Throwback: Happy 50th Birthday, Lil’ Kim!

July is a very busy month in music history:

• The iconic Debbie Harry celebrated her 79th birthday on July 1
• The B-52s Fred Schneider celebrated his 73rd birthday on July 1
• Missy Elliott, one of the most forward thinking artists of her generation — and perhaps of any generation, really — celebrated her 53rd birthday on July 1
• Evelyn “Champagne” King celebrated her 64th birthday on July 1
• Depeche Mode‘s Yaz’s/Yazoo’s and Erasure‘s Vince Clarke celebrated his 63rd birthday on July 3
• The great jazz organist Dr. Lonnie Smith was born 82 years ago on July 3
• Bill Withers was born 86 years ago on July 4 
• Huey Lewis and The News‘ frontman Huey Lewis celebrated his 74th birthday on July 5
• 50 Cent celebrated his 49th birthday on July 6
• The Beatles‘ Ringo Starr celebrated his 84th birthday on July 7
• Depeche Mode co-founder  
• Andy “Fletch” Fletcher was born 63 years ago on July 8
• Beck celebrated his 54th birthday on July 8
• AC/DC‘s first frontman, Bon Scott was born 78 years ago on July 9
• The legendary and incomparable Mavis Staples celebrated her 85th birthday on July 10
• Pet Shop Boys‘ frontman Neil Tennant celebrated his 70th — yes, 70th! — birthday on July 10
• Bauhaus frontman Peter Murphy celebrates his 67th birthday today

Lil’ Kim celebrates her 50th — yes, 50th! — birthday today. She’s one of the most commercially successful female rappers ever: Her full-length debut, 1996’s Hard Core had the highest chart debut in the US for a female rapper/rap album at the time, as a result of its three biggest singles “No Time,” “Not Tonight (Ladies Night)” and “Crush on You.” Since its release, the album has sold more than six million copies globally — with the album being certified double platinum in March 2001.

2000’s The Notorious K.I.M. and 2003’s La Bella Mafia were also certified platinum.

Of course, the remake of LaBelle’s 1974 classic single “Lady Marmalade” with Christina Aguilera, Mýa and Pink landed at #1 on the Billboard Hot 100 — and the track won a Grammy Award for Best Pop Collaboration with Vocals. And “Magic Stick” with 50 Cent landed at #2 on the Billboard Hot 100.

But most importantly, that woman can spit fire.

Happy birthday, Kim! May there be many, many more!