In the four years that have passed since "Hard Core" tantalized and scandalized all in its wake, Kim weathered the murder of her mate, The Notorious B.I.G., and has been working her musical way back slowly but fiercely. Developing into a renowned queen of the remix, Kim's monster reworking of her own "Not Tonight (Ladies' Night)" brought together the finest females of hip-hop, while years later, she sent Mobb Deep soaring with her appearance on the remix of "Quiet Storm."

Her ultra-glam fashion sense made for surefire eye candy with her every public appearance; she signed on as a MAC cosmetics spokeswoman; she chalked up her big-screen debut in "She's All That;" she appeared in every conceivable state of dress (and undress) on every conceivable magazine cover. But one question remained: Where's the album at? Like a shiny, plastic version of Samuel Beckett's Godot, everyone was "Waiting For 'K.I.M.'"

After endless push-backs, "The Notorious K.I.M." was finally, and officially, birthed on June 27 (a Cancer, like the MC herself), hampered by label troubles, rampant bootlegging, and Kim's efforts to add new tracks to combat the street version. Still filthy after all these years, Kim shows her rock side on "I'm Human" and displays her adorably playful side on "Right Now" with Carl Thomas (Yes, Kim sings!), while she also delves into far deeper territory with a tale of single motherhood on "Aunt Dot" and "Hold On," a mournful and most remarkable gospel-tinged ballad featuring Mary J. Blige, written for and about B.I.G.

Lil' Kim sat down with MTV News' Kurt Loder on the eve of the album's release to talk about where she's been, where she's going, her struggles to get her album out, and life after Biggie. Check it out.

Remembering The Notorious B.I.G., being misunderstood as an artist, and all those magazine covers... NEXT