Customer Reviews

La Bella Mafia

5 star:		(82)
4 star:		(39)
3 star:		(15)
2 star:		(18)
1 star:		(13)

 

 

This is, without a doubt, Lil' Kim's best CD to date. I've been a fan for a few years now. I loved both "Hard Core" and "Notorious KIM". This bests both of them. There is not a track on here not worth a listen. Fans of Kim, and fans of rap and hip hop in general should not sleep on this album. Kim talks about her personal relationships gone bad ("Heavenly Father"), her shopping sprees ("Way BIG"), and tells us how it is ("Can't F*ck With Queen Bee", "This Is Who I Am"). It's an album that has fun but also has its serious tones as well. The production is also fabulous. The beats Kimmy picked suit her and her flow to a T. So buy this album and support the original Queen [explicit] of rap.

Highlights include: "Way Big", "Shake Ya Bum Bum", "Magic Stick", "Can You Hear Me Now", "Thug Love", "Heavenly Father", "Can't F*ck With Queen Bee", and "Beehive". But again, EVERY song is a classic.

***NOTE*** The tracklisting Amazon has listed as of 3/4 is not correct. There are actually 16 tracks on the CD and some of the titles have been changed and some songs have been replaced by others.

I think this is Lil'Kim's best album! When I buy a CD it's usually for one or two songs and later I might like 5 songs, but on this CD I like all of them! It shows women in power!
2.Hold it Now-awesome song and lyrics!
3.Doing it Way Big-good!
4.Can't F**k With Queen Bee-ok
6.Shake Ya Bum Bum-good!
7.This Is Who I am-good!
8.The Jump Off-one of the best ones!
9.This Is a Warning-sends a powerful message to women everywhere
10.(When Kim Say)Can You Hear Me Now-another one of the best songs, esp. w/ Missy Elliott!
11.Thug Luv-good!
12.Matic Stick-awesome song with 50 Cent!
13.Get In Touch With Us-awesome!
14-Heavenly Father-another 1 of the best songs because of the song & lyrics.
15.Tha Beehive-yet another awesome song!
16.Came Back For You-another good song dedicated to her fans!

This CD is really good and I recommend buying it, even if you don't like Lil'Kim!!!

I laughed hard when reading some of the reviews on this site, they are obvioulsy from people who hate Lil Kim. She debuted in the music industry in 1995 as a part of The Notorious B.I.G.'s group The Junior Mafia and a decade later she is still the industry's reigning rap diva. Over 10 years Kim has sold an unheard of 20 million albums in the United States alone. What female rapper has ever accomplished that? On top of that she developed her own jewlery & accessory line, a fragrance line & a clothing line. She generated her fame into other careers such as acting, alongside Freddie Prince Jr., Michael J. Foxx & Charlie Sheen, and even pitching products for the likes of Verizone Wireless & Old Navy. She has modeled for Versace & Iceberg Jeans and has even established her own record label & production company. Over the 10 years that Lil Kim has dominated the thrown, female rappers such as Eve, Foxy Brown & Missy Elliott have come and gone.

La Bella Mafia debuted on the Billboard Charts at #5, selling 167,000 units. Within a month the album was certified gold with sales of over 500,000 copies, and just three weeks later it was certified platinum for sales of over 1,000,000 units. It generated two top five pop singles & two #1 rap singles in "The Jump Off" & "Magic Stick", the latter of which wasn't even officially released as a single. There was no music video & no official add to radio playlists from her record company.

Lyrically she is at the top of her game. The Source Magazine, is the most distinguished & respected rap magazine in rap. Out of 5 mics she was awarded 4.5, an honor reserved for only the greatest talents in rap, such as Jay-Z, Nas, Tupac & The Notorious B.I.G. himself. She easily outperforms all guests on her album, including some of the biggest names on the charts right now like 50 Cent & Styles P of the Lox. When it comes to making hits Kim is a goldmine. Nearly every track on La Bella Mafia has single potential.

