Kimberly Denise Jones, better known by her stage name Lil' Kim, is a rapper, songwriter and actress who was part of the group Junior M.A.F.I.A. Jones was born in the Bedford-Stuyvesant neighborhood of the New York City borough Brooklyn. At the age of 9, her parents separated, and her father raised her until he expelled her from home. With her life at home struggling she decided to move in with friends. While struggling through her personal life, Kim met The Notorious B.I.G., who was a key figure in both her personal and artistic life, particularly when Wallace had gained popularity and influence through his relationship with Bad Boy Records. Jones was born and raised in Brooklyn, living much of her adolescent life on the streets after being expelled from home. Influenced by fellow rapper The Notorious B.I.G., who she was rumored to have an ongoing affair with after his marriage, she began her music career in 1995 with the group Junior M.A.F.I.A., whose debut album Conspiracy generated three hit singles. In late 1996, her solo debut album Hard Core was released. Hard Core was certified double platinum and spawned chart-topping hits "No Time" and "Crush on You". Her following albums, The Notorious K.I.M. (2000) and La Bella Mafia (2003), were also largely successful. In 2005, Lil' Kim served a year long prison sentence for lying to a jury about her friends' involvement in a shooting four years earlier. During her incarceration, her fourth album The Naked Truth was released. It hit Billboard harder than expected, coming in at number 6. Lil' Kim returned to the public spotlight in 2009 with an appearance on Dancing with the Stars. Lil' Kim is Truly a face of Brooklyn.