Lil Kim’s ‘Hardcore’: 15 Years From The Beginning

Published: Wednesday 16th Nov 2011 by David

Last week marked the 15th anniversary of ‘Hardcore’, the debut album by Brooklyn Rapper Lil Kim.

Executive produced and Sean ‘Diddy Combs‘ and the late Biggie Smalls, who also served as the project’s chief ghostwriter, the album is heralded by many as one of Hip Hop’s more groundbreaking debut releases and was the launching pad for a career that now spans almost two decades.

Released on November 12th 1996, the release peaked at #1 on the Billboard Top R&B/Hip Hop chart while debuting at #11 on the Billboard 200, spawning the well loved cuts ‘Crush On You‘ and ‘Queen Bitch‘.

Loved for being authentically gritty, shamelessly erotic and creative from start to finish, ‘HardCore‘ was undoubtedly the stiletto heel  needed to crack the glass ceiling the likes of Nicki Minaj have now been able to break through.

Though it has taken fifteen years to move 2 million copies and unfairly overshadowed by some  the performer’s less flattering traits, to deny the impact both she and this album have made would be a grave injustice.

For though some have always perceived her to be the puppet to Christopher Wallace’s Svengali, she has proven time and time again that when it comes to longevity and loyalty to her fans, her skill is unmatched.

We can only hope future releases are just as game changing.

Your thoughts?

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  1. Seriously…. November 16, 2011

    Yall Still F****** Shady. Kim Wrote S*** On That Album Too.

  2. Seriously…. November 16, 2011

    And FYI Nicki Minaj Didnt Brake Threw S*** That Was Not Already Broken Threw Long B4 HERE….. SIt Your Tired Asses Down. And Where The F*** Is That I Am Not The One Track By Lil Kim A Bunch Of F****** Haters. EAT D***.

  3. QUEEN CASSIE COMING SOON !!! :D — MAD?— November 16, 2011

    That Grape Juice is On Fiire #I LIKE IT !!!

  4. ASAP (As Sincere As Possible) November 16, 2011

    The shade is disgusting…

    ‘HardCore’ is a classic that has yet to be topped by another female rapper and will probably remain one of the most groundbreaking albums in hip hop.The shade about the sales is as irrelevant and misrepresented as it gets.When ‘Hardcore’ was released, the only market that was PARTLY embracing hip hop was the US.Who would buy a hip hop album by a female talking about s**??Selling 2 million copies under those consequences should be mentioned as an achievement, if anything.And what do you mean “it took 15 years”??They hardly ship any copies anymore, so it probably took her 3-4 years to sell 2 million with 3 singles

  5. ASAP (As Sincere As Possible) November 16, 2011

    On a more positive note, I love the new look of the site.Very fresh 😉

  6. WHITNEY! November 16, 2011

    lmao…Hardcore was certified 2X platinum within a year of its release. I dont know who the hell is reporting this but its clearly wrong! And Nicki didnt breakthrough anything. KIM had the rap game eating out her hand after Hardcore was released…meanwhile female rappers are bashing Nicki left and rite and people are already tired of her. She will never b on KIM’s level!

  7. kimberly November 16, 2011

    @ asap thank you for saying that. At that time only and us and blacks were really into hiphop and supported it. Present artist have to respect these kind of artist especially kim becasue she made it easy for them to breakthrough other audiences. That was the time when a female rapper like kim was rare. and should i mention this album cannot be topped at all. it was pure fire, those who remember kim in her prime. aint no b**** come close. Nowadays awards and technology force artist being into king and queen mode.sad.
    No a fan of niki nor kim but if there is a song i like then, but niki silly rap cannot come close to kim

  8. Mickie November 16, 2011

    “Though it has taken fifteen years to move 2 million copies”

    Get your f*cking facts straight. In 2 years Hardcore was considered 2x platinum although the plaque was never given. It took 2 months to go gold, 6 months to go platinum and by the end of 1997 it was reported it sold around well over 1 million copies. By 2001 of course it surpassed the 2 millon mark, the RIAA gave it a 2x platinum plaque for sales which by now has surpassed 3.5 million world-wide.