Over her illustrius career, she has been a trend setter but even more importantly an undeniable force in the every changing industry. She reinvents herself to stay fresh, all the while keeping her pride, integrity & staggeringly incredible skills. To date she is still on top, even collaborating with Christina Aguilera & Donald Trump. Don't listen to the haters, Kim is the real deal, always has been and always will be.

No other female nor male rap artist can compare to the Queen Bee! This CD is the best ever made by a rapper besides Hardcore, the one put out back in 1996 by the little one herself! Foxy's gonna have to do some homework to compete with this one, and Eve, well, don't even make an effort! The QUEEN LIVES ON!!!!!

Man, I read the reviews here and people are so whack. Lil' Kim is Lil' Kim. She is one of the only females that can actually lay it down proper. Now, not Gangsta Boo proper, but Kim can hold her own. Sure, Biggie let her in, but where is he? Dead. Where is she? Living in a mansion still making music and everything. Kim proves she has lasting power. Eat that.
***2."Hold It Now"-This is a hot track set to the Beastie Boy's "Paul Revere" beat. Kim took that beat and made it hers. Go on, girl!***
***3."Doing It Way Big"-A track for the haters. Kim is rapping about everything she has. I know you haters can't stand it.***
***6."Shake Ya Bum Bum"-What is ma doing on here? I love it. This is the clean Kim that we really don't know that well.***
***7."This Is Who I Am"-This is a great song where Kim puts herself on the table for us to see that she's doing what she does, and if it were any different, it wouldn't be her.***
***8."The Jump-Off"-This is the song that turned me onto Lil' Kim. She is hot on this track (visually and lyrically) and I love Timbalands beat. We need more stuff like this.***
***9."This is a Warning"-Kim singing about f**king you up if you cross here. Like Trina, this is a song about a black womans wrath.***
***10."Can Ya Hear Me Now?"-This is a great track. I love the way Kim flows in here. She rips it right.***
***11."Thug Luv"-The best part of this song is Kim. Whew, that girl spits fire. She is rapping fast to match Twista and I think she makes a sonic boom with how fast she spits.***
***13."Get In Touch"-This is gangsta love right here. Kim and her man talkin' about robbing. Ain't gansta love so romantic?***
***14."Heavenly Father"-Another song about Kim putting herself out for us as the listeners to get closer to her. It is a very intimate song, and one of my personal favorites.***
***15."Tha Beehive!"-Kim is hot on here. She is introducing her new crew on her, and in my eyes, she is the only reason to listen to this hot track with a bangin' beat. One of the best.***
***16."Came Back For You"-This is strictly a song for the fans who love your girl. She proves here she got love for you. It's a great closing track, I think, leaving you to want more.***
All in all, this is one of the best female CD's out there. Lil' Kim is proving that she is the ink stain in the skirt of the music industry that refuses to go away, and I am happy she is here to stay. Do it way big, Kimmy!

On this album Lil' Kim did her thing. Out of all 3 of her album I would say this one is her best. When I heard "The Jump Off" I had to buy this album.

