"Lil' Kim's" new album shows maturity, best yet

By Laura Pelner
Summer Reporter

Kimberly "Lil' Kim" Jones' newest album "The Notorious K.I.M." shows a matured version of the old Kim, and offers better rap styling than anything she's released before.

The album is a mix of female angst and sexual prowess. Lil' Kim frequently refers to herself as the "Queen Bitch" and says others cannot compare to her.

A lot of rappers make an appearance on the album including Sisqo, Goodie Mob, Redman, Sean "Puffy" Combs, Junior M.A.F.I.A. and Mary J. Blige. These extras add to Kim's serious attitude on the album, and give her more credibility by backing up her raps.

There are a variety of background beats, and surprisingly few seem mixed from other tunes. A lot of the beats are catchy and sound like dance or techno ones. Lil' Kim uses pieces of Sugarhill Gang's "Rapper's Delight," Sisqo's "The Thong Song" and Suzanne Vega's "Tom's Diner."

The voice of Christopher "The Notorious B.I.G." Wallace is mixed into some of Lil' Kim's songs. "Hold On," which features Mary J. Blige, is actually a song dedicated to The Notorious B.I.G. Lil' Kim says "I feel my strength might die, like right now I'm trying hard not to cry, even when I close my eyes I still see ya, damn I just don't believe it."

Lil' Kim sounds choked up when she begins the verse. She continues to explain the relationship she and The Notorious B.I.G. had, which makes the song more meaningful.

In further recognition of The Notorious B.I.G., he is sited as one of the album's executive producers, along with Sean "Puffy" Combs and Lil' Kim herself. Adding The Notorious B.I.G. was another way for Lil' Kim to include and remember him after his death.

It is hard to believe that all she is focusing on is the pain she feels about his death though, because the song immediately following "Hold On" is all about why women, specifically her, rule.

The song, "I'm Human," begins by asserting "a queen is not a queen because she has failed, but a queen is a queen because failure has not stopped her. Take it from me, the queen of all queens, women are taking over, for the new millennium."

"I'm Human" is very electronic and different than everything else on the album. It's one of the album's best songs because it has attitude and a unique sound.

Songs like "Custom Made (Give It To You)," which is laced with sexual moaning; "How Many Licks?," which compares women to Tootsie Roll Pops and offers a history of her sexual past; and "She Don't Love You," which describes why Kim is great in bed, get annoying after awhile because they seem blatantly made for shock appeal. While Lil' Kim obviously has a lot of sexual experience, she should have kept some of the information in her private life.

Just as those songs get annoying, others like "No Matter What They Say" and "Off The Wall" are good simply because of their beats; they have a good dance rhythm.

Of course there is a parental advisory sticker on the album, which is needed. The first track is more of an introduction than a song, and could stand as a warning for those first listening to the album.

"Lil; Drummer Boy," the first track, is set up like a court room where Lil' Kim is on trial for various offenses. The song is a bold beginning to the new album.

The album debuted at No. 4 on the Billboard 200 Charts and at No. 1 on the Billboard R&B/Hip Hop Charts after it's June 27 release. This is more evidence that Lil' Kim has matured, improved and that her new album is her best yet.