Released: November 12, 1996
Genre: Hip hop
Label: Undeas ∙ Big Beat ∙ Atlantic
Producer: Jacob York ∙ Carlos Broady ∙ Sean Combs ∙ Cornbread ∙ Jermaine Dupri ∙ Fabian Hamilton ∙ Andreao “Fanatic” Heard ∙ Nashiem Myrick ∙ The Notorious B.I.G. ∙ Prestige ∙ Ski ∙ Rashad Smith ∙ Stevie J ∙ Stretch Armstrong ∙ Brent “Faraoh” Toussaint.
⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
Kimberly Denise Jones (better known as Lil’ Kim) will forever reign supreme as one of the First Ladies of Rap (I’ll say she IS the Queen of Rap period but that’s just me). In the 90s, she was everything to the streets when it came to hip hop. Granted, we had the OG hip hop legendary queens like Queen Latifah, Monie Love, MC Lyte, Salt N’ Pepa and Roxanne Shanté, but when Kim came on the scene, it was a MOMENT.
Growing up in Brooklyn, Kim was discovered fellow rapper and eventually her mentor The Notorious B.I.G. in 1994..who invited her to join his hardcore hip hop group Junior M.A.F.I.A. The group released their debut album Conspiracy in 1995, having success on the charts with songs like Get Money, Player’s Anthem & I Need You Tonight. The success of Junior M.A.F.I.A.’s album further helped pushed Lil’ Kim’s solo career.
Lil’ Kim’s debut album Hard Core was released on November 12, 1996 by Undeas Recordings, Big Beat Records and Atlantic Records. Hard Core lives up to its name, giving you east coast hip hop going hard from one of the best lyricists in the game of all time. Kim raised the bar for hip hop by challenging the status quo in the world of hip hop.
Before Kim, it was common that women were sexualized in the form of being seen as disposable whores to men and was the beginning of the video girl era as well. Most of the female rappers at the time also generally did not going the route of being raunchy and provocative in their music. Kim changed the landscape of MODERN DAY hip hop for women by using her platform to be sexually liberated and show men that women can turn the tables and be so brass and bold with their sexuality period. That’s why Lil’ Kim is called the blueprint.
From Kim’s delivery and flow on songs NO ONE can pull off, her top tier SONGWRITING AND LYRICISM and production from 70s soul classics makes Hard Core easily one of the best hip hop albums of all time. Hard Core is a cinematic experience. It’s like we’re purchasing a movie ticket into the rap genius that is Lil’ Kim. The raunchy, wild and expensive Black Queen who is sexually liberated and bold. But I don’t like to say bold. So I’ll say confident. Kim embodies the definition of confidence period. Hard Core is not only our introduction to Kim, but is the blueprint of modern day rap for Black women. YES. Kimberly Denise was one of the first to do it, baby baby!
Kim has always been accused of not writing her lyrics and that her mentor and frequent collaborator Biggie was the one writing her lyrics. I like to debunk that because for one, HE TAUGHT HER EVERYTHING SHE KNOWS, and two she is literally his protege so I mean..the emulation like the man she loves shouldn’t be such a wild concept. HELLO!
Hard Core peaked at number 11 on the Billboard 200 & number 3 on the Billboard R&B/Hip-Hop Albums charts respectively with first-week sales of 78,000 copies sold. The album was certified double platinum by the RIAA, and has sold over five million copies worldwide. ICONIC AF!
Ladies & Gentlemen, I present to you Lil’ Kim’s Hard Core!
Intro in A-Minor
Written by Kimberly Jones
*Sound of a car driving on a busy street*
Taxi Driver: Alright, sir, which side of the street would you like to be on?
Patron: Yeah, that one. That side right there
Taxi Driver: Yeah, okay
*The taxi driver is heard pulling over to let the man out*
Taxi Driver: Okay, that will be four-ninety please
Patron: Yeah, yeah, here’s five dollars. Keep the change
Taxi Driver: Oh, fuck you!
*The car door slams shut and the man is heard walking*
Box Office Worker: May, I help you?
