Rap star Lil’ Kim faces 20 years in jail for lying

RAP diva Lil’ Kim is facing up to 20 years in prison after being convicted in New York of lying to a federal grand jury to protect friends who were involved in a shoot-out outside a radio station.

She was convicted of three counts of perjury and one of conspiracy, but acquitted of obstruction of justice.

She could be jailed for a maximum of five years for each count at her June 24 sentencing.

The former sidekick and mistress of the late Notorious B.I.G., known for her revealing outfits and raunchy raps, testified that she didn't notice two close friends at the scene of the 2001 gun battle her manager, Damion Butler, and Suif "Gutta" Jackson. Both men have since pleaded guilty to gun charges.

The jury saw radio station security photos showing Butler opening a door for Lil' Kim. And witnesses testified that Butler and Jackson were at the station with her.

Hot 97 is the same station where the entourages of rap stars 50 Cent and The Game traded bullets last month. No arrests have been made in that shooting, which left one of Game's henchmen wounded in the leg.

Assistant US Attorney Cathy Seibel told jurors that the 4ft 11in Lil' Kim, born Kimberly Jones, had repeatedly lied to them, just as she did to the grand jury. The prosecutor belittled the defence claim that the sunglasses-wearing Lil' Kim didn't notice her two close friends at the scene of the crime.

"You would have to believe they were magic sunglasses that only block out your friends who were shooting people," Ms Seibel told the jury.

Defence lawyer Mel Sachs argued that Lil' Kim had no reason to protect Butler and Jackson because she had already eliminated them from her life. Lil' Kim testified that after the shooting she had a falling out with Butler because he was taking advantage of her.

Lil' Kim's assistant, Monique Dopwell, was convicted of perjury and conspiracy. She faces up to 15 years in prison.

The rapper also testified at length about her modest background and mercurial career, which began with an impromptu performance for B.I.G. on the street in their Brooklyn neighbourhood.

As B.I.G. became a superstar, Lil' Kim became 'Queen Bee' the oversexed gangsta girl in his otherwise all-male clique.

Lil' Kim developed into one of the few female rappers with a commercially viable career.

She won a Grammy in 2001 for her part in the hit remake of Lady Marmalade.