La Bella Mafia

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La Bella Mafia
Studio album by
Lil' Kim
ReleasedMarch 4, 2003 (2003-03-04)
Recorded2002–2003
Studio
GenreHip hop
Length63:05
Label
Producer
Lil' Kim chronology
The Notorious K.I.M.
(2000) 		La Bella Mafia
(2003) 		The Naked Truth
(2005)
Singles from La Bella Mafia
  1. "The Jump Off"
    Released: February 28, 2003
  2. "Magic Stick"
    Released: April 8, 2003
  3. "Thug Luv"
    Released: October 14, 2003

La Bella Mafia is the third studio album by American rapper Lil' Kim, released on March 4, 2003, by Atlantic Records. The album debuted at number five on the US Billboard 200, was certified platinum by the Recording Industry Association of America (RIAA) for selling one million copies in the United States.

La Bella Mafia received positive reviews from music critics, marking Kim's lyrical ability as impressive and her presence as formidable. It produced two singles that attained Billboard chart success. The lead single "The Jump Off" peaked at number 17 on the US Billboard Hot 100 and at number 16 on the UK Singles Chart.[1] The second single "Magic Stick", featured 50 Cent, peaked at number two on the Billboard Hot 100.[2] The songs "Magic Stick" and "Came Back for You" earned Kim Grammy Award nominations for Best Rap Performance by a Duo or Group and Best Female Rap Solo Performance, respectively.[3]

Background[edit]

In late 2001, Lil' Kim left Junior M.A.F.I.A. and severed ties with all members. She also ended her friendship and business relationship with longtime collaborator Sean "Diddy" Combs.[4]

Recording sessions for La Bella Mafia began in the spring of 2002. In April 2002, Lil' Kim stated in an interview that she had begun working with Dr. Dre in the recording studio. She told MTV, "I've been talking to Dre a lot. And Dre and I are talking about possibly doing some collaborations. He's a cool cat. I love Dre. Our chemistry in the studio was just like, cool. We've been working, you know, trying to cook up some things". Kim also stated that she wanted to work with Eminem, Timbaland, and The Neptunes.[5]

The original title for the album was Hollyhood (which was also set to be the name of her clothing line and to her skit), but it was changed to La Bella Mafia (which in Italian means "The Beautiful Mafia") after Lil' Kim watched the 1997 film of the same name. She stated, "Any girl who's strong and very dedicated to what they do and don't take no mess, they can be a part of La Bella Mafia".[6]

Limited edition collectable cards were included in the first 500,000 US CDs that allowed fans to unlock exclusive content, such as photos and video, from the Internet.[7]

Singles[edit]

Altogether La Bella Mafia spawned two international singles and a third US-only single. The lead album's first single, "The Jump Off" peaked at number 17 on the US Billboard Hot 100, becoming Kim's biggest single since her 1997's "Not Tonight (Ladies Night Remix)".[1] It also reached number eight on the Hot R&B/Hip-Hop Songs chart, number seven on the Hot Rap Tracks chart, and number 16 on the UK Singles Chart.[8][9][10] The second single, "Magic Stick", featuring 50 Cent, reached number two on the Hot 100, without a music video, and it was not even released as a single. It ended up spending 14 weeks on the chart, becoming Kim's highest-peaking single on that chart.[2] It also reached number two on the Hot R&B/Hip-Hop Songs chart, number seven on the Pop chart and number one on the Hot Rap Songs chart.[2] The song "Thug Luv", featuring Twista, was serviced to US radios only. It reached number 60 on the Hot R&B/Hip-Hop Songs chart and number 14 on the Hot Rap Songs. A CD single was also released in the US.[11]

Critical reception[edit]

Professional ratings
Aggregate scores
SourceRating
Metacritic65/100[12]
Review scores
SourceRating
AllMusic[13]
BillboardFavorable[14]
Entertainment WeeklyB[15]
RapReviews.com8/10[16]
Rolling Stone[17]
Slant Magazine[18]
The Source[19]
Spin8/10[20]
Stylus MagazineB+[21]
USA Today[22]

La Bella Mafia received generally positive reviews, as Metacritic reviews scored it at 65 out of 100.[12] AllMusic critic Jason Birchmeier stated her previous album The Notorious K.I.M. was considered a "disappointment" as a follow-up to her debut album Hard Core and La Bella Mafia reestablished her as an "industry icon".[13] Nick Catucci, a critic for Spin Magazine, who gave the album 3 stars claimed, "The King is dead – long live the Queen".[20]

Stylus magazine critic Brett Berliner gave the album a B+ calling the album "one of the top hip-hop albums of 2003" and said, "Kim is now in a class of female MCs that includes only Rah Digga and MC Lyte – and she's more confident, funny, and sexy than any of them". Sal Cinquemani of Slant Magazine gave the album 3 stars stating the album was her "most consistent effort to date," and added the album "plays like one giant bravado about everything: fame, money, power, sex, clothes, rhymes".[18]

