Studio Album · No. 1
Hard Core Songwriting Credits by Lil' Kim
Produced by Stretch Armstrong, Stevie J, Diddy, Ski Beatz, The Notorious B.I.G., Fanatic, Fabian Hamilton, Carlos "6 July" Broady
Undeas / Big Beat / Atlantic
East Coast Hip HopHip Hop
93%
Authorship
Holds writing credit on 14 of 15 tracks
Authorship Breakdown 14 / 15 documented
Who wrote the songs?
Scored across the 15 tracks with documented writers, by whether Lil' Kim carries a lyricist or composer credit.
14 trackswritten by Lil' Kim
1 trackoutside writers
Lil' Kim's roles on this album
Share of the 15 tracks where a band member is credited, by role.
Lyricist93%
Composer93%
Producer0%
Performer100%
By the Numbers
15
Tracks
42
Lyricists
15
Producers
5 million
Worldwide Copies Sold
1996
Released
Data Insight
The album that started the ghostwriting argument, and the credits give it a shape rather than a verdict: The Notorious B.I.G. co-writes five of the fifteen tracks and produces two, Lil' Cease two more, and Kim herself is credited on fourteen. No other album in her catalogue has an outside writer anywhere near that share.
Hard Core is Lil' Kim's debut studio album, released on 12 November 1996 through Undeas, Big Beat and Atlantic. Fifteen tracks. It reached number 11 on the Billboard 200 and number 3 on the R&B/Hip-Hop chart, sold roughly five million copies worldwide, and is certified two times platinum by the RIAA.
Track Listing & Credits 15 tracks
Written by the artist
Written by outside writers
| # | Title | Lyricist(s) | Composer(s) | Producer(s) | Performers |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 |
Intro in A-Minor
|
Lil' Kim | Kimberly Denise Jones | - | Lil' Kim (Lead Vocals) |
| 2 |
Big Momma Thang
|
Lil' KimJAŸ-ZLil' CeaseStretch ArmstrongHarvey FuquaSylvester | Kimberly Denise JonesJAŸ-ZLil' CeaseStretch ArmstrongHarvey FuquaSylvester | Stretch Armstrong | Lil' Kim (Lead Vocals)JAŸ-Z (Vocals)Lil' Cease (Vocals) |
| 3 |
No Time
#18
|
Lil' KimDiddyStevie JJames Brown | Kimberly Denise JonesSean John CombsStevie JJames Brown | Stevie JDiddy | Lil' Kim (Lead Vocals)Diddy (Vocals) |
| 4 |
Spend a Little Doe
|
Lil' KimSki Beatz | Kimberly Denise JonesSki Beatz | Ski Beatz | Lil' Kim (Lead Vocals) |
| 5 |
Take It!
|
Lil' Kim | Kimberly Denise Jones | The Notorious B.I.G. | Lil' Kim (Lead Vocals) |
| 6 |
Crush on You
#23
|
Lil' CeaseFanaticThe Notorious B.I.G.Jeff Lorber | Lil' CeaseFanaticChristopher George Latore WallaceJeff Lorber | Fanatic | Lil' Kim (Lead Vocals) |
| 7 |
Drugs
|
Dominic OwenLil' KimFabian HamiltonIsaac Hayes | Dominic OwenKimberly Denise JonesFabian HamiltonIsaac Hayes | Fabian Hamilton | Lil' Kim (Lead Vocals)The Notorious B.I.G. (Vocals) |
| 8 |
Scheamin'
|
Lil' Kim | Kimberly Denise Jones | - | Lil' Kim (Lead Vocals) |
| 9 |
Queen Bitch
|
The Notorious B.I.G.Lil' KimCarlos "6 July" BroadyNashiem Myrick | Christopher George Latore WallaceKimberly Denise JonesCarlos "6 July" BroadyNashiem Myrick | Carlos "6 July" BroadyNashiem Myrick | Lil' Kim (Lead Vocals) |
| 10 |
Dreams
|
