The Naked Truth (Lil' Kim album)
Encyclopedia
The Naked Truth is the fourth studio album
by rapper Lil' Kim
, released on September 27, 2005. This album was released on the first day of Kim's sentencing, in which she went to jail for nearly a year on perjury charges.
(in which she became the first female rapper to ever receive the 5 mics rating), Vibe Magazine, and The Village Voice
. Blender Magazine gave the album four stars calling it her 'strongest work since her pheromone-thick 1996 debut'. While the album did receive several 5 star ratings, Pitchfork Media
journalist Jess Harvell, who gave the album a positive 7.8 rating stated "The Naked Truth may be better than 80% of the other rap albums to be released in 2005, but that doesn't make it another Ready to Die
."
filed a lawsuit against Lil' Kim claiming she had plagiarized the song "Durty" by using her song "Mi and Mi God" from her 1997 album Too Hype. The suit also claims Kim sings the song with a West Indian accent and that the lyrics are so "duplicative" that Stevens wants the song's rights and receive all past and future royalties for it. Lil' Kim's lawyer, L. Londell McMillian responded to these accusations by stating, "The lawsuit against Atlantic Records and Lil' Kim is the result of Royalty Network Inc.'s failed attempts to extract unreasonable sums and percentages of Lil' Kim's new song for an interpolated use of a song, which happens all the time in hip-hop. There are no damages to Tanya Stephens, they never objected until after their efforts failed, and Kim was and remains willing to be fair". It is unknown whether or not the lawsuit remains unresolved.
2. "Spell Check" (3:37)
3. "Lighters Up
" (4:23)
4. "Shut Up Bitch Intro" (0:56)
5. "Shut Up Bitch" (4:19)
6. "Whoa" (4:08)
7. "Slippin (4:16)
8. "Answering Machine Skit 1" (2:27)
9. "All Good" (4:31)
10. "I Know You See Me" (3:53)
11. "W.P.I.M.P. Skit" (0:30)
12. "Quiet" (featuring The Game
) (4:02)
13. "Durty" (4:10)
14. "Answering Machine Skit 2" (2:23)
15. "We Don't Give a F***" (featuring Bun B
& Twista
) (4:22)
16. "Gimme That" (featuring Maino
) (4:27)
17. "Kitty Box" (3:49)
18. "Kronik" (featuring Snoop Dogg
) (4:32)
19. "Winners and Losers Skit" (0:57)
20. "Get Yours" (featuring T.I.
and Sha-Dash) (4:09)
21. "Last Day" (4:29)
22. "Last Day Skit" (5:30)
Studio album
A studio album is an album made up of tracks recorded in the controlled environment of a recording studio. A studio album contains newly written and recorded or previously unreleased or remixed material, distinguishing itself from a compilation or reissue album of previously recorded material, or...
by rapper Lil' Kim
Lil' Kim
Kimberly Denise Jones , better known by her stage name Lil' Kim, is an American rapper and actress who was a member of the group Junior M.A.F.I.A.....
, released on September 27, 2005. This album was released on the first day of Kim's sentencing, in which she went to jail for nearly a year on perjury charges.
Critical reception
The album received generally positive reviews with 5 star ratings from The SourceThe Source (magazine)
The Source is a United States-based, monthly full-color magazine covering hip-hop music, politics, and culture, founded in 1988. It is the world's second longest running rap periodical, behind United Kingdom-based publication Hip Hop Connection. The Source was founded as a newsletter in 1988...
(in which she became the first female rapper to ever receive the 5 mics rating), Vibe Magazine, and The Village Voice
The Village Voice
The Village Voice is a free weekly newspaper and news and features website in New York City that features investigative articles, analysis of current affairs and culture, arts and music coverage, and events listings for New York City...
