Lil Kim

Lil Kim is the stage name of Kimberly Denise Jones, an American rapper who emerged in the mid-1990s as a protégé of the Notorious B.I.G.

Known for sexually explicit lyrics and provocative image, she helped establish a template for female rappers embracing sexuality on their own terms.

Her 1996 debut *Hard Core* and hit "Lady Marmalade" (2001) cemented her influence on hip-hop fashion and persona.