    “Biggie Smalls, who also served as the project’s chief ghostwriter”

    And Kim wrote all her singles and most of Hardcore. If you’re gonna talk sh*t TGJ come with facts and not rumors.

    http://www.vibe.com/contents/diary-kimberly-jones-junejuly-2011-s**-issue-feature-pg-4

    And hey, atleast Kim didn’t have her label buy mass copies

  9. no time November 16, 2011

    LOL Hardcore only hit selective stores because I heard there wasn’t an uncensored version until it was re-issued in 1997.

    And plus EVERYONE was trying to boycott Hardcore and prevent it from selling because the lyrics were so raunchy and mainstream America wasn’t used to it. To put it simply, only HIP HOP fans bought the damn album until the word got out and Hardcore crossed over, which was when Notorious K.I.M dropped, which went platinum in less under than a month later. Unlike Hardcore which took half a year to go platinum, back when it was hard for SOLO women to even go GOLD.

    Congratz Kim. Hardcore is indeed the blueprint.

  10. jennifer November 16, 2011

    so the first story on y’all new site is a kim coming article throwing shade.This site is pathetic.

  11. Layla November 16, 2011

    Nicki Minaj pays Sam under the table.

  12. In My Honest Opinion November 16, 2011

    LOL @ Sam…. Messy

  13. Speaks Truth November 16, 2011

    i love the new grapejuice, this is everything lol

  14. RealMusicOverBullshit November 16, 2011

    WHY DO U HATE HER SO MUCH? WHEN YOU PROBLY WAS IN THE MIRROR SINGING HER SONGS AS A YOUNG BOY LOL. GET A LIFE. SHES DUN HER TING NO IF BUTS OR MAYBES SHE AINT CALLED QUEEN B FOR THE FUN OF IT.. STOP HATING YO

  15. BEYONCE fan November 16, 2011

    ITS TIME FOR SAM TO GET THE MENTAL HELP SHE NEEDS REALLY! WE ALL KNOW HARDCORE WAS 2 TIMES PLAT THE SECOND YEAR WHO YOU THINK YOU FOOLING #IFY THERE ARE 3 MORE ALBUMS AFTER HANDCORE WHICH ARE PLAT TOOOOOO THATS WHY YOU HATE LIL KIM CAUSE YOU KNOW DEEP DOWN THAT YOUR FAV NICKI WILL NEVER BE ON KIM´S LEVER NEXTTTTTTTTTTTTTTTTTTTTTTTTTTTTTTTT

  16. Lea November 16, 2011

    nicki said herself that she used kim as a platform to even start off her career.She said she used kims hardcore pose as a platform for her to enter the game.She said thats how she got noticed & thats how she even got interviews.Nicki got interviews for being similar to kim which is true cus thats how i even knew who nicki was! Nicki needed kim to start her career off!

  17. gman. November 16, 2011

    This s*** is classic. I was 10 Wen it dropped. U got it goin on.. wa wa.. Lmao. Does Sam really know one thing about this album? He was in England.. Lmao. U had to v in the states for this one. Lol

  18. RealMusicOverBullshit November 16, 2011

    NAHH GMAN ENGLISH PPL KNO BOUT IT.. HES JUST ONE OF THESE NEW BREEDS OF STANS WHO RIDE THESE NEWCOMERS WITHOUT GIVING THE LEGENDS THE RATINGS DEY DESERVE N WITHOUT REALIZING THAT IF IT WERENT FOR THEM THERE WOULD BE NO NEW. IMO 90S WAS WHEN DAT REAL MUSIC GOT MADE. NO SHADE TO NEW TALENT BUT UR MUSIC WONT LAST. COME TEN YEARS TIMES WHOS REALLY GNE PUT ON “PINK FRIDAY” TALKING BOUT “THIS IS CLASSIC” #NO1

  19. Relle November 16, 2011

    STFU… You obviously no nothing about the QOR. #TeamLilKim

  20. BitchIcantevenspellwelfare November 16, 2011

    Classic!

    Bumped “Queen B****” just the other day.

  21. Miss Thang November 16, 2011

    Sam, this article is pathetic, and you ought to be ashamed of yourself. Do you know how hard it was for female rappers back in the day? “Hardcore” set the bar high, and evolved the female rapper. Kim made it okay for a women to rap about what she wanted, and looked fierce while doing it. Not to mention your precious Nicki is using the blueprint of her career to make a career for herself. That’s why she will always be known as a clone in her career, because she can’t stand on her own two feet nor does she posses originality. Kim, and other femcees opened up many doors to Hip-Hop in their day. No, you don’t have to like them, but you need to RESPECT them! Just because they’re older, doesn’t mean they don’t matter. Seriously, what the hell is wrong with my generation?!