. Blender Magazine gave the album four stars calling it her 'strongest work since her pheromone-thick 1996 debut'. While the album did receive several 5 star ratings, Pitchfork Media
Pitchfork Media
Pitchfork Media, usually known simply as Pitchfork or P4k, is a Chicago-based daily Internet publication established in 1995 that is devoted to music criticism and commentary, music news, and artist interviews. Its focus is on underground and independent music, especially indie rock...
journalist Jess Harvell, who gave the album a positive 7.8 rating stated "The Naked Truth may be better than 80% of the other rap albums to be released in 2005, but that doesn't make it another Ready to Die
Ready to Die
Ready to Die is the debut album of American rapper The Notorious B.I.G., released September 13, 1994 on Bad Boy Records. The first release on the label, it features production by record producer and Bad Boy founder Sean "Puffy" Combs, Easy Mo Bee, Chucky Thompson, DJ Premier, and Lord Finesse,...
."
Commercial reception
The Naked Truth was released on September 27, 2005 in the United States. The album debuted at #6 on the Billboard 200 and #3 on the Top R&B/Hip-Hop Albums chart with selling 136,480 copies in its first week of release. The album also became her shortest run on the album charts, falling out of the 200 albums chart in just eight weeks. According to Nielsen Soundscan, the album was not as successful as her first three albums. As of 2008, the album has sold over 595,000 copies. . This led to the separation between Kim and Atlantic records, after a ten year relationship.Tanya Stephens controversy
In August 2006, dancehall singer Tanya StephensTanya Stephens
Vivienne Tanya Stephens, better known by her stage name Tanya Stephens is an influential reggae artist who emerged in the late 1990s...
filed a lawsuit against Lil' Kim claiming she had plagiarized the song "Durty" by using her song "Mi and Mi God" from her 1997 album Too Hype. The suit also claims Kim sings the song with a West Indian accent and that the lyrics are so "duplicative" that Stevens wants the song's rights and receive all past and future royalties for it. Lil' Kim's lawyer, L. Londell McMillian responded to these accusations by stating, "The lawsuit against Atlantic Records and Lil' Kim is the result of Royalty Network Inc.'s failed attempts to extract unreasonable sums and percentages of Lil' Kim's new song for an interpolated use of a song, which happens all the time in hip-hop. There are no damages to Tanya Stephens, they never objected until after their efforts failed, and Kim was and remains willing to be fair". It is unknown whether or not the lawsuit remains unresolved.
Track listing
1. "Intro" (0:39)- Produced by Dan The Man for "DaMan" Productions & "Big Hill" for Queen Bee Entertainment
2. "Spell Check" (3:37)
- Produced by Red Spyda for House of Spydas
- Contains interpolations of "Mo Money, Mo Problems" performed by The Notorious B.I.G.The Notorious B.I.G.Christopher George Latore Wallace , best known as The Notorious B.I.G., was an American rapper. He was also known as Biggie Smalls , Big Poppa, and The Black Frank White .Wallace was raised in the Brooklyn borough...
3. "Lighters Up
Lighters Up
Lighters Up is a single written and recorded by rapper Lil' Kim and produced by her ex-boyfriend, the record producer Scott Storch. The song has a similar tone to Damian Marley's Welcome to Jamrock. It was released August 31, 2005, a few weeks before the release of the album The Naked Truth...
" (4:23)
- Produced by Scott StorchScott StorchScott Storch is an American record producer. He produces a variety of music, particularly hip hop, reggaeton, and R&B. His label, Storch Music Company responsible for signing Brooke Hogan and Nox...
4. "Shut Up Bitch Intro" (0:56)
- Featuring Vocals by Katt WilliamsKatt WilliamsMicah S. Katt Williams is a U.S. comedian, rapper, and actor. He is best known for his role as Money Mike in Friday After Next...
- Recorded by Dan The Man
5. "Shut Up Bitch" (4:19)
- Featuring Vocals by Katt WilliamsKatt WilliamsMicah S. Katt Williams is a U.S. comedian, rapper, and actor. He is best known for his role as Money Mike in Friday After Next...