Critics were also impressed with her lyrical ability. Jon Caramanica of Rolling Stone gave the album 3 stars stating, "When she really gets her hands dirty, Kim sounds more forceful and engaged than she's been in years".[17] However, some critics felt the album was too long and contained too many fillers. Birchmeier of AllMusic stated the album could use a little "trimming". Brett Berliner of Stylus Magazine said, "I enjoy about eight songs on this album, but they're tracks I only feel like listening to from time to time".[21]

Commercial performance[edit]

La Bella Mafia debuted at number five on the US Billboard 200 and at number four on the Top R&B/Hip-Hop Albums chart, selling 166,000 copies in its first week.[23] On October 16, 2003, the album received a Platinum certification by the Recording Industry Association of America (RIAA),[24] and had sold 1.1 million copies in the United States by July 2005.[25] Intertionally, the album reached number 81 in Switzerland, number 82 in Germany, and number 105 in France.[26] La Bella Mafia had sold over 7 million copies worldwide as of October 2007.[27]

Track listing[edit]

No.TitleWriter(s)Producer(s)Length
1."Intro"
  • Shaft
  • Big Hill
1:25
2."Hold It Now" (featuring Havoc)
Havoc5:25
3."Doing It Way Big"
  • Jones
  • Jay Garfield
Jay "Waxx" Garfield4:00
4."Can't Fuck with Queen Bee" (featuring Governor and Shelene Thomas with Full Force)
Full Force4:58
5."Hollyhood Skit"  0:51
6."Shake Ya Bum Bum" (featuring Lil' Shanice)JonesGarfield3:18
7."This Is Who I Am" (featuring Swizz Beatz and Mashonda)
Swizz Beatz3:16
8."The Jump Off" (featuring Mr. Cheeks)
Timbaland3:54
9."This Is a Warning"
Kimberly "Lil' Kim" Jones3:42
10."(When Kim Say) Can You Hear Me Now?" (featuring Missy Elliott)
Storch3:12
11."Thug Luv" (featuring Twista)
Storch4:12
12."Magic Stick" (featuring 50 Cent)
6:00
13."Get in Touch with Us" (featuring Styles P)
  • Ez Elpee
  • Thorobreads
3:47
14."Heavenly Father" (featuring Big Hill)
Shaft5:07
15."Tha Beehive" (featuring Reeks, Bunky S.A., Vee and Saint from The Advakids)
DJ Bless8:07
16."Came Back for You"
West4:20
Japanese edition bonus track
No.TitleWriter(s)Producer(s)Length
17."What's the Word"
Ron Browz3:03

Notes

  • ^a signifies a co-producer.

Sample credits

Personnel[edit]

  • Kimberly "Lil' Kim" Jones – executive producer, styling
  • Hillary Weston – associate producer, management
  • Jean Nelson – associate producer
  • Jamel "Mann" Jackson – project manager
  • Joi Brown – project manager
  • Greg "Gee" Stewart – assistant engineer
  • L. Londell McMillan, P.C. – legal affairs
  • David Berdon LLP & Co. – business affairs
  • DJ 45 – album sequencing
  • Dan "The" Man – album sequencing
  • Vincent Soyez – photography, design
  • Tre Major – hair
  • JJ – makeup
  • Derek Lee – styling
  • Linda Keil – prop stylist
  • MiMi So – jewelry
  • David LaChapelle – photography
  • Cessy Lima – hair
  • Scott Barnes – makeup
  • Andrea Leiberman – styling
  • Diamond Quasar – jewelry
  • Lynn Kowalewski – art direction
  • Kevin Wolahan – design

Charts[edit]

Certifications[edit]

Certifications for La Bella Mafia
Region Certification Certified units/sales
United States (RIAA)[24] Platinum 1,100,000[25]

References[edit]