Lil' KimDaven "Prestige" VanderpoolReggie AndrewsJames BrownD'AngeloAli Shaheed Muhammad | Kimberly Denise JonesDaven "Prestige" VanderpoolReggie AndrewsJames BrownD'AngeloAli Shaheed Muhammad | Daven "Prestige" Vanderpool | Lil' Kim (Lead Vocals) |
| 11 |
M.A.F.I.A. Land
|
Bert KaempfertLil' KimThe Notorious B.I.G.Brent "Faraoh" ToussaintHerbert RehbeinRichard Ahlert | Bert KaempfertKimberly Denise JonesChristopher George Latore WallaceBrent "Faraoh" ToussaintHerbert RehbeinRichard Ahlert | Brent "Faraoh" Toussaint | Lil' Kim (Lead Vocals) |
| 12 |
We Don't Need It
|
The Notorious B.I.G.Lil' KimMark RichardsonRayshaun Spain | Christopher George Latore WallaceKimberly Denise JonesMark RichardsonRayshaun Spain | Minnesota | Lil' Kim (Lead Vocals)Junior M.A.F.I.A. (Vocals) |
| 13 |
Not Tonight
#6
|
Lil' KimAngie MartinezLeft EyeDa BratMissy ElliottKhalis BayyanDennis "D.T." ThomasJames "J.T." TaylorClaydes SmithMeekaaeel MuhammadGeorge BrownRobert "Kool" BellEarl Toon | Kimberly Denise JonesAngie MartinezLeft EyeDa BratMissy ElliottKhalis BayyanDennis "D.T." ThomasJames "J.T." TaylorClaydes SmithMeekaaeel MuhammadGeorge BrownRobert "Kool" BellEarl Toon | Rashad SmithArmando Colon | Lil' Kim (Lead Vocals)Left Eye (Vocals)Da Brat (Vocals)Missy Elliott (Vocals)Angie Martinez (Vocals) |
| 14 |
Player Haters
|
Lil' Kim | Kimberly Denise Jones | Chris "Cornbread" Cresco | Lil' Kim (Lead Vocals) |
| 15 |
Fuck You
|
Lil' KimLarcenyThe Notorious B.I.G.Chris "Cornbread" CrescoRayshaun Spain | Kimberly Denise JonesLarcenyChristopher George Latore WallaceChris "Cornbread" CrescoRayshaun Spain | The Notorious B.I.G.Chris "Cornbread" Cresco | Lil' Kim (Lead Vocals)Rayshaun Spain (Vocals)Larceny (Vocals) |
Songwriter & Credit Spotlight 49 contributors
KD
Kimberly Denise Jones
Writer
LK
Lil' Kim
Writer · Vocals
TN
The Notorious B.I.G.
Writer · Producer · Vocals
CG
Christopher George Latore Wallace
Writer
JB
James Brown
Writer
LC
Lil' Cease
Writer · Vocals
RS
Rayshaun Spain
Writer · Vocals
C"
Chris "Cornbread" Cresco
Writer · Producer
B"
Brent "Faraoh" Toussaint
Writer · Producer
C"
Carlos "6 July" Broady
Writer · Producer
D"
Daven "Prestige" Vanderpool
Writer · Producer
D
Diddy
Writer · Producer · Vocals
More from Lil' Kim
Frequently Asked Questions Hard Core
When was Hard Core released?
12 November 1996 through Undeas, Big Beat and Atlantic. It is her debut studio album.
Did Lil’ Kim write Hard Core?
She is credited on fourteen of the fifteen tracks. The Notorious B.I.G. co-writes five of them, the largest outside writing share on any of her albums.
How did Hard Core chart?
Number 11 on the Billboard 200, number 3 on Top R&B/Hip-Hop Albums, number 62 in Canada and number 116 in the UK.
How many copies did it sell?
Roughly five million worldwide and 1.5 million in the US, where it is certified two times platinum.
What were the singles?
"No Time" reached number 18 on the Hot 100, "Crush on You" number 23 in the UK, and the "Ladies Night" remix of "Not Tonight" reached number 6.
Who produced Hard Core?
A spread of producers rather than one. The Notorious B.I.G. produced two tracks himself, alongside Chris "Cornbread" Cresco, Stretch Armstrong, Stevie J and others.