'Lil Kim Battles Bad Press

Rapper 'Lil Kim, once romantically tied to late rapper and known ganster Notorious B.I.G, held a press conference Monday at the Bryant Park Hotel in New York to express her innocence regarding her upcoming trial for perjury and obstruction of justice, according to MTV.com.

'Lil Kim was indicted in April on charges of her alleged involvement in a 2001 shooting outside of New York radio station Hot 97. According to MTV.com, prosecutors claim she lied to investigators and a grand jury by telling them she was not present at the time of the shooting and that she didn't know any of the suspects involved in the case.

"My name is Kimberly, 'Lil' Kim,' and I am innocent," said Kim at the press conference. "Throughout my life and throughout my career, I've been a survivor."

'Lil Kim, who is known for her lavish fashions and "Bella Mafia" status, remains certain that the pending case is a plot against her entire industry. "This case is part of the government's continued indictment against hip-hop and the hip-hop industry," she told MTV.com. "My innocence will soon be proved. To my fans, friends and loved ones, I want to say thank you. Thank you for believing in me and believing in my innocence."

Kim's lawyer is confident that his client will soon be exonerated, insisting that her original testimony was "extracted out of context and magnified out of proportion." 'Lil Kim's trial is scheduled for February 2005.