The same small body, pretty face, raunchy style, and raps about high fashion labels and designers that stood out amongst the big boys of Junior M.A.F.I.A. & The Notorious B.I.G. gave us something in the late 90’s that revolutionized a new lane and style for women in hip hop to exist in a way and to show a side of women that wasn’t seen before on this level. After breaking from her crew and releasing her own debut album in November 1996, Kimberly Jones aka Lil’ Kim released “Hard Core.” An album that reflected every side of her. It was raw, nasty, aggressive, it told stories, it was every bit of honest and unapologetic too. Jones made a lane and voice for herself and she was hard to ignore but at the height of her success, it was the tragic loss of The Notorious B.I.G. that tore her apart and influenced her follow up album in his honor. Released on June 27th, 2000, recently making it’s 20th anniversary mark, Jones released her sophomore album “The Notorious K.I.M.” Claiming that she felt Biggie’s spirit in the studio during the making of this album, it was only right to name the album after him. This album was a step forward from the debut. It was next level. It was “Hard Core” times 10. More aggressive, more in-ya-face, but also real and honest and captures your heart as Jones pens a track called “Hold On” dedicated to the late great Biggie, with help from The Queen of Hip Hop Soul herself, Mary J. Blige. Since it’s release, Jones’ career has only sky rocketed to the point she was seen on every magazine cover, award shows, and even fashion runways showing off her most iconic looks ever that have definitely been duplicated by many. Kimberly Jones aka “Lil’ Kim” isn’t just your typical Brooklyn female rapper who was just a pretty face and a fat ass, she brought her energy, her style, her grace, her talent, her personality, and she didn’t give a….. She’ll always remain simply notorious in her own way.
Written by Jalen Hemphill