Music

Lil' Kim's First Studio Album Since 2005 Is Out in May

In the years since 'The Naked Truth,' Kim has released several mixtapes ane one-off singles.

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Image via Getty/Santiago Felipe/FilmMagic
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Lil' Kim is bringing fans her first new studio album in more than a decade this summer.

Monday night, Kim officially announced a May 17 release date for her new album 9. A video for the previously released xx-sampling single "Go Awff" is due this Friday.

Kim teased 9 during her Lit in AC performance in Atlantic City, telling the audience that she has a collaboration with Rick Ross in the stash.


The Naked Truth, her 2005 album through Atlantic and her own Queen Bee, marks the icon's most recent studio album. The 22-track album featured singles "Whoa" and "Lighters Up," ultimately becoming her final release through Atlantic. In the years since, Kim has released a number of mixtapes and one-off singles, including her Bkorn-produced 2018 single "Nasty One."

When premiering that possible 9track's video back in August, Kim explained to Complex how the song took her back to hitting the underground club scene when she was younger. "The single instantly reminds me of when I use to go to the underground clubs as a teenager," she said at the time. "I naturally wanted the video to reflect that with the super sexy Caribbean vibe, vivid colors and the dancing. When my fans watch the video, I want them to ultimately jump up and groove with it."

At one point in its path to existence, the 9 album was expected to be released shortly after the arrival of "Nasty One." In interviews that year, Kim teased that the final product will include plenty for both fans of her storytelling and those who prefer more club-oriented subject matter.

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