Patron: Yeah, ah, can, can, I have one for Lil’ Kim. Hardcore
Box Office Worker: That will be ten dollars
*He hands her money and then walks through a door*
Box Office Worker: Fuckin’ weirdo…
*Lil’ Kim’s Big Momma Thang is playing in the background*
Concession Stand Worker: Yeah, may I help you?
Patron: Yeah, ah, can I get a small order of popcorn, and ah, ah, a large order of butter and just like a lot of napkins please
Concession Stand Worker: Butter? Anyway, am, will that be all?
Patron: Yeah, ah…
Concession Stand Worker: That’ll be six-ninety-five
The patron hands another bill over
Concession Stand Worker: Ah, man, why this shit so slimey?
Patron: Huh!
*The patron is then heard walking from the concession stand
Into the screen room. Lil’ Kim and a man are heard moaning and having sex. Porno music is heard in the background
The patron unzips his zipper. A splashing noise is heard as the patron begins masturbating.*
Patron: Yeah. Yeah, baby. Yeah. Oh, yeah. Come on, baby. Yeah. Yeah. Mmm. Yeah. Yeah. Kim. Come on, Kim
Come on. Yeah. Yeah
*The moans from the screen and the splash sound from the masturbating patron continue*
Patron: Yeah. Come on. Kim. Kim. Yeah. Yeah
Work it, bitch!
Big Momma Thang (featuring Lil’ Cease and Jay-Z)
Written by Kimberly Jones ∙ James Lloyd ∙ Adrian Bartos ∙ Sylvester James ∙ Harvey Fuqua
The title of the amazing song Big Momma Thang pays homage to Big Daddy Kane’s second album It’s a Big Daddy Thing. Originally a diss record towards Faith Evans (R&B singer and wife of The Notorious B.I.G.) & rapper 2Pac, the song to had to be redone with a verse from Jay-Z due to 2pac’s untimely death. Nevertheless each version is flawless, because Kim was spitting in that booth okayyyyyy!
***Big Momma Thang contains a sample of Sylvester’s Was It Something I Said and contains a reference to The What by The Notorious B.I.G. & Method Man.
No Time (featuring Puff Daddy)
Written by Kimberly Jones ∙ Sean Combs ∙ Steven Jordan
***No Time features additional vocals by the Notorious B.I.G.
No Time was released as the debut single, and rightfully so!! Featuring Puff Daddy, No Time showcased how cold and raunchy Kim’s flow is.
Yeahhh, I Momma, Miss Ivana
Lil’ Kim, No Time, 1996.
Usually rock the Prada, sometimes Gabbana
Stick you for your cream and your riches
Zsa Zsa Gabor, Demi Moore, Prince Diane and all them rich bitches
***No Time contains samples of Vicki Anderson’s Message from the Soul Sisters and Lyn Collins’ Take Me Just As I Am.
***Not Tonight contains a sample of George Benson’s Turn Your Love Around & an interpolation of Sexual Healing by Marvin Gaye. The Ladies Night Remix contains a sample of Ladies’ Night by Kool & the Gang.
Spend a Little Doe
Written by Kimberly Jones ∙ David Willis
***Spend a Little Doe features additional vocals by Big Troy & Fela.
Spend a Little Doe is my favorite Lil’ Kim song and as it should be! The storytelling on this song is immaculate, and showcases how Kimmy took after Big from a lyricism standpoint.
***Spend a Little Doe contains a sample of Fifty Ways To Leave Your Lover by Frank Chacksfield Orchestra
Take It!
Written by Kimberly Jones
***Take It! features additional vocals by The Notorious B.I.G., Trife & Lil’ Cease.
Damn baby, can’t believe you bagged Lil’ Kim
Oh yeah, that bitch on my dick, man
She see my Benz roll on my dick fuck that bitch
Word?
I’ma knock her ass
But yo yo you should fuck her homegirl though
I want to I want to man
But that bitch want some eatin’ pussy shit yo
I’m not tryna fuck with that kid
Yeah, but the other one
The little short one with the fat ass
Where?
Thinkin’ right there
I think I could put it in the ass
I’ma tell y’all something, I’ma fuck Kim
I’ma take her up in the room
I want that one right there
With the ponytail?
