After thriving on the independent scene for the last several years, veteran rapper Lil’ Kim’s recording career gets a shot in the arm. She’s reportedly signed a new record deal with Universal Music Group.
No major announcement from Universal has been made, but Lil’ Kim’s name has been mysteriously added to list of artists on the label’s website, according to HipHopDX.
This is the first major label deal that the Queen Bee has secured since parting ways with her former label, Atlantic, following the release of her last album, 2005’s The Naked Truth.
During her stint on Atlantic, Kim dropped a slew of chart-topping albums including Hardcore in 1996, The Notorious K.I.M. in 2000 and La Bella Mafia in 2003.
Since going independent, Kimmy Blanco has remained in the headlines as a contestant on the eighth season of “Dancing With the Stars” in 2009 and releasing her controversial mixtape, Black Friday, earlier this year.
Most recently, Kim has been in the spotlight for her high-profile feud with fellow female rapper Nicki Minaj, calling her a “clone” and loading her mixtape (including its violent cover) with disses toward the Young Money emcee.
Last month, Lil’ Kim announced her allegiance with G-Unit and even hinted at signing with 50 Cent’s label. However, the G-Unit general later denied the rumors.
Lil’ Kim is currently at work on her fifth studio album, which will feature appearances from Dr. Dre and 50 Cent. –nicholas robinson