  22. TWITTER.COM/ESSENCE_OF_SEAN November 16, 2011

    1. IT DIDN’T TAKE THE ALBUM THAT LONG TO GO 2X PLATINUM

    2. IT SET THE BAR FOR FEMALE RAPPERS ON HOW THEY DRESSED AND RAPPED

    3. THIS IS A ICONIC LEGENDARY HIP HOP ALBUM! HOW DARE YOU DISRESPECT IT.

  23. deveal2914 November 16, 2011

    Iconic record from a iconic artist qb

  24. Kreayshawn mobbing on Nicki, beyonce, Rihanna November 16, 2011

    Oh my.. Congrats kimmy I got this album to favorite track queen b**** which I think is everybody favorite.. Can’t wait for you & kreay to hook up on a track

  25. RDK November 16, 2011

    why a kim post always fool of so much hate,yall always be going ofter someone i never see anyone on a kim post give her straight props without going ofter someone else yall always on the defensive god damn it relax people,and a Nicki post is so welcoming,not saying people don’t talk sh!t over there but you don’t get this hostile vibes from it like a kim post,not that i really give a sh-it just saying…and for what it,s worth kim and her ghost did there thing back in the day.

  26. aisha aguilera keys November 16, 2011

    Sam, u’re mean. Kudos on the new TGJ design, though, I like!

  27. MichaelAngelo November 16, 2011

    who ever wrote this is shady as hell. #TeamQueenKim!

  28. RHI RHI IS QUEEN November 16, 2011

    BIGGIE WROTE MOST OF “HARDCORE”…IT WOULD MAKE MORE SENSE TO MAKE THIS ARTICLE ABOUT BIGGIES ACHIEVEMENTS WHILE ADDING HIM WRITING AND PRODUCING THIS ALBUM FOR HER TO HIS CREDIT.. THAT BUM B**** AINT DO S*** BUT SUCK D*** AND RECITE THE LYRIC MASTA TOLD HER TO.. KRIMBERLY’S WHOLE STYLE WAS MANUFACTURED BY A MAN, SHE’S THE ORIGINAL BARBIE AND SHE TAKES PRIDE IN THAT.. LITERALLY FAKE HEAD TO TOE JUST LIKE BARBIE

  29. antertain November 16, 2011

    Love HARDCORE still & La Bella Mafia
    CLASSICS!!!

    The Naked Truth was hot too

  30. Lebo(CAribbeanBoi) November 16, 2011

    People Fail to understand Kim is a female rap icon/legend … She came from a era where female rappers weren’t recognized, and she dropped hardcore and changed the game .. the first female king …

    They tryna crown this washed up b**** female rap icon, they can’t & never should bcuz she is pop, she aint rap , maybe just a lil hiphop .. KIM is Female Rap Royalty ..

    ITS KIM BITCHESSS!!!

  31. Malibu Barbie November 16, 2011

    i love how thatgrapejuice presents their biased opinions as facts because they know SOME of their weak minded readers will fall for it. i just sit here in pity that this generation of mines continues to disrespect all the legends and veterans who made music/fashion/videos what is TODAY.
    Everyone who does their research knows this album went double platinum in 2 years. why would u make up a LIE and say it reached 2x plat in 15 ??
    Biggie said HIMSELF kim wrote her own s***, he was her mentor so im sure he helped her out with some of it, Kim herself wanted biggie to write her songs for her but he said NO. JAY Z wanted to write Kim’s 2nd album. Kim said NO. everyone who works with kim says she writes her own s***. Nicki Minaj used Lil’ Kim as a platform for her own career, shes following KIMS blueprint. thanks to kim u have a nicki minaj. u can make up ur lies and be biased. but respect what kim has done for female rap. this disrespectful s*** is horrible. shoutout to the ppl on here who arent co signing thatgrapejuice’s disrespect.

  32. I’ma have to send her to her maker November 16, 2011

    YES. Nicki broke the glass. She did what kim did but BETTER. Sorry, that’s just my opinion. Kim is still hood. But nicki is versatile and not boxed into something stereotypical which is why she gets more attention.

