Celebrating Lil Kim’s “Hard Core” (1996)

Episode notes

This week, Oliver and Morgan are discussing Lil’ Kim’s debut studio record “Hard Core” which is turning 25 years old this year. We get into Lil’ Kim’s role in Bad Boy and Junior M.A.F.I.A., the effect she had on the Megan Thee Stallions and Cardi B’s of today, and what made this record so unforgettable.

More on Hard Core

• A timely reminder that Lil Kim’s ‘Hard Core’ is still the greatest rap record of all time (NME)
• Biggie’s reference track for Queen Bitch
• How Lil’ Kim’s ‘Hard Core’ Changed Rap (The Ringer)

Show Tracklisting (all songs from Hard Core unless otherwise indicated):

• Drugs
• Spend A Little Doe
• Junior M.A.F.I.A.: Get Money
• Big Momma Thang
• Not Tonight
• Big Momma Thang
• Not Tonight
• Spend A Little Doe
• Jeru The Damaja: Ya Playin’ Yaself
• Total: Can’t You See
• 112: Peaches and Cream
• Junior M.A.F.I.A.: Player’s Anthem
• Foxy Brown: I’ll Be
• Foxy Brown: (Holy Matrimony) Letter to the Firm
• City Girls: Fuck On U
• HWA: Little Dick
• No Time
• Fuck You
• Roberta Flack: Hey That’s No Way To Say Goodbye
• Queen Bitch
• The Notorious B.I.G.: Queen Bitch
• Drugs
• Fuck You
• Dreams
• We Don’t Need It
• Crush On You
• Big Poppa
• Dreams
• Scheamin’
• Big Momma Thang
• Crush On You
• Crush On You (Remix)
• The Jeff Lorber Fusion: Rain Dance
• No Time
• G Yamazawa: Crush On You
• Mariah Carey: A No No
• Lido: Melodies From Heaven/Crush On You
• No Time
• Crush On You
• Foxy Brown: Ill Na Na
• Nicki Minaj: Itty Bitty Piggy
• Nicki Minaj: Barbie Dreams

Here is the Spotify playlist of as many songs as we can find on there

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