- Produced by Michael "Mr. Williams" Williams and Roger "Mista Raja" Greene for Associ Industries
6. "Whoa" (4:08)
- Produced by Jonathan "J.R." Rotem for Networth Entertainment
7. "Slippin (4:16)
- Produced by Denaun Porter
- Additional Vocals: Denaun Porter
8. "Answering Machine Skit 1" (2:27)
9. "All Good" (4:31)
- Produced by Jeekyman for Darlock Entertainment
- Contains elements of "JuicyJuicy (The Notorious B.I.G. song)"Juicy" is a song by hip hop artist The Notorious B.I.G. and his solo debut single from his 1994 debut album Ready to Die. It was produced by Poke of Trackmasters & Sean "Puffy" Combs. Its melody is sampled from Mtume's "Juicy Fruit", and has an alternative chorus sung by R&B girl group Total...
" performed by The Notorious B.I.G.
10. "I Know You See Me" (3:53)
- Produced by Kevin "Khao" Cates for Grand Hustle Entertainment
- Additional Vocals: Tiny
- Contains elements of "Whatcha See Is Whatcha Get" performed by The DramaticsThe DramaticsThe Dramatics are an American soul music vocal group, formed in Detroit, Michigan in 1962. They are best known for their 1970s hit songs "In the Rain" and "Whatcha See is Whatcha Get", both of which were #1 R&B and Top 10 Pop hits.-Career:The Dramatics originally formed in 1962 recording as the...
11. "W.P.I.M.P. Skit" (0:30)
- Featuring Vocals by Katt WilliamsKatt WilliamsMicah S. Katt Williams is a U.S. comedian, rapper, and actor. He is best known for his role as Money Mike in Friday After Next...
- Recorded by Dan The Man
12. "Quiet" (featuring The Game
The Game (rapper)
Jayceon Terrell Taylor , better known by his stage name Game, formerly The Game, is an American rapper and actor. As a member of G-Unit, he rose to fame in 2005 with the success of his debut album, The Documentary, which earned him two Grammy Award nominations...
) (4:02)
- Produced by Michael "Mr. Williams" Williams and Roger "Mista Raja" Greene for Associ Industries
- Additional Vocals by Roger "Mista Raja" Greene
13. "Durty" (4:10)
- Produced by Terrance "Hot Runner" Lovelace for Hot Runners Entertainment
- Contains elements of "Phuck U Symphony" performed by Millie JacksonMillie JacksonMildred "Millie" Jackson is an American R&B/soul singer-songwriter and comedienne. Three of her albums have been certified gold by the RIAA for over 500,000 copies....
14. "Answering Machine Skit 2" (2:23)
15. "We Don't Give a F***" (featuring Bun B
Bun B
Bernard Freeman better known by his stage name Bun B, is an American rapper and was one half of the southern hip hop duo UGK . He is also a guest lecturer at Rice University located in Houston, Texas...
& Twista
Twista
Carl Terrell Mitchell , better known by his stage name Twista, is an American rapper. He is known for once holding the title of fastest rapper in the world according to Guinness World Records in 1992, being able to pronounce 598 syllables in 55 seconds...
) (4:22)
- Produced by Terrance "Hot Runner" Lovelace for Hot Runners Entertainment
- Additional Vocals by Hot Runner, Jeekyman, & Wiz Gamb
16. "Gimme That" (featuring Maino
Maino
Maino is an American rapper from Bedford-Stuyvesant, Brooklyn, New York City, New York.-Early life:...
) (4:27)
- Produced by Jeekyman for Darlock Entertainment
- Additional Vocals by Wiz Gamb and Katrina Gibson for Darlock Entertainment
17. "Kitty Box" (3:49)
- Produced by 7 for Aurelius Productions
- Contains element of "Love Buzz" performed by The Shocking Blue
18. "Kronik" (featuring Snoop Dogg
Snoop Dogg
Calvin Cordozar Broadus, Jr. , better known by his stage name Snoop Dogg, is an American rapper, record producer, and actor. Snoop is best known as a rapper in the West Coast hip hop scene, and for being one of Dr. Dre's most notable protégés. Snoop Dogg was a Crip gang member while in high school...
