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Now that Lil' Kim's third solo outing is upon us, it's fair time to pose this question: is this fly Brooklyn female a legitimate MC or just another media sensation? Well, probably a little of both.
La Bella Mafia is a refreshingly uncommercial album that demonstrates Kims hard-earned mic skills, but the set never really hits its stride. Kim seems to be a woman who favors strong musical partners, yet many of the albums collaborations fail to inspire.
Swizz Beats is at his abysmal worst (as both rapper and producer) on "This Is Who I Am" while Kims cookie-cutter rhymes blindly follow his lead. "The Jump Off" features a hot, bhangra-accented
Timbaland track that loses momentum when guest star
Mr. Cheeks jumps in. But when it works,
La Bella Mafia shines. Just check out "Hold It Now," where Havoc ratchets up the temperature with judicious use of the always-funky
Beastie Boys sample "Paul Revere" and Kim rises to the occasion with a performance worthy of her Queen Bee title.
--Rebecca Levine
Product Description
Everyone's favorite hardcore female rapper returns with her hottest and hardest effort to date. Lil' Kim is joined by her friends Missy Elliot, Method, Styles P, Governer, Twista and Mashonda Tifere. Includes a limited bonus collectible card inside unlocking exclusive photos, videos and much more. Queen Bee/Atlantic. 2003.