Yeah
Yeah, fuck her, fuck her
I’ma fuck her good
Take that, take that, yo
No doubt
We gon’ fuck the shit out these bitches
I’m gon’ take that out right now
We gon’ fuck the shit out these bitches
That’s anal right there
Anal?
Anal, baby
Fuckin’ anal, I don’t give a fuck
Crush on You (featuring Lil’ Cease)
Written by James Lloyd ∙ Jeff Lorber ∙ Cameron Giles ∙ Christopher Wallace ∙ Kimberly Jones
***Crush On You features additional vocals by the Notorious B.I.G.
Crush On You is one of Lil’ Kim’s most signature songs and one of the best songs of 1990s. The album version has Lil’ Cease being the main performer on the song along with Big doing the chorus. But the REMIX? Oh baby. The remix had Kimmy going CRAZY!!
Lil Kim, the Queen Bee, so you best take heed
Lil’ Kim, Crush On You, 1996
Shall I proceed? (Yes indeed!)
I’ma throw shade if I can’t get paid
Blow you up to your girl like the Army grenade
Released as the second single, Crush On You was a huge hit for Kim in the UK at number 5 on the Hip-Hop/R&B charts, and in the US for the R&B/Hip-Hop Airplay chart, peaking at number 4.
***Crush On You contains a sample of Rain Dance by The Jeff Lorber Fusion, sampled for A No No by Mariah Carey & interpolated for Fuck On U by City Girls & So What by Field Mob featuring Ciara.
Drugs
Written by Kimberly Jones ∙ Fabian Hamilton ∙ D. Owen ∙ Isaac Hayes
***Drugs features additional vocals by the Notorious B.I.G.
Drugs is one of the standout tracks on Hard Core due to its production, and how the song entrances you to step into the world of weed, sex, alcohol and luxurious possessions.
***Drugs contains a sample of Bumpy’s Lament by Soul Mann & The Brothers.
Scheamin
Written by Kimberly Jones
Damn, boo, you see honey right there? The little one, yo
Oh, yeah
He ain’t got no…nah, look at his shi…nah, he ain’t got no cash
No, fuck that that chain probably B.I.G. chain
Hell yeah, you know Biggie’s got the fuckin’ dollars
Yeah, for real
You know, let’s set that nigga up
Nah
Yeah
Only way you get that motherfucker is with some ass, yo
That’s the only thing he want now
Suck his dick, he probably like that
He like menage-a-tois
Runnin’ pockets, alright?
You know
Until that mother fucker be asleep or some shit like that, right?
Yeah, yeah, let’s do that shit
Nah, there go the other one
Sayin they always let the motherfuckin dumb niggas hold the cash
You know what I mean?
You know
Lil’ Cease, let’s get that nigga
Nah, I’m, I’m scared’a dat nigga
You know he look…
Biggie gettin’ ass on a regular basis
But, so what
You never know, yo, let’s just try that shit, yo
I’m goin’ for mine yo, fuck that
Queen Bitch
Written by Kimberly Jones ∙ Nashiem Myrick ∙ Carlos Broady
***Queen Bitch features additional vocals by the Notorious B.I.G.
Queen Bitch is my shit! If this comes on, just know I’m channeling my inner Kim because her delivery on this song is truly one for the books!
***Queen Bitch contains samples of Hey, That’s No Way To Say Goodbye by Roberta Flack & Back Stabbers by Junior M.A.F.I.A, & was sampled for I Can Love You Mary J. Blige featuring Lil’ Kim & Wake Me Up by Remy Ma featuring Lil’ Kim & interoplated by Jay-Z for Girls, Girls, Girls Pt. 2.
Dreams
Written by Kimberly Jones ∙ Daven Vanderpool ∙ Reggie Andrews
Dreams is Kim’s take on Big’s Just Playing (Dreams,) and she’s naming all of the R&B niggas she’d fuck and she wasn’t wrong what’s so ever!
***Dreams contains a sample of Think (About It) by Lyn Collins & interpolated The Notorious B.I.G.’s Just Playing (Dreams).
M.A.F.I.A. Land
Written by Kimberly Jones ∙ Brent Toussaint ∙ Bert Kaempfert ∙ Herbert Rehbein ∙ Richard Ahlert
M.A.F.I.A. Land is a classic album cut where Kim discusses the loyalty within the crew.
