Lil' Kim announced herself on the hip-hop scene as the Queen of Junior M.A.F.I.A. With The Notorious B.I.G. acting as her mentor, the Brooklyn-born rapstress built up a reputation for dropping provocative lyrics that embraced the role of a gangsta's moll. 1996's solo debut Hardcore showcased her sex sells agenda, while 2003's La Bella Mafia saw her teaming up with Timbaland and Swizz Beatz to score club hits. A long-running series of feisty beefs with fellow female rappers rounds out Kim's appeal.