Hard Core 2K14 | ||||
---|---|---|---|---|
Mixtape by | ||||
Released | September 11, 2014 | |||
Genre | Hip hop | |||
Length | 34:43 | |||
Label | I.R.S Records | |||
Lil' Kim chronology | ||||
| ||||
Singles from Hard Core 2K14 | ||||
|
Hard Core (also known as Hard Core 2K14) is the third mixtape by American rapper 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 Kim's pregnancy.
With fans often suggesting that Kim create something Hard Core inspired, the idea to recreate the "movement" came from Kim's manager, Big Fendi. [1] 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 [2] Kim officially announced the mixtape, Hard Core 2K13, on July 26, 2013, along with the cover art. [3] On September 11, 2013, Kim announced that the mixtape would be released on October 31, 2013. [3] 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. [3] That same day, the track list was released. [4] 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. [5] 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. [6] 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 . [7]
Although they share the same name, Hard Core 2K14 was never intended to serve as a part two to her debut album, Hard Core . Kim only wanted to give listeners a "taste" of the original. [8] The title was more to do with recapturing the feeling that you got when you listened to her debut, a feeling Kim called "cocaine raps". [1] Kim felt that the lyrical content also had a common feel with that of her debut, [1] describing it as "heavy" and "sexual". [6]
On September 20, 2014, Kim performed at The Source's first annual SOURCE360 concert at Barclays Center [9]
Hard Core received favorable reviews from critics. A writer for XXL wrote "With the original Hard Core ranking with the best in the mafioso genre, Hard Core 2k14 plays more of a reminder of who Lil Kim once was." [10]
No. | Title | Length |
---|---|---|
1. | "Intro – In A Minor Part 2" | 1:26 |
2. | "Stadium Music" (featuring Yo Gotti) | 2:37 |
3. | "Identity Theft" | 2:20 |
4. | "Real Sick" (featuring Jadakiss) | 2:49 |
5. | "Trendsetter" | 3:36 |
6. | "MIGO" (featuring TLZ & Young Bonds) | 4:03 |
7. | "Whenever You See Me" (featuring Cassidy) | 3:36 |
8. | "Work the Pole" | 1:56 |
9. | "Suicide" (featuring French Montana) | 3:11 |
10. | "Dead Gal Walking" | 2:28 |
11. | "Kimmy Blanco" | 3:16 |
12. | "Haterz" (featuring B. Ford) | 3:25 |
Total length: | 34:43 |
Kimberly Denise Jones, better known by her stage name Lil' Kim, is an American rapper. She was born and raised in New York City and lived much of her adolescent life on the streets after being expelled from home. In her teens, she would freestyle rap, influenced by fellow female hip hop artists like MC Lyte and the Lady of Rage. In 1994, she was discovered by fellow rapper The Notorious B.I.G., who invited her to join his group Junior M.A.F.I.A.; their debut album, Conspiracy, generated two top 20 singles in the United States and was certified gold by the Recording Industry Association of America (RIAA).
Mario Sentell Giden Mims, known professionally as Yo Gotti, is an American rapper. In 1996, he released his debut album Youngsta's On a Come Up under the alias Lil Yo. He went on to release From Da Dope Game 2 Da Rap Game (2000), Self-Explanatory (2001), Life (2003), Back 2 da Basics (2006), Live from the Kitchen (2012), I Am (2013), The Art of Hustle (2016), I Still Am (2017), Untrapped (2020) and CM10: Free Game.
Fershgenet Melaku, better known as LoLa Monroe and previously known as Angel Melaku, is an American rapper and actress.
Jermaine Coleman, better known by his stage name Maino, is an American rapper from Brooklyn, New York City.
Onika Tanya Maraj-Petty, known professionally as Nicki Minaj, is a Trinidadian-born rapper, singer, and songwriter. She is known for her musical versatility, animated flow in her rapping, alter egos and accents. She is also recognized as an influential figure in pop culture, having inspired several rap and pop artists. Minaj first gained recognition after releasing three mixtapes between 2007 and 2009.
Karim Kharbouch, better known by his stage name French Montana, is a Moroccan-American rapper. Born and raised in Morocco, he immigrated to the United States with his family when he was 13. He is the founder of Coke Boys Records and its predecessor Cocaine City Records. After years of independent material, he signed a joint-venture record deal with Puff Daddy's Bad Boy Records and Rick Ross's Maybach Music Group in 2012.
Justin Lewis Scott, better known by his stage name Big K.R.I.T., is an American rapper and record producer. Born in Meridian, Mississippi, he started his musical career in 2005. After signing with Def Jam Recordings, K.R.I.T. gained notable recognition following the release of his single, "Country Shit", which featured Ludacris and Bun B on the remix. In June 2012, he released his debut studio album, Live from the Underground, which debuted at number five on the Billboard 200 chart.
