Controversial rapper Lil' Kim was sentenced to a year in prison and a $50,000 fine for lying to a federal judge in a 2001 shootout case involving her friends.

Kim had lied to protect her friends involved in the shootout outside a Manhattan radio station, reports Hollywood.com.

Lil' Kim, whose real name is Kimberly Jones, is the first big-name female artiste to be incarcerated and escaped the 20-year maximum sentence she could have received.

In response to the verdict, the 29-year old singer said: "I have worked hard my entire life for everything I have, everything I have accomplished, I ask you to consider my entire life's work and not just the days in the grand jury and on the witness stand in the courtroom. I'm a god-fearing, good person."

The 2001 gunfight occurred outside the radio station WQHT-FM when Kim's entourage crossed paths with rival group Capone-N-Noreaga. Capone-N-Norega had previously recorded a song where they insulted Lil' Kim.

Kim was known as the sidekick as well as mistress of the late Notorious B.I.G, and has won a Grammy for her effort on her collaboration with Christiana Aguilera, Pink, and Maya on the remake of the hit song "Lady Marmalade".