We Don’t Need It (featuring Junior M.A.F.I.A.)
Written by Kimberly Jones ∙ James Lloyd ∙ Rayshaun Spain ∙ Mark Richardson
We Don’t Need It has Kim with the men of Junior M.A.F.I.A. discussing how the lack of oral sex in the bedroom from men and women will have them not wanting sex at all.
***We Don’t Need It contains a sample of The One I Need by Shirley Murdock.
Not Tonight (featuring Jermaine Dupri)
Written by Kimberly Jones ∙ Jermaine Dupri ∙ (for remix version): Lisa Lopes ∙ Shawntae Harris ∙ Angela Martinez ∙ Melissa Elliott
Not Tonight is my mf song too! I’ll never forget when my white friend from college heard me rapping this song during one of our study sessions in our suite and the way she looked at me was hilarious lmao!! But lyrically, the song is what we’ve grown and loved from Kim: the raunchiness honey. The song speaks to how she wants to get her pussy ate right for the night, and as she the hell should! Produced by Jermaine Dupri, the song has become a fan favorite.
I don’t want dick tonight. EAT MY PUSSY RIGHT!!!!!
Lil’ Kim, Not Tonight, 1996
& don’t get me started on the REMIX!!! The Not Tonight (Ladies Night Remix) was released as a single for the Nothing to Lose (soundtrack) from the 1997 film of the same name, and featured Angie Martinez, Missy “Misdeameanor” Elliott, Da Brat & Left Eye of TLC, being a big hit for the ladies, peaking in the top 10 on the pop and R&B charts at number 6 and 3 respectively.
Player Haters
Written by Kimberly Jones
Hater #1: Ayo
Hater #2: What up, baby?
Hater #1: That little stink-ass bitch, Kim, them little snake niggas, man. Man, I don’t like that bitch, man
Hater #2: Yeah, I see that bitch
Hater #1: Yo, that’s my word, red. Yo, that’s my word, son
But yo, on the real though, that bitch do be havin’ some cheddar and that bitch be rockin’ some ice, know I’m sayin’?
Hater #2: I’m sayin, I see it
Hater #1: I be seein’ her floatin’ with lil’ niggas here now and then, know what I’m sayin’?
Hater #2: What, them lil’ bitch-ass M.A.F.I.A. niggas?
Hater #1: Yeah, them lil’ faggot-ass niggas, nahmsayin
Hater #2: Them niggas pussy, kid
Hater #1: I swear to God, if I ever see them niggas rollin’ down Gates Avenue I’m gonna lay one of ’em on the strength. Nahmsayin? You know how we roll, baby
Hater #2: No doubt
Hater #1: But, um, yo, what’s up? You wanna get this paper or what?
Hater #2: No doubt
Hater #1: Cause they, I’m sayin’, I know they sweet, nahmsayin’? You know how they get down. Know what I’m sayin’?
Hater #2: No doubt
Hater #1: I’m ‘a hold them niggas down, one of them niggas move a inch, I’m lacin’ ’em straight up and down. I’m puttin’ one in
They cabbage…
Hater #2: Let’s make it happen, kid
Hater #1: Aight
Fuck You (featuring Larceny & Trife)
Written by Kimberly Jones ∙ Rayshaun Spain ∙ Antoine Spain ∙ Chris Crisco ∙ Christopher Wallace
***Fuck You features additional vocals by the Notorious B.I.G.
Fuck You closes out the album, and is another album cut that hits different with every listen!
Lil’ Kim’s Hard Core album laid the foundation for modern female rap and I am glad that everyone can agree to that testament. Lil Kim caught a lot of flack around the time of the album’s release for going too far in her music so artists like Nicki Minaj, City Girls, Megan Thee Stallion, Cardi B and many more can freely express themselves in their art. Hard Core is not just about sex.
It’s about female liberation and freedom. It’s truly a remarkable timeless album that’ll go down in history for pushing the envelope and breaking doors for Black women entertainers to be authentically them. You are appreciated and so loved for your contributions to hip hop and music period, Kimberly Denise Jones. -MW.
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