verses from her on tracks like «I Need You Tonight» and «I Get Money». That association launched her into a solo career defined by explicit, unapologetically sexual lyricism, sharp wordplay and a bold fashion sensibility that made her one of the most recognizable figures in hip hop.

Her 1996 debut album «Hard Core» went double platinum and produced three consecutive number-one rap hits — «No Time», «Not Tonight (Ladies Night Remix)» and «Crush on You» — a record-setting run for a female rapper at the time. Follow-up albums «The Notorious K.I.M.» (2000) and «La Bella Mafia» (2003) both achieved platinum status, making her one of only a small handful of female rappers with multiple platinum releases.

Beyond her own catalog, Lil' Kim became a defining guest presence on other artists' records, most notably the 2001 chart-topping remake of «Lady Marmalade» alongside Christina Aguilera, Mya and Pink, which became the first Billboard Hot 100 number-one for a female rapper. Tracks like «How Many Licks?», «Big Momma Thang» and «Magic Stick» further cemented her reputation as a pioneering, boundary-pushing voice in late-1990s and 2000s hip hop.