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.

This is Lil Kim's third album. The once prodigy of The Notorious B.I.G. tries to prove she's the queen bee and the best female gangsta rapper in the business. In my opinon she fails.

Lil Kim has to many callaborations on La Bella Mafia. There are only like 4 solo tracks on the album while the rest are full of other hip hop stars. I would have liked to have seen more of Lil Kim by herself because she really doesn shine when she is solo. A lot of her tracks tend to slow down when the callaborator starts rapping.

I did like the Jump Off and Magic Stick. Both songs have a catchy beat and have gotten plenty of air time on radio and MTV.

I just wish Lil Kim would depend on her talents more. I think she tries to use her sex appeal way to much by wearing some of the stuff she does. I also wish she'd do more solo stuff because a lot of the guys she runs with do hold her down. She can rap and rhyme and it's a shame she depends on so much else to help her out.

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!!!!!

the source gave this album 4 1/2 mics. this album was so bad and pointless that i had to force myself to go past track 5. her first album was real good, but they get worse and worse after that. every song i heard ice this, rim this, and cristile this, thats so laaaaaame. while she was working on her new "barbie doll" looks she should have been working on her album. Biggie is in heaven with his head down...

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!