Lil Mama | |
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.png) Lil Mama in 2018 | |
| Background information | |
| Birth name | Niatia Jessica Kirkland |
| Born | October 4, 1989 Brooklyn, New York City, U.S. |
| Genres | Hip hop |
| Occupations |
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| Years active | 2006–present |
| Labels | |
Niatia Jessica Kirkland (born October 4, 1989), better known by her stage name Lil Mama, is an American rapper, singer, songwriter, and dancer. She experienced top 10 Billboard placements at 17 with her debut album VYP (Voice of the Young People) (2008), which debuted at number 25 on the Billboard 200. The album spawned her four major singles including her staple song and dance anthem "Lip Gloss", earning her two Teen Choice Awards and Monster Single of the Year nominations at the MTV Video Music Awards. Kirkland gained further attention in pop music after a collaboration with Avril Lavigne for the remix of her hit single "Girlfriend".
Kirkland took a hiatus from music after success of her hit single "Hustler Girl" to stay focused on serving as a judge for total of seven seasons on MTV's America's Best Dance Crew at the age of 18 from 2008 to 2012. Working with producer and fellow judge Randy Jackson, she served alongside JC Chasez, Shane Sparks, Mario Lopez, and Layla Kayleigh.
She was cast as Lisa "Left Eye" Lopes in the VH1 biographical film CrazySexyCool: The TLC Story, which aired in October 2013 and garnered 4.5 million views in the first night. From the success of the film, Kirkland joined TLC on their tour for their last album. She got the opportunity to perform a tribute to Lopes at the 2013 American Music Awards performing the Grammy Award nominated song "Waterfalls".
Kirkland continued to remain in the public eye, returning to music, making new tracks with fellow rapper MC Lyte on her single "Ball". She appeared on multiple magazine covers and was back in television with Growing Up Hip Hop: Atlanta. In 2019, she starred in the film All In, alongside Traci Braxton.[1]