Lil’ Kim Album The Naked Truth

Lil’ Kim
Album : The Naked Truth
Release Date: September 27, 2005
Label: Atlantic

Review :

The average life of a female rapper is pretty short. Artists like Queen Latifah, Salt-N-Pepa, Roxanne Shante and MC Lyte may have paved the way for the female emcees in the game today but their careers pretty much peaked and diminished within a few years. Things haven’t changed much. Foxy Brown came out swingin’ in 1996 on her debut "Ill Na Na" and struggled to release three albums within her 5 year career, ultimately seeing all of her albums shelved after 2001’s "Broken Silence". Eve popped up in 1999 with the Ruff Ryders but as DMX’s legal troubles increased and loyal crew members began to stray, so did Eve. Rah Digga and Lauryn Hill only got one album a piece. Angie Martinez and Sole have all come and gone since their debuts and Charli Baltimore didn’t even get a chance to release an album. Needless to say, nobody is checking for female rappers. With the exception of one.

In 1995 the Junior M.A.F.I.A.’s debut album debuted at #8 on the charts. It spawned two #1 rap singles and was certified gold. They were riding high as one of hip hop’s premiere groups at that time. One of whom, Lil Kim, has still yet to hit her peak. 1996 came her double platinum debut "Hardcore", preceded by two platinum follow-ups, 2000’s "The Notorious K.I.M." and 2003’s Grammy nominated "La Bella Mafia". After ten years in the game, she is back with her forth and most consistent work to date, "The Naked Truth".

The album which garnered the coveted five mics rating from The Source magazine, finds Kim shedding her sex-icon image and embracing her womanhood and maturity. With current legal troubles brewing, Kim has churned out a career defining opus. From the opening "Spell Check" to the hauntingly personal "Last Day", "The Naked Truth" proves to be the best female rap album of all time. The lead single "Lighters Up" truly sets the tone for an album full of potential hits, such as "Whoa" (formerly known as "My Niggaz"), "All Good", and "I Know You See Me". She takes shots at her rivals (calling out the J.M., 50 Cent and Foxy Brown by name) on the Game assisted "Quiet" and the countless gossip columnists on "Shut Up Bitch". Nobody is safe from Kim’s tart tongue and ruthless wrath, not even former lawyer turned View co-host Star Jones Reynolds.

Lyrically her game is at it’s best, straying from the sexual explicitness that made her famous, with the exception of "Kitty Box" and "Kronik". T.I. and Twista turn up for great appearances on "We Don’t Give a Fuck" and "Get Yours" respectively. It’s when Kim gets most personal that the album shines. Tracks like "Slippin" and "Last Day" show a surprisingly vulnerable side to the Queen Bitch.

Since 1995, she has reigned as the undisputed Queen of New York. Many claim that Foxy was nipping at her heels but if that was the case, "Naked Truth" separates them by miles. This is something that you would not expect to come from a female rapper. Its the female equivalent to B.I.G.’s "Ready To Die". Instead of being over-produced and heavily pop influenced, Kim strips the music down and bares her soul without having anything take away from her skills. She is the best female rapper to ever touch a mic and there is going to be a hell of a while before there is even one that could compare.

Track listing :

1. Introduction
2. Spell Check
3. Lighters Up
4. Shut Up Bitch Intro
5. Shut Up Bitch
6. My Niggas
7. Slippin
8. Answering Machine Skit 1
9. All Good
10. I Know You See Me
11. W.P.I.M.P.
12. Quiet (w/ The Game)
13. Durty
14. Answering Machine Skit 2
15. We Don’t Give A Fuck (w/ Bun B & Twista)
16. Gimme That (w/ Maino)
17. Kitty Box
18. Kronik (w/ Snoop Dogg)
19. Winners and Losers
20. Get Yours! (w/ T.I. & Shamel)
21. Last Day