Between the years 1996 and 2004, Brooklyn rapper Lil Kim blessed the game with four studio albums: Hard Core in 96', The Notorious K.I.M in 00', La Bella Mafia in 03', and The Naked Truth in 05'. Since then, it's been relative silence where Kim's musical output has been concerned, with her absence evolving into a fifteen-year hiatus. Now, the wait is nearly over. During a recent concert, Kim confirmed that her upcoming Nine album will be arriving in May.
Maury Phillips/Getty Images
"Alright, while I’m here, fu*k it. May 17th. Nine, the album. It’s my fifth album,” announces Kim. "I got some sh*t for y’all. One of my favorites is this record I got with Ricky Rozay. Crazy.” For those who don't know, Nine holds a special significance for Kim, who gave birth to her daughter on June 9th. Not only that, but her friend and collaborator The Notorious B.I.G. was murdered on May 9th. Clearly, the date must elicit a bittersweet response in the original "Queen Bee," one associated with the dichotomy of birth and death.
Perhaps such a relationship will be explored on her upcoming project. Either way, it's always nice to have a hip-hop legend back in the fold. Keep an eye out for Lil Kim's Nine, set to arrive on May 17th, 2019.
