Lil' Kim is taking her debut album to the top of the New York skyline. The Grammy-winning Brooklyn rapper will light the Empire State Building on Thursday, Nov. 12, to celebrate the 30th anniversary of Hard Core, her double-platinum 1996 debut, according to an announcement shared with Cup of Soul.
The lighting kicks off a week of hometown celebrations. On Nov. 18 and 19, the Queen Bee takes the stage at Brooklyn's Kings Theatre for Hard Core Symphony, her first-ever orchestral performance, alongside Thee Phantom & The Illharmonic Orchestra.
From one night to two in Brooklyn
The concert was first announced as a one-night-only show on Nov. 19. A second night was added after the first sold out in four days, Pollstar reported.
Thee Phantom & The Illharmonic Orchestra is an all-Black ensemble known for pairing hip-hop and R&B with live orchestral arrangements, theGrio reported. Fans can expect reimagined versions of Hard Core favorites, including "Not Tonight," "Big Momma Thang," "Crush on You" and "No Time." GPK Entertainment produces the show.
Released in November 1996, Hard Core was executive produced by The Notorious B.I.G. and featured guest appearances from Biggie and Jay-Z. It made Lil' Kim a solo star after her start with Junior M.A.F.I.A. and opened a new lane for women in hip-hop, one built on rapping on her own terms, matching the men bar for bar and making high fashion part of the music.
Thirty years later, the album's influence runs through nearly every woman in rap today.
