LIL' KIM EYEING EARLY RELEASE

By: Yves Erwin Salomon

Rapper Lil'Kim is scheduled to be released from prison on August 2nd, but according to her lawyer, she might get out as early as June. The rapper's attorney, James Leonard, Jr., told allhiphop.com, "I think this entire experience has unearthed new depths for Kim, both as a person and an artist. I think you will see that in the direction she takes upon her release from prison."

Leonard added, "The warden and the staff at the (prison) have been great with Kim. She has neither sought (nor) received any special treatment. They have respected her privacy and have treated her extremely fair."

If Lil'Kim is released early, she will be under house arrest until August and will have three years'supervised probation. The rapper was initially sentenced to a year and a day for lying to a grand jury investigating a shooting outside of New York City radio station WQHT-FM.

In related news, Lil'Kim's annual toy giveaway was a huge success. The rapper's Lil'Kim Cares Foundation hosted the event in Philadelphia on December 22nd with the help of boxer Zab Judah. Leonard explained, "The charity event was a huge success and something that was very near and dear to Kim's heart."