01. Intro > This is basically The Notroious B.I.G. explaining about how he found artists in the Junior Mafia. 8/10
02. Hold It Now (feat. Havoc) > I really love this song this song samples from The Beastie Boys's "Paul Revere", so Lil' Kim went Old School on this track. 10/10
03. Doing It Way Big > This song is about spendin' money, livin' large and doing it up big or B.I.G. Anything she does she do it B.I.G. 7/10
04. Can't F**k With Queen Bee (feat. Governor & Shelene Thomasn with Full Force) > On this song she says "You can hate or hale the queen". She's saying know one can mess with her. This song is acutually not my favorite on the album. 4/10
05. Hollyhood (Skit) > This song Lil' Kim is playing a teacher in a classroom. The kids are singing a Mr. Rogers theme but saying "It's a beautiful day in hollyhood". 8/10
06. Shake Ya Bum Bum (feat. Lil' Shanice) > What I like most about this song is Lil' Shanice's verse. It shows that kids can rap too. 8/10
07. This Is Who I Am (feat. Mashonda) > I really love this track. Swizz Beats produced it, so you know its hot. Kim's sayin this is who I am so you can't change her. 10/10
08. The Jump Off (feat. Mr. Cheeks) > The first single off the album. Was the reason I bought this album. Timbaland did his thing in the production of this song. Its a good jump off for the album. 10/10
09. This Is A Warning > This song is acutually a re-make of R. Kelly's "A Woman's Threat". This song is mad hilarious at the end when Kim Mimiks R. Kelly. 9/10
10. (When Kim Say) Can You Hear Me Now (feat. Missy Elliott) > This song is hot. Nothing much to say about this track, it's just one of those bounce tracks. 8/10
11. Thug Luv (feat. Twista) > Was supposed to be the 3rd single, but they never released a video to the song. But was released as a single. I like Twista's verse on the song. And Kim's verse was on point. 8/10
12. Magic Stick (feat. 50 Cent) > Was supposed to be the 2nd single, but they also never released a video to this song. This song was played alot on the radio. I like this song also. 9/10
13. Get In Touch With Us (feat. Styles P)> The beat to this track is off the chain. Lil' Kim verse was real tight on this song. My favorite song on the album hands down. 10/10
13. Heavenly Father > On this song Lil' Kim talks about her problems. The feuds with her and Junior Mafia how she supported them but they didn't appreaciate it. On this song Lil' Kim vents out her problems. She washed her hands and done with it. 8/10
14. Tha Beehive (feat. Reeks, Bunky S.A., Vee & Saint from The Advakids) > On this track some of the new artists of Queen Bee entertainment is featured. I really like this song. 9/10
16. Came Back For You > This song could be a dedication to her fans. At first I did not know this song was produced by Kanye West. She alos disses Foxy Brown on this track. She says "It's enough I got to put up with this Do Do Brown chick".

I would reccomend that you go buy this album if you are a true Lil' Kim fan altough this album was released in 2003. It's one of her best. She did it without help from the Junior Mafia. Also Kim is a trend setters what I mean buy that is that she's was one of the first female rappers to be sexy & hardcore. So she opened doors for other female rappers who wanted to be like that.

I always find myself walking through the record store, just looking to see what may spark my interst. I saw lil' kim's album sitting on the shelf, so I bought it. I knew that the CD was old but other than that I knew nothing about the album, well only magic stick. I put it in and listened to the whole CD straight through. I was thoroughly impressed. Each song grabbed my attention and delivered some great beats aswell as, despite some lazy delivery on a few tracks, good lyrics. The album is most deff a classic because of how well it was put together. I had no idea Lil' Kim could be so hard, especially on tracks like "get in touch with us" or "came back for you" Nor did i know she could be so lyrically clever on tracks like "can you hear me now" and "heavenly father". This is a hot LP, but I think Lil' Kim's image may steer people away from her real raw talent. Once you look past her barely-there outfits and the corney music videos, you will realize, like myself, why lil' kim is the Queen of Rap. I will keep my eye out for any other lil' kim projects in the future. Buy this Album, it won't dissapoint.

Yeah, this is one of the best albums to come this starting year 2003. Lil Kim has gone through hard times, but she has managed to make a very solid album. Guest appearances are on point (such as Twista, Styles P. and 50 Cent). There are some very good tracks like "The Jump off", "Get in touch with us", "Thug Luv", "Magic stick" and "Came back for you". Also the sensitive "Heavenly father" and the posse-track "Tha beehive" are good.
All i can say is cop this album, it's worth your money.

Alright, i'm not a really big fan of rap music, but when a friend of mine played "Hold it now" with the Beastie Boys "Paul Revere" beat, i was immediately HOOKED! I must of listened to that song about three times in a row. I had to get the album, and it has not left my car OR my computer! I've heard other female rappers, i.e. Foxy Brown, Eve, but Kim is in a league all on her own! I definetely recommend this album for fans of rap, or other types of music..

yes she's back and yes she talks about sex, and she's still missing...biggie smalls while she even cops his own lyrics an yes she disses foxy, and eve as expected still if you like lil kim this is a must have as she gives you more of her sexy, raunchy lyrics.