  33. I’ma have to send her to her maker November 16, 2011

    And why are people saying it was hard back in the day to sell? If that’s true, It’s HARDER NOW esp when everything is illegally stolen oFF the internet.

  34. King C November 16, 2011

    Never saw this live performance, and I always loved Lil’ Kim. THIS VIDEO IS DOPE!

  35. Itsme November 16, 2011

    This site is just a Lil Kim hater…if you hate her so much why do you even spend time to write articles about her..

    Nicki is a doing what Kim did and of course is doing a bit better because it is the year 2012….Lil Kim did all of this in a time when marketing, payola, and big money was not pumped into an artist to make them worldwide…Kim became a household name off of pure talent…not a gimmick

  36. swagg November 16, 2011

    @ its me i agree…it seems more like nicki is selling her image/gimmicks ( her crazy costumes, voice changing, signing boobs, saying shes lesbo, trying to do a babie movement or whatever ect) where as Kim had an image or a few gimmicks herself but it was backed up by talent its like 50% of nicki rhymes is hardcore the other half is wackness.com 90% of Kim material is wicked and she aint playin games..and flop juice it didnt take 15 years that would mean the cd is still selling today which i think is hardly the case

  37. The Naked Truth November 16, 2011

    A HIP HOP CLASSIC!!!

    Male or Female this will go down as one of the all time greats.

    From start to finish “Hardcore” just FLOWS!!1

    “Pink Friday” CANNOT compare!

  38. bestuyfly November 16, 2011

    F*** YALL N***** AT GRAPE JUICE! YA STAY HATING ON KIM, WHAT THE F*** SHE EVER TO YALL? KIM WROTE ALOTE ON HARDCORE, F*** THIS WEBSITE FOR THROWING SHADE ON HER NAME. YA ALWAYS SUCKING OFF NICKI MINAJ, AND THAT B**** DONT EVEN GOT TALENT!

  39. deontay November 17, 2011

    damn,it’s like there ain’t no pleasin yall kim fanz..clearly TGJ had been lookin @ yall comments and is prasie’N the gurl but too much ain’t enough huh?? lol?? i mean,like wtf b******,nobody’s gonna say what yall want us too say,which is “kim is the baddest b**** around”cus then we would b takin a first class trip 2 hell 4 lie’n…i hate the gurl,but i give her props..she WAS ONCE the baddest b**** around..but not no mooooorrrree..now we got missy,eve,trina and *cough cough*NICKI!!!so yall jst stay mad and hope this b**** do good!!
    aye but 4real tho,yall remember when she looked human like that?!?!? i sure in the hellz do!!LMFAO!!

  40. Nicki STAN November 17, 2011

    I don’t understand the people that continuously s*** on Nicki when she’s said time & time again Kim was an influence in her career. Hardcore is a classic album but at the same time you can’t be bitter at someone (who’s bigged you up numerously) that doing their thing in 2011. #TakeASeat

  41. TGJ HATING November 17, 2011

    @DEONTAY

    Don’t be stupid. Praising and then downright disrespecting someone on the same article is different. The praise don’t mean s*** if you’re gonna be disrespectful as f***. What if TGJ said Nicki broke record slaes and then added that her label probably bought a lot of them or she had Wayne writing for her, Nicki fans wouldn’t be saying S***! Last time I checked, her POP debut album proved that Nicki is FAR from being “the baddest b****”.

    @RHI RHI IS QUEEN

    If you’re gonna talk s*** like TGJ and state that as a fact you’re gonna have to come with proof.

    No proof = STFU

  42. nicegirl November 17, 2011

    Kim is better at rapping live. I love this song and that album is a classic.

  43. CALL ME HATERRRRRRRRRRRRRRR November 19, 2011

    TGJ IS A BUNCH OF QUEEN GAY DUDES WHO JUDGE MORE WOMEN THEN MEN BECAUSE THEY FEEL LIKE WOMEN!!!!

    GET THE HELL OUT OF HERE, IF YOU GONE LIST THIS ‘BLACK’ WOMAN’S ACCOMPLISHMENT DO IT WITHOUT SLANDERING HER NAME

  44. TGJ rides beyonce’s c*** January 27, 2012

    you tgj fols really slippin

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