Lil Kim was born Kimberly Denise Jones in Brooklyn, New York City. She is widely regarded as the original ‘Queen of Rap’ after her successful and trailblazing career in the ’90s and early 2000s. Kim would freestyle rap around New York City, citing influences from MC Lyte and Lady of Rage.
Fellow Brooklyn rapper, the late Notorious B.I.G., would discover her and assist with the start of a rap career. She has released five solo studio albums and one joint album with Junior M.A.F.I.A. Her albums Hard Core and The Notorious K.I.M. have both been certified 5X platinum by the RIAA. La Bella Mafia and The Naked Truth have also achieved double platinum status. These are some of her best songs from when she was at the top of the rap game.
“No Time” ft. Diddy (1996)
“No Time” was released as Lil Kim’s debut single in 1996 and served as the first from her introductory album Hard Core. The song peaked at No. 18 on the Billboard Hot 100 and reached the Top 10 on the Hot R&B/Hip-Hop Songs. “No Time” topped the US Rap Songs for nine weeks. Additionally, the single was certified Gold by the RIAA. Diddy and Steven ‘Stevie J’ Jordan produced the song. The two producers sampled Vicki Anderson’s “Message from the Soul Sisters” and Lyn Collins’s “Take Me Just As I Am” for the song. “No Time” was Lil Kim’s first chart-topping hit record.
“Not Tonight (Remix)” ft. Da Brat, Missy Elliott, Left Eye, & Angie Martinez (1997)
This record is another single from Lil Kim’s debut Hard Core album. The remix was released in 1997 and featured Da Brat, Left Eye (TLC), Missy Elliott, and Angie Martinez. It peaked at No. 2 on the US Rap Charts and six on the US Songs Charts. Armando Colon and Rashad Smith produced the song. It was featured on the Nothing to Lose soundtrack and contained samples of “Ladies’ Night” by Kool & the Gang. The song has been certified Platinum by the RIAA for selling a million units.
“Lady Marmalade” With Christina Aguilera, P!nk,& Mya (2001)
“Lady Marmalade” was officially a second No. 1 song for Lil Kim. The song served as part of the soundtrack to the musical film Moulin Rouge! It also features vocals from Christina Aguilera, Mya, and Pink. “Lady Marmalade” spent five weeks at the top of the US Billboard chart after a slow climb to No. 1. Additionally, the song topped the charts in Germany, the United Kingdom, Sweden, and Australia. It achieved platinum status in these countries as well. “Lady Marmalade” serves as Lil Kim’s longest No. 1 song.
“Magic Stick” ft. 50 Cent (2003)
“Magic Stick” was from the album La Bella Mafia. It features vocals from fellow New Yorker Curtis “50 Cent” Jackson. Lil’ Kim earned another No. 1 rap song with “Magic Stick.” The song also peaked at No. 2 on the US Singles Chart. Carlos “Fantom of the Beat” Evans produced the hit record. It was intended to be on 50 Cent’s magnum opus, “Get Rich or Die Tryin’,” but couldn’t make the cut because Lil Kim submitted her verse late. The single was a massive success despite not having an accompanying visual.
“Lighters Up” (2005)
Scott Storch produced “Lighters Up” and sampled elements of Damian Marley’s “Welcome to Jamrock.” MTV named the song Best Brooklyn Anthem in 2013. Lil Kim released the single on her fourth album, The Naked Truth. The song peaked at nine on the Rap Albums Chart and 31 on the US Singles Chart.
“It’s All About the Benjamins”(Remix) Diddy ft. Lil Kim, Notorious B.I.G., & The LOX (1997)
“It’s All About the Benjamins” originally debuted on DJ Clue’s Holiday Holdup mixtape and subsequently on Diddy’s debut No Way Out album. The LOX members Jadakiss and Sheek Louch provided vocals for the song. The remix included Lil Kim, Notorious B.I.G., and Missy Elliott’s addition. The single peaked at No. 1 on the US Rap Charts and No. 17 on the US Singles Chart. Additionally, the RIAA certified the record gold for half a million units sold in the United States.
The accompanying visuals won a Viewer’s Choice Award at the 1998 MTV Video Music Awards. “It’s All About the Benjamins” samples the song “I Did It for Love,” performed by Love Unlimited and written by Linda Laurie and Terry Etlinger. The verse performed by Notorious B.I.G. contains a sample from The Jackson 5 song “It’s Great to Be Here.”
“Money, Power, Respect” – The LOX ft. Lil Kim & DMX (1998)
“Money, Power, Respect” is a certified classic rap record from the legendary New York trio, the LOX. The group comprises hip-hop veterans Jadakiss, Styles P, and Sheek Louch. The song features Lil Kim in the chorus and DMX in the last verse. The LOX released the song as the second single from their debut album of the same name. The record saw success on the charts peaking at No. 1 on the US Rap Charts and No. 17 on the US Singles Chart. “Money, Power, Respect” was also certified gold by the RIAA. Hitmen members D-Dot and Amen-Ra produced the song.
“Sugar (Remix)” – Trick Daddy ft. Lil’ Kim (2005)
This was another feature for Lil Kim. The song was a single from southern rap veteran Trick Daddy’s Thug Matrimony: Married to the Streets album. “Sugar” also features vocals from Ludacris and CeeLo Green. Ludacris’ vocals were left out of the video because he was absent during the official video shoot. However, he is on the official audio. The song peaked at No. 12 on the US Rap Charts and No. 20 on the Singles Chart.
“Let It Go” – Keyshia Cole ft. Lil Kim & Missy Elliott (2007)
This time, Lil Kim jumped on Keyshia Cole’s single “Let It Go” from the Just Be You album. The song peaked at No. 1 on the R&B and Hip-Hop Chart and No. 7 on the US Singles Chart. The RIAA certified “Let it Go” platinum. Additional vocals are provided by Missy Elliott. The song features samples from “Juicy Fruit” by Mtume and “Don’t Stop the Music” by Yarbrough and Peoples.
“Hit Em Wit Da Hee” – Missy Elliott ft. Lil Kim (1998)
“Hit Em with da Hee” is a record from Missy Elliott’s debut album Supa Dupa Fly. It was the last record to be released from the album and it peaked at number 61 on the Billboard R&B and Hip-hop Chart. Lil’ Kim delivers a guest verse on the song.