Controversial high priestess of rap Lil' Kim has given birth to a daughter named Royal Reign by her partner, musician Mr Papers. The little girl was born on Monday morning in New Jersey. Lil Ms Papers, as the couple nicknamed her, weighed 6lbs 5oz and measured 19.5 inches long. The 39-year-old revealed the news via E!
In May, Kim celebrated with a lavish baby shower with a royal theme. Organised by event planner-to-the-stars David Tutera, the party paid tribute to her nickname Queen Bee. The excited mum-to-be said: "At the beginning of the party, I was announced as The Queen with two trumpeters and even wore a crown! I couldn't have wished for a more special day. I'm just so excited to be having a little princess. She's just going to be so girlie and fabulous - just like her mommy."
For the occasion, 4ft-11-inch Kim was indeed fabulous, wearing an elaborate lace maternity dress, accessorised with $500,000 of diamonds. She was pictured surrounded by gifts, including a box from iconic jewellers Tiffanys. The rap queen - real name Kimberly Jones - had also asked fans to purchase presents for her from a registered list, ranging from luxury items to more budget-friendly tokens. It was her way of involving her fans, said friends. Her fame goes back 20 years as the protegé of the late rapper The Notorious B.I.G, who was also her lover. In her long career, she's had numerous hit singles, including Lady Marmalade with Christina Aguilera, which won a Grammy.
A low point came in 2005 when the singer served a year in prison for perjuring herself before a grand jury when questioned about her friends' involvement in a shooting. Since her sentence, Kim has calmed down considerably, raising hundreds of thousands for charity and settling down with Mr Papers. The pregnancy, announced in February, surprised fans who didn't even know their heroine was dating anyone. Bronx rapper Mr Papers stepped up quickly to clear up the mystery of who the baby's father was and revealed he plans to marry Kim.