Black Friday is the second mixtape by American rapper Lil' Kim, released on February 14, 2011 through PayPal. The title track is a response to Nicki Minaj's song "Roman's Revenge". The mixtape also contains the track "Grindin' Makin' Money", a collaboration which features rappers Birdman and Nicki Minaj, which Kim claims ignited the feud between her and Minaj, as well as another diss song towards Minaj titled "Pissin' on 'Em".
Shante Scott Franklin, better known by his stage name Currensy, is an American rapper. Born and raised in New Orleans, Louisiana, he was signed to hip hop labels such as No Limit, Cash Money and Young Money, before he founded his own label Jet Life Recordings, in 2011.
Keith Farrelle Cozart, better known by his stage name Chief Keef, is an American rapper, singer, songwriter, and record producer. His music first became popular during his teen years in the early 2010s among high school students from Chicago's South Side. In 2012, his popular local single "I Don't Like" was remixed by American rapper Kanye West and reached the Billboard Rap Top 20, further raising Cozart's profile. A bidding war between major labels resulted in Keef signing with Interscope. His debut album Finally Rich was released in December 2012, and featured the singles "I Don't Like" and "Love Sosa", which would popularize the Chicago rap subgenre drill.
Nicholaus Joseph Williams, better known by his stage name Trinidad James, is a Trinidadian-American rapper. In 2012, he signed a recording contract with Def Jam Recordings. The label dropped him in 2014 when he failed to release an album, although he continues to release music as an independent artist and is signed to Artist Publishing Group for songwriting.
Sucka Free is the second mixtape by rapper Nicki Minaj. It was released on April 12, 2008, through Dirty Money Records. Sucka Free features guest appearances from fellow rappers Lil Wayne, Gucci Mane, Jadakiss, Lil' Kim and Ransom. Production derives from Daven "Prestige" Vanderpool, Diddy, James Todd Smith, among others. None of the tracks have original instrumentals, using other productions of popular hip hop records.
Derrick Antonio Coleman, known professionally as Fredo Santana, was an American rapper. The older cousin of rapper Chief Keef, Santana began recording music in 2011, releasing a series of mixtapes throughout 2012 and 2013.
Dedication 5 is a mixtape by American rapper Lil Wayne, hosted by DJ Drama. The mixtape was released on September 1, 2013. It is the fifth installment of Lil Wayne's "Dedication" series, following its predecessors The Dedication, Dedication 2, Dedication 3 and Dedication 4. It's also the fifth installment of Lil Wayne's "Gangsta Grillz" series. The mixtape features guest appearances from The Weeknd, Chance the Rapper, Jae Millz, Future, Birdman, Mack Maine, T.I., Vado and Kidd Kidd among others.
The Migos is an American hip hop trio from Lawrenceville, Georgia, founded in 2008. The group was originally composed of Southern rappers Quavo, Takeoff, and Offset. Quavo is from Athens, Georgia and Offset and Takeoff were born and raised in nearby Lawrenceville, Georgia. As a group, they were managed by Coach K, the former manager of Gucci Mane and Jeezy, and frequently collaborated with producers such as DJ Durel, Murda Beatz, Zaytoven, and Buddah Bless. Recognized for their contribution to trap music in the 2010s, Billboard stated that the group "influenced pop culture and the entire English language by bringing their North Atlanta roots to the mainstream".
Sochitta Sal, professionally known by her stage name Honey Cocaine, or Honey C, is a Canadian rapper.
Brandon George Dickinson, better known by his stage name Lil Bibby, is an American rapper and record executive. Beginning his career in 2011, Bibby released his debut mixtape in 2013, titled Free Crack. After signing with Kemosabe Records, he followed up the project with Free Crack 2 (2014) and Free Crack 3 (2015). In 2017, he eventually switched focus onto his own record label, Grade A Productions. Bibby would eventually sign fellow Chicago rapper and singer Juice Wrld and Australian rapper and singer The Kid Laroi to the label; both signed artists achieved success globally.
Dimitri Leslie Roger, professionally known as Rich the Kid, is an American rapper. He released his debut studio album, The World Is Yours, on March 30, 2018, supported by his hit singles "New Freezer" and "Plug Walk". His second studio album, The World Is Yours 2, was released on March 22, 2019, and his third studio album, Boss Man, on March 13, 2020.
Marquis Amonte King, better known by the stage names Jefe or Shy Glizzy, is an American rapper from Southeast, Washington, D.C.
Durk Derrick Banks, known professionally as Lil Durk, is an American rapper, singer, and songwriter from Chicago, Illinois. He is the lead member and founder of the collective and record label Only the Family (OTF). Durk garnered a cult following with the release of his Signed to the Streets mixtape series (2013–2014), which led to a record deal with Def Jam Recordings. The company would release his debut studio albums, Remember My Name (2015) and Lil Durk 2X (2016) before parting ways with the label in 2018.