Hardcore

Hardcore, hard core or hard-core may refer to:

Music

Genres

Hard Core (Lil' Kim album)

Hard Core is the debut studio album by American rapper Lil' Kim; it was released on November 12, 1996 by Undeas Recordings and Big Beat Records. The album was notable for its overt raunchy sexual tone and Kim's lyrical delivery, which was praised by music critics shortly after its release.

Hard Core debuted at number eleven on the U.S. Billboard 200, and number three on Billboard's Top R&B Albums, selling 78,000 copies in its first week of release, and reached the top ten of the Canadian Albums Chart. In the United States, Hard Core was certified double platinum by the RIAA, and is considered by many a classic hip hop album.

Background

After making her debut recording appearance on Junior M.A.F.I.A.'s Conspiracy album, Lil' Kim appeared on records by artists such as Mona Lisa, The Isley Brothers, and Total. With recording her debut album, Hard Core was principally recorded at Manhattan-based studio, The Hit Factory, in New York City. Working with a number of producers, including Sean "Puff Daddy" Combs and Jermaine Dupri, the album featured edgy hardcore rap and explicit sexuality, as the title suggested, which at the time were two territories that had long been the province of male rappers. The album was originally titled "Queen Bee".

Hard Core (Lil' Kim mixtape)

Hard Core (also known as Hard Core 2K14) is the third mixtape by American recording artist Lil' Kim, released on September 11, 2014 by I.R.S Records. The mixtape was first announced on July 26, 2013, and originally had a release date of October 31, 2013, but was pushed back due to Jones' pregnancy.

Background

With fans often suggesting that Kim create something Hard Core inspired, the idea to recreate the "movement" came from Kim's manager, Big Fendi. News of the project first began circulating on July 10, 2013 when Big Mike The Ruler, who hosted Kim's previous mixtape, Black Friday, tweeted that work was beginning on a new mixtape and for beats to be sent in Kim officially announced the mixtape, Hard Core 2K13, on July 26, 2013, along with the cover art. On September 11, 2013, Kim announced that the mixtape would be released on October 31, 2013. On the day of release it was announced by Kim's manager, Big Fendi, that the mixtape had been pushed back to November 29, 2013, due to work not being completed on an app that was to accompany the mixtape. That same day, the tracklist was released. The mixtape was eventually pushed back again due to Kim's pregnancy and a new release date wasn't given until August 8, 2014 when it was announced that Hard Core 2K14 would be released on September 11, 2014. Kim choose to release the mixtape on September 11 as a way of remembering those who died in the September 11 attacks in 2001 and as a way of making those affected by the tragedy smile. A new cover was revealed on September 9, 2014, alluding to her debut album Hard Core from 1996. The cover also pays homage to LL Cool J's 1989 album Walking with a Panther.