Bio
Jumping onto the airwaves at 17, Lil Mama cleared a wide path for herself with the major radio hit “Lip Gloss” in early 2007. Raised in both Brooklyn and Harlem, Niatia Kirkland grew up with seven other siblings. She found solace in writing poetry as well as dance choreography. But with the encouragement of her father, who owns the record label Familiar Faces, she knew that being a hip-hop artist could enhance both of those interests. Joining her father’s label, she traveled to Atlanta in 2006 to work exclusively with producer James “Groove” Chambers, who helped construct the “Lip Gloss” single. After some ambitious maneuvering to get her music heard, New York’s flagship hip-hop/R&B station Hot 97 began playing the record constantly. When Jive Records caught wind of the “lip gloss-poppin’” single, the company quickly scooped her up in January 2007 and made Lil Mama a teen rap sensation all over the East Coast. Moving into spring and summer of that year, her reach began to expand nationally as her impressively choreographed video for the song went into rotation on MTV and BET’s 106 & Park. The Jive connection allowed the high-school lyricist to bring in heavy-hitting producers like Scott Storch, Swizz Beatz, and DJ Green Lantern for her Familiar Faces/Jive debut album.
Check out more info on Lil Mama here.
The Hype
Career Timeline
2007-2009
2009
- Best Female Hip-Hop Artist (Nominated) at BET awards
2008
- Best Female Hip-Hop Artist (Nominated) at BET awards
- Choice Rap/Hip-Hop Track: “Shawty Get Loose” (Winner) at Teen Choice Awards
- Choice TV Personality: Randy Jackson’s America’s Next Best Dance Crew (Nominated) at Teen Choice Awards
- Best Hook-up: “Girlfriend” (remix) - featured by Avril Lavigne (Nominated) at MTV Asia Awards
2007
- Choice Summer Song: “Lip Gloss” (Winner)
- Choice Music Hookup: “Shawty Get Loose” (Nominated)
More On Lil Mama
Discography
Videography
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itskindadangerous2be
Fool shoulda supported Rythim City in ABDC - obviously the best crew in Season 4, but the fix was in for chicks to win this year…but, if that wasn’t dumb enough, lil’ dlist struttin’ out on stage with Mr. Carter and Ms. Keys was so incredibly disrespectful. My understanding is Jay-Z kicked out $250K for that spot - it’s called payola and you don’t get prime radio and television airplay without it (ask KRS-ONE as seen on BP clip). She’ll be a footnote in history as soon as ABDC is finally cancelled.
Numb3r1P00h
I agree she was so wrong goin on stage honey you’re amateur know where near a. keys and jay-z plus she’s ugly anyway throw her in the bag…LOL seriously maybe she should use some of her money to get a nose job done cause the one she got is huge…..and I dont think she should have been a judge at all on ABDC