  1. ^ a b "Lil' Kim and Mr. Cheeks – The Jump Off". Acharts.us. Retrieved January 16, 2013.
  2. ^ a b c "Lil' Kim Chart History". Billboard. Retrieved August 26, 2012.
  3. ^ "31st American Music Awards". Rock on the Net. Retrieved September 30, 2012.
  4. ^ "Lil' Kim: Keep It Moving". MTV. March 9, 2006. Retrieved February 26, 2012.
  5. ^ Moss, Corey (April 19, 2002). "Lil' Kim Has List Of Men She Wants ... For Her Next LP". MTV News. Retrieved February 26, 2012.
  6. ^ Reid, Shaheem (March 11, 2003). "Lil' Kim Battles Butterflies, Invites Strong Girls To Join Her Mafia". MTV News. Retrieved February 26, 2012.
  7. ^ Holloway, Lynette (March 17, 2003). "Lil' Kim Surprises Critics as CD Catches On". The New York Times. Retrieved August 27, 2012.
  8. ^ "The Jump Off". Billboard. March 15, 2003. Retrieved August 26, 2012.
  9. ^ "The Jump Off – Rap Songs". Billboard. March 15, 2003. Retrieved August 26, 2012.
  10. ^ "Lil' Kim – UK Chart". Official Charts. Retrieved August 27, 2012.
  11. ^ "Thug Luv". MTV. Retrieved July 5, 2012.
  12. ^ a b "La Bella Mafia Reviews, Ratings, Credits, and More at Metacritic". Metacritic. Retrieved May 30, 2012.
  13. ^ a b Birchmeier, Jason. "La Bella Mafia – Lil' Kim". AllMusic. Retrieved July 30, 2016.
  14. ^ Hall, Rashawn (March 15, 2003). "Reviews & Previews: Albums". Billboard. Vol. 115, no. 11. p. 33. ISSN 0006-2510. Retrieved February 26, 2012 – via Google Books.
  15. ^ Weiner, Jonah (March 28, 2003). "La Bella Mafia Review". Entertainment Weekly. p. 68. Archived from the original on October 12, 2012. Retrieved February 26, 2012.
  16. ^ Juon, Steve (March 4, 2003). "Feature for March 4, 2003 – Lil' Kim's "La Bella Mafia"". Rapreviews.com. Retrieved February 26, 2012.
  17. ^ a b Caramanica, Jon (March 11, 2003). "Rolling Stone Review: La Bella Mafia by Lil' Kim". Rolling Stone. Archived from the original on June 17, 2009. Retrieved February 26, 2012.
  18. ^ a b Cinquemani, Sal (March 7, 2003). "Lil' Kim: La Bella Mafia". Slant Magazine. Retrieved May 26, 2018.
  19. ^ "Lil' Kim's 'Naked Truth' Gets 5 Mic Rating In October Issue Of The Source". AllHipHop. March 21, 2006. Archived from the original on March 21, 2006. Retrieved March 16, 2012.
  20. ^ a b Catucci, Nick (July 1, 2003). "Lil' Kim, 'La Bella Mafia' Review". Spin. Retrieved February 26, 2012.
  21. ^ a b Berliner, Brett (September 1, 2003). "Lil Kim – La Bella Mafia – Review". Stylus Magazine. Archived from the original on June 29, 2013. Retrieved February 26, 2012.
  22. ^ "Lil' Kim's 'Mafia' is a hit; Hootie hangs in". USA Today. March 4, 2003. ISSN 0734-7456. Archived from the original on March 9, 2016. Retrieved February 26, 2012 – via ProQuest.
  23. ^ "50 Cent Overtakes Norah Jones At No. 1". Billboard. March 12, 2003. Retrieved July 31, 2016.
  24. ^ a b "American album certifications – Lil' Kim – La Bella Mafia". Recording Industry Association of America. October 16, 2003. Retrieved July 31, 2016.
  25. ^ a b Martens, Todd (July 26, 2005). "Lil' Kim Revealing 'Naked Truth' Pre-Prison". Billboard. Retrieved March 25, 2013.
  26. ^ a b "Swisscharts.com – Lil' Kim – La Bella Mafia". Hung Medien. Retrieved July 31, 2016.
  27. ^ Odum, Shanel (October 2007). "Where My Ladies At?". Vibe. p. 50. ISSN 1070-4701. Retrieved November 4, 2012 – via Google Books.
  28. ^ "ARIA Hitseekers – Week Commencing 24th March 2003" (PDF). The ARIA Report. No. 683. March 24, 2003. p. 18. Archived from the original (PDF) on April 6, 2003. Retrieved August 15, 2021 – via National Library of Australia.
  29. ^ "ARIA Urban Chart – Week Commencing 24th March 2003" (PDF). The ARIA Report. No. 683. March 24, 2003. p. 16. Archived from the original (PDF) on April 6, 2003. Retrieved August 15, 2021 – via National Library of Australia.
  30. ^ "Albums : Top 100". Jam!. March 13, 2003. Archived from the original on April 22, 2003. Retrieved October 14, 2018.
  31. ^ "R&B : Top 50". Jam!. June 26, 2003. Archived from the original on July 3, 2003. Retrieved January 29, 2023.
  32. ^ "Lescharts.com – Lil' Kim – La Bella Mafia". Hung Medien. Retrieved July 31, 2016.
  33. ^ "Offiziellecharts.de – Lil' Kim – La Bella Mafia" (in German). GfK Entertainment Charts. Retrieved July 31, 2016.
  34. ^ ラ・ベラ・マフィア [La Bella Mafia] (in Japanese). Oricon. Archived from the original on September 6, 2012. Retrieved February 26, 2012.
  35. ^ "Official Albums Chart Top 100". Official Charts Company. Retrieved August 15, 2021.
  36. ^ "Official R&B Albums Chart Top 40". Official Charts Company. Retrieved July 31, 2016.
  37. ^ "Lil' Kim Chart History (Billboard 200)". Billboard. Retrieved July 31, 2016.
  38. ^ "Lil' Kim Chart History (Top R&B/Hip-Hop Albums)". Billboard. Retrieved July 31, 2016.
  39. ^ "Billboard 200 Albums – Year-End 2003". Billboard. Archived from the original on February 26, 2021. Retrieved July 31, 2016.
  40. ^ "Top R&B/Hip-Hop Albums – Year-End 2003". Billboard. Archived from the original on February 5, 2021. Retrieved May 26, 2018.
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