Hard Core

Hard Core is the debut studio album by American rapper Lil' Kim; it was released on November 12, 1996 by Undeas Recordings and Big Beat Records. The album was notable for its overt raunchy sexual tone and Kim's lyrical delivery, which was praised by music critics shortly after its release. Hard Core debuted at number eleven on the U.S. Billboard 200, the highest debut for a female rap album at that time, and number three on Billboard‍ '​s Top R&B Albums, selling 78,000 copies in its first week of release, and reached the top ten of the Canadian Albums Chart. In the United States, Hard Core was certified double platinum by the RIAA, and is considered by many a classic hip hop album.