Lil' Kia
Lil Kia (born May 9, 1983 in New Haven, Connecticut) is an American rap music Artist, Model, Dancer and Singer. As a recording artist, she has become known for her Uninhibited "hardcore lyrical content" style of rap. She has been compared to many female rap artists, including Lil Kim, Trina and Terror Squad's Remy Ma. Although she is compared to other female rap artist because she is a female her style is truly different and has been expressed as a "breath of fresh air" from the average female rapper.
Biography
Lil Kia was born in the Elm City section of New Haven, Connecticut, to a Caucasian/Indian mother and an African American father. She received the nickname of "Lil'" due to her 4'11" frame, and "Kia" as an abbreviation of Know It All, as friends teased her for always knowing everything. She began singing around the age of 10, which led in turn to dancing and poetry; soon afterward she began expressing herself through rapping.
At the age of 16, Kia was forced to move out on her own because of household Situations, which marked the beginning of a tumultuous LifeStyle. She resorted to living with friends and eventually to living on the streets, which exposed her to the "street life" frequently mentioned in the songs she writes. Some of the things Kia discusses are the things she and others went through and saw growing up, and the struggle she endured to live on her own. "There are a lot of situations that are relatable to other people and I want them to know that there are ways to come out of that and still end up in a positive light," she has stated.
While in her late teens, her rhyming came to the attention of rappers and industry executives, and Kia became a sought-out performer. She has had songs anthologized on mix tapes and has received radio play. Her lyrics contain street knowledge to which other people from the streets can relate, but she also has the ability to "open up" to the masses with universal IDeaS.
Recordings
Kia has recorded with SUPER producer BlacMas, producing such recordings as Killah, with samples from rappers such as the late ODB and Lady of Rage. This recording has received radio play. She has also participated in numerous freestyles featured on producer CDs in the tri-state area (New York,Connecticut, New Jersey). Kia can be heard over beats like Sheek Louch's (LOX) "Kiss Ya [...] GoodBye," renamed "She's Hot," and her most recent remake "Tha Illest."
Modeling
Lil' Kia has sought a secondary modeling career in addition to her career as a musician. She has modeled for John Paul DeJoria of Paul Mitchell in conjunction with professional products. Her love for modeling began in 1999 when she was selected out of 100 girls to be the spokesmodel and head model of the Eli Whitney RSVT Hair & Fashion Show, which she went on to do for 1999 & 2000. Kia has modeled most recently for the April 2006 issue of Total Image Magazine and her next steps are Smooth Mag & King.
Awards
Lil Kia has been nominated for the 2006 Best Connecticut Female Artist of the year award for her "She's Hot" Compilation Mix Tape. She was also nominated for best Solo Artist.