) (4:32)
- Produced by "Fredwreck" Nassar for DoggyStyle Productions
- Bass: Eric Coomes
- Guitars: Fredwreck
- Gibson Organ: Fredwreck
- Additional Vocals: Jack Knight
19. "Winners and Losers Skit" (0:57)
- Featuring Vocals by Katt WilliamsKatt WilliamsMicah S. Katt Williams is a U.S. comedian, rapper, and actor. He is best known for his role as Money Mike in Friday After Next...
- Recorded by Dan The Man
20. "Get Yours" (featuring T.I.
T.I.
Clifford Joseph Harris, Jr. , better known by his stage name T.I., is an American rap artist, film and music producer, actor and author. He is also the founder and co-chief executive officer of Grand Hustle Records....
and Sha-Dash) (4:09)
- Produced by Kevin "Kaho" Cates for Grand Hustle Entertainment
21. "Last Day" (4:29)
- Produced by Jonathan "J.R." Rotem for Networth Entertainment
22. "Last Day Skit" (5:30)
Certifications, peaks and sales
| Country | Peak position |
|---|---|
| US Billboard 200 Billboard 200 The Billboard 200 is a ranking of the 200 highest-selling music albums and EPs in the United States, published weekly by Billboard magazine. It is frequently used to convey the popularity of an artist or groups of artists... |
6 |
| US Billboard R&B/Hip-Hop Albums Top R&B/Hip-Hop Albums Top R&B/Hip-Hop Albums is a chart published by Billboard magazine that ranks R&B and hip hop albums based on sales compiled by Nielsen SoundScan. The name of the chart was changed from Top R&B Albums in 1999... |
3 |
| US Billboard Rap Albums Top Rap Albums Top Rap Albums is a record chart published by Billboard magazine that ranks Rap and hip-hop albums based on sales compiled by Nielsen SoundScan. The chart began publication for the week of November 13, 2004.... |
2 |
Personnel
- Executive Producers - Kimberly 'Lil' Kim' Jones, Christopher 'Notorious B.I.G.' Wallace, and Craig Kallman
- Co-Executive Producers - Hillary WestonHillary WestonHillary Weston is the former longtime manager and friend of female American rap artist Lil' Kim.Weston has served as associate producer on three of her albums - The Notorious K.I.M., La Bella Mafia, and The Naked Truth...
, Jean Nelson, and Gee Roberson - Queen Bee A&R - Jean Nelson and Dre Weston
- Atlantic A&R - Gee Roberson and Kyambo "HipHop" Joshua
- Atlantic A&R Administration - Lanre Gaba
- Queen Bee Product Manager - Jamel Jackson
- Atlantic Product Manager - Veronica Alvericci
- Album Engineer - Dan The Man for Dan Man Productions
- Mastering Engineer - Chris Gehringer for Sterling Sound, NY
- Assistant Mastering Engineer - Will Quinell for Sterling Sound, NY
- Management - Hillary Weston
- Legal Affairs - L. Londell McMillian
- Business Affairs - Berdon LLP
- Sample Clearances - Deborah Mannis-Gardiner
- Photography (Cover Photo & Page 12) - Robert D'Este
- Photography (Outside Inlay & Page 2 - 11) - Roger Erickson
- Styling - Patty Wilson and Kithe Brewster
- Hair - Will Robinson
- Makeup - JJ
- Atlantic Art Producer - Andrew Zach
- Atlantic Art Direction - Ellen To
- Design - Ellen To & Alex Kirzhner
External links
- The Naked Truth at MetacriticMetacriticMetacritic.com is a website that collates reviews of music albums, games, movies, TV shows and DVDs. For each product, a numerical score from each review is obtained and the total is averaged. An excerpt of each review is provided along with a hyperlink to the source. Three colour codes of Green,...