Hard Core is the debut studio album by American rapper Lil' Kim,released on November 12,1996,by Undeas Recordings,Big Beat Records,and Atlantic Records. After achieving success with the hip hop group Junior M.A.F.I.A. and their album Conspiracy (1995),Kim began working on her solo album with the Notorious B.I.G. serving as the executive producer. She collaborated with a number of producers,such as Sean "Puff Daddy" Combs,Stevie J.,David "Ski" Willis and Jermaine Dupri,among others. Other rappers,including Jay-Z,Lil' Cease and Puff Daddy were featured on the album.
"Lady Marmalade" is a song written by Bob Crewe and Kenny Nolan that is famous for the refrain of "Voulez-vous coucher avec moi?" in French,a sexual proposition that translates into English as:"Do you want to sleep with me?" The song first became a popular hit when it was recorded in 1974 by the American funk rock group Labelle and held the number-one spot on the Billboard Hot 100 chart for one week,and also topped the Canadian RPM national singles chart. In 2021,the Library of Congress selected Labelle's version for preservation in the National Recording Registry for being "culturally,historically,or aesthetically significant".
"One More Chance / Stay with Me (Remix)" is a song written and recorded by American rapper The Notorious B.I.G. Three versions of the song exist:An original,lyrically explicit version prefaced by an answering machine performance featured on the album,and two versions released as singles,both of which contain identical lyrics by B.I.G. despite differing instrumentals and choruses. The first is an upbeat "Hip Hop Mix" that samples Marley Marl's "Droppin Science",and the second is a sultrier R&B remix parenthetically labeled the "Stay with Me Remix",which samples the namesake 1983 song by the band DeBarge. The lattermost remains the most popular,and features backing vocals and harmonies performed by his wife Faith Evans,as well as uncredited appearances by Mary J. Blige and Bad Boy Records label boss Puff Daddy—who also produced the version with Rashad Smith. It received platinum certification by the RIAA by July 31,1995,and has sold 1.1 million copies.
"It's All About the Benjamins" is a song by American rapper and producer Puff Daddy. It was released as the third single from his debut studio album No Way Out. "Benjamins" is a slang word for money,referring to Benjamin Franklin's image on the US $100 bill. The song featured an uncredited vocal arrangement by Missy "Misdemeanor" Elliott,and featured a signature guitar hook played by Marc Solomon.
"Hypnotize" is a song by American rapper the Notorious B.I.G. featuring uncredited vocals by Pamela Long,released as the first single from his album Life After Death by Bad Boy and Arista Records on March 4,1997. The last song released before his death in a drive-by shooting a week later,it was the fifth song by a credited artist to peak the Billboard Hot 100 posthumously since "(Just Like) Starting Over" by John Lennon in 1980. Rolling Stone ranked the song as number 30 on their list of the "100 Greatest Hip-Hop Songs of All Time".
"Lighters Up" is a single written and recorded by rapper Lil' Kim appearing as the first single off her fourth album,The Naked Truth. It was produced by her ex-boyfriend,record producer Scott Storch. The song has a similar tone to Damian Marley's Welcome to Jamrock. It was released on August 30,2005. The album was originally due to be released September 13,but was delayed until September 27 because Queen Bee Entertainment felt that sales would not hold with the single "Lighters Up". The single debuted at number 100 on the Billboard Hot 100,then quickly climbed up to number 31. The single had a moderate chart performance in the United Kingdom,peaking at number 12 on the UK Singles Chart.
"No Matter What They Say" is a song by Lil' Kim from her second album The Notorious K.I.M. (2000). It was released as the lead single from the album on May 30,2000 by Atlantic Records and Queen Bee Entertainment.
"The Jump Off" is a song by American rapper Lil' Kim featuring rapper Mr. Cheeks and Timbaland,who produced the track. It was released by Atlantic Records on February 10,2003 as the lead single from her third studio album La Bella Mafia (2003).
"Not Tonight" is a song performed by the American rapper Lil' Kim featuring Jermaine Dupri for her debut studio album Hard Core (1996). A remix was released the following year featuring female rappers Da Brat,Missy "Misdeameanor" Elliott,Angie Martinez,and Lisa "Left Eye" Lopes for the Nothing to Lose soundtrack. It was released on June 24,1997,by Atlantic Records.
"Satisfy You" is a R&B single by American hip-hop artist and producer Puff Daddy and features vocals by American R&B singer-songwriter R. Kelly on the hook. It was released in 1999. The song spent six weeks at number one on the U.S. R&B chart and peaked at number two on the Billboard Hot 100 chart for three weeks behind "Smooth" by Santana featuring Rob Thomas. The song was co-written by both Combs and Kelly,with additional writing by R&B singer Kelly Price,who performs backing vocals. The song's beat and bassline is taken from "I Got 5 on It" by Luniz,which itself interpolates Club Nouveau's "Why You Treat Me So Bad" among others. In contrast to the original song's subject matter,which is about marijuana. The song is about satisfying the significant other. The song garnered a nomination for Best Rap Performance by a Duo or Group at the 42nd Grammy Awards in 2000.
