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Niatia Jessica Kirkland, better known by her stage name Lil Mama, is a MTV Music Award-nominated American pop rapper currently signed to Jive Records.

Lil Mama was born in Harlem and later moved to Brooklyn, New York where she attended Edward R. Murrow High School.

She has been featured in remixes of various singles including "Girlfriend" (Avril Lavigne, "Umbrella" (Rihanna,"Gimme More" (Britney Spears,"Beautiful Girls" (Sean Kingston, and "Just Fine" (Mary J. Blige.

Lil Mama was nominated for Monster Single of the Year for her song "Lip Gloss" at the 2007 MTV Video Music Awards, but the award was given to Rihanna for "Umbrella". She also appears as one of the judges on the MTV reality dance competition America's Best Dance Crew.

Tara Kirkland, Lil' Mama's mother, died on December 15, 2007 after a four-year battle with cancer. Lil Mama received the news while on tour and had to rush back home. The music video of "Shawty Get Loose" featuring Chris Brownand T-Pain, was dedicated to her.

Her debut album, VYP (Voice of the Young People) was released in April 2008, and debuted at #25 in the Billboard charts. Lil Mama was scheduled to be featured on a remix/skit version of Lil Wayne's "A Milli", but the song, ultimately, failed to make the final cut of Tha Carter III. She is also featured on Vanessa Hudgens' song, "Amazed" from her 2008 album, Identified.