Though she stands just under 5 feet tall, the phenomenon known as Lil' Kim possesses a presence and persona that looms well beyond her tiny frame. From her days as the feisty frontwoman of the Brooklyn rap collective, Junior M.A.F.I.A. - playing the Bonnie to the Notorious B.I.G.'s Clyde - to her brazen, dynamic 1996 solo debut, "HARD CORE," to her current status as hip-hop's Grammy-winning, fashion-forward Queen Bee, Kim continues to effortlessly captivate, seduce, provoke, and entertain. Whether she is ripping it live onstage, working it on the runway, or turning heads on the red carpet, Kim - as Nas said - makes you look.

And now the diminutive diva is gonna make you listen with her third and latest release, "LA BELLA MAFIA" (Queen Bee/Big Entertainment/Atlantic) - her first since 2000's platinum-selling "THE NOTORIOUS K.I.M." Inspired by the 1997 film, Bella Mafia, in which mafia widows take over their husbands' business and avenge their deaths, the album reflects a major turning point in Kim's career. Like a phoenix rising from ashes, Kim has emerged from heartache and loss to stand truly alone for the first time. "I went through so much making this album," she reflects. "This is like my real baby, it's all me."

Kim has not only broken free from her past collaborators (you'll see no contributions from Junior M.A.F.I.A. or P. Diddy on the album) and overhauled her own Queen Bee Records label, she has used a painful relationship to inspire her. "I was dating a guy that I had been friends with for years, and he turned out to be a real snake. But you know what I did? I took that pain and hurt and everything, and I just turned it around into something positive."

For "LA BELLA MAFIA," Kim surrounded herself with a new creative team, and set out, as she says, "to get even with everybody. I knew my dreams would work; I just knew that I needed people around me who were going to bring that out. People believed in me this time, and that's what mattered." The result is a stellar collection that shows Kim's lyrical prowess and versatility, as well as her growth as a businessperson, as a woman, and as an artist.

For "LA BELLA MAFIA," Kim enlisted the help of A-list producers like Timbaland, whose Middle Eastern-inspired club bumper, "The Jump Off" - featuring former Lost Boyz frontman Mr. Cheeks - is "LA BELLA MAFIA"'s first single. There are also tracks from Swizz Beatz (the hard driving "This Is Who I Am"), Kim's old friend and Mobb Deep lyricist, Havoc (the celebratory anthem, "Hold It Now"), and Full Force on the R&B-inspired "Can't F**k With Queen Bee". "LA BELLA MAFIA" also boasts an exclusive guest list consisting of Missy Elliot, Twista, The Lox's Styles P and rap upstart 50 Cent. In addition, get ready to experience the Beehive - artists on the Queen Bee label, including Bunky S.A., Reeks aka Cash Money, The Advakids, and Lil' Shanice.

"LA BELLA MAFIA" takes the listener on a journey from the clubs to the streets, to the heart of a woman who has experienced the extremes of life. From her uplifting shout out to Biggie Smalls on "Doing It Way B.I.G." to the ominous message to her competition on "This Is A Warning" to the touching loyalty to her supporters on "Came Back For You" to the flirtatious "Magic Stick," Kim shows that though she hasn't abandoned her over-the-top sexuality and penchant for Prada, she has grown into one of hip-hop's most well-rounded, insightful artists. For her part, Kim can't wait to share her excitement about the album with her fans.

LA BELLA MAFIA" takes the listener on a journey from the clubs to the streets, to the heart of a woman who has experienced the extremes of life. From her uplifting shout out to Biggie Smalls on "Doing It Way B.I.G." to the ominous message to her competition on "This Is A Warning" to the touching loyalty to her supporters on "Came Back For You" to the flirtatious "Magic Stick," Kim shows that though she hasn't abandoned her over-the-top sexuality and penchant for Prada, she has grown into one of hip-hop's most well-rounded, insightful artists. For her part, Kim can't wait to share her excitement about the album with her fans.

"When we were in the studio, I was like, let's go get em! I was ready to do this and ready to have fun! I'm the happiest I've been in awhile. I want people to know, I'm a real person who goes through real things, and I am still growing like everyone else."

Don't call it a comeback. Consider this a takeover.

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Originally part of the late Notorious B.I.G.'s rap collective, Junior M.A.F.I.A., in which she was the lone female, Kim's star power shone brightly on smashes like "Player's Anthem" and "Get Money". Her thugged-out Betty Boop delivery on those tracks helped propel Junior M.A.F.I.A.'s 1995 album, "CONSPIRACY," into the top ten on the Billboard Top 200 chart.

In 1996, under the nurturing tutelage of Biggie, Kim went into the studio to record her debut album - the witty, rugged, sexually bold "HARD CORE." With a team of top producers like Sean "Puffy" Combs, Jermaine Dupri, and Prestige behind her, Kim kicked in the door with hits like "No Time," "Queen Bitch," and "Crush on You" - shooting "HARD CORE" to RIAA double-platinum status and establishing Kim as the reigning queen of hip-hop.

But, at a time when the Queen Bee should have been toasting her success, tragedy struck and changed her life forever. Her friend, lover, mentor, and creative partner, The Notorious B.I.G., was gunned down in a drive-by shooting in Los Angeles on March 9th, 1997. And though Kim always penned her own rhymes, it was Biggie who would be by her side in the studio, guiding her. His death not only shattered Kim personally and emotionally, but also challenged her creatively as she embarked on her highly anticipated follow-up to "HARD CORE."

In 1998, with Sean "Puffy" Combs serving as an executive producer, Kim, who had just launched her own label, Queen Bee Records, went to work on "THE NOTORIOUS K.I.M.," a work that both celebrated her infamous raunchy side and found her digging deeper emotionally. She put her mack hand down on the aggressive "Suck My D**K," where she flipped the script on male posturing, and with friend Mary J. Blige, honored Biggie with the poignant "Hold On."

With the RIAA platinum plus-selling "THE NOTORIOUS K.I.M.," Kim's star shone once again, as she graced the covers of myriad magazines, including The Source, XXL, Interview, and Vibe. She landed the coveted role of spokesmodel for MAC cosmetic's Viva Glam lipstick, along with Mary J. Blige, and was also picked to endorse both Candie's Shoes and Iceberg Jeans. Kim also branched out onto the big screen, appearing in the films She's All That and Juwanna Mann, as well as guesting on Pamela Anderson's television series, V.I.P. She brought the heat to the ensemble of Christina Aguilera, Pink, Mya, and Missy Elliott for the 2001 remake of "Lady Marmalade" for the Moulin Rouge! soundtrack - which not only won the MTV Video Music Award for Best Video from a Film, but took home the Grammy for the Best Pop Collaboration with Vocals at the 2002 Grammy Awards.

While emcees come and go, there's no doubt that the Mae West of rap is here to stay. A multi-faceted superstar who has barely tapped her potential, Kim has emerged as a true icon. Now, with the release of the eagerly awaited "LA BELLA MAFIA," the belle of the hip-hop ball adds another thrilling chapter to the notorious life of Lil' Kim.

February 2003