"I'll Be There for You/You're All I Need to Get By" is a duet song by American rapper Method Man,featuring American singer-songwriter Mary J. Blige. The song is a remix of Method Man's "All I Need",which appears on his debut studio album Tical (1994). The song,a hip hop soul record,was released as a single by Def Jam Recordings and PolyGram Records on April 25,1995.
"Notorious B.I.G." is a song and single by the Notorious B.I.G. from the album Born Again,which features Lil' Kim,and Puff Daddy. As a tribute song,Lil' Kim and Puff Daddy's verses have little relevance to Biggie's verse,which is about being in the hospital while being comforted by attractive female nurses. It samples the song "Notorious" by Duran Duran.
"No One Else" is a song by American girl group Total featuring American rapper Da Brat. It was released as the second single from Total's self-titled debut studio album on November 28,1995,by Bad Boy and Arista Records. The song was produced by Bad Boy founder Sean "Puffy" Combs and Poke of the Trackmasters,while the songwriting was handled by the two alongside the featured Da Brat and Terri &Monica vocalist Terri Robinson. The song also contains a sample from the track "South Bronx" by Boogie Down Productions.
"Can't You See" is a 1995 song by American R&B girl group Total,released as their debut single. The track was released from the New Jersey Drive soundtrack and also later appeared on their debut album,Total. After making their recording debut on his tracks "Juicy","One More Chance" and "One More Chance" ",The Notorious B.I.G. returned the favor with an intro rap verse to the song. The track was written and arranged by Terri &Monica's Terri Robinson,produced entirely by Sean "Puffy" Combs with instrumentation provided by associates Rashad Smith,Herb Middleton and Chucky Thompson and contains a sample from James Brown's "The Payback". The track was a success both on the mainstream US Billboard Hot 100 chart,reaching number thirteen and the Hot R&B/Hip-Hop Songs chart,where it made number three. The song also peaked at number forty-three on the UK Singles Chart,where it charted for two weeks.
The discography of American rapper Sean Combs consists of five studio albums,two collaborative albums,one remix album and seventy-two singles –including thirty-three as a lead artist and thirty-nine as a featured artist.
"I Need a Girl (Part Two)" is a single by American rapper P. Diddy. It was released on May 21,2002 as the second single from Diddy's and Bad Boy Records' remix album,We Invented the Remix (2002). It is a sequel to the single "I Need a Girl (Part One)",released a few months prior. The song includes guest appearances from Ginuwine,Loon,Mario Winans and Tammy Ruggeri. It was written by Sean Combs,Chauncey Hawkins,Mario Winans,Frankie Romano,Michael Carlos Jones and Adonis Shropshire and produced by Mario Winans and Diddy. Just like with "I Need a Girl (Part One)",the music video was directed by Benny Boom.
"Been Around the World" is a song by American rapper Puff Daddy,featuring the Notorious B.I.G. and Mase and included on Puff Daddy's debut studio album No Way Out (1997). The song samples David Bowie's 1983 hit song "Let's Dance",and contains an interpolation of Lisa Stansfield's song "All Around the World",sung by the Notorious B.I.G. in the chorus. In the album version,the song concludes with a skit featuring an interview with "The Mad Producer".
"Sugar (Gimme Some)" is a song by American rapper Trick Daddy featuring fellow American rapper Ludacris &American singer CeeLo Green,released as the second single from the former's sixth studio album Thug Matrimony:Married to the Streets (2004). Produced by Mike Caren,the single was certified Gold by the RIAA.
"The Things That You Do" is a song performed by American R&B singer Gina Thompson from her debut album,Nobody Does It Better (1996). The single version was released as the Bad Boy Remix featuring Missy Elliott,who gained notability and mainstream attention for her unique signature,"Hee-Hee-How" punchline. Elliott's contribution managed to help the single crack the top 20 on Billboard's Hot R&B/Hip-Hop Songs chart,where it peaked at #12 and spent a total of 29 weeks. The song also appeared on the US Billboard Hot 100 chart,where it peaked at #41.
"Can't Nobody Hold Me Down" is the debut single by rapper Puff Daddy. It appears on Puff Daddy's debut studio album No Way Out and the song was released to Rhythmic contemporary radio in December 1996 and was physically released on January 7,1997. The single was released through BMG Music,Arista Records and Puff Daddy's Bad Boy Records.
