In what is sure to serve as very exciting news for Lil Kim’s fan club, the starlet celebrated her birthday yesterday by announcing the news that she will indeed be releasing a new album as a follow up to her ‘Black Friday’ mixtape.

According to the pint-sized rapper, the project’s lead single is the Rockwilder produced ‘Looks Like Money’. The new LP will be the first album to be released from the performer this decade.

Whilst the heckling and criticizing  of Lil Kim’s recent career path has become something even the most respectable of music critics are guilty of, it is worth remembering that there is a reason she was the leading female rapper of her generation.

For despite the fact ghostwriters were allegedly  responsible for her unique sound and the fact that she was never able to achieve a solo Billboard #1 single, her innovative take on  fashion and celebrity turned her into the most recognizable Rap starlet a decade ago.

However, let us hope that this new album sees Kimberly take complete control of her career as opposed to depending on external forces to do the hardwork for her.

For if her past is anything to go by, the ‘Crush On You’ performer has always been dependant on teams of men to validate her creative causes.

In the 90s, it was Biggie Smalls and P. Diddy who sailed the ship that was her career.

In the noughties, it was Cash Money that she was hoping would revive her music and image who she now claims are to blame for her feud with current go-to girl Nicki Minaj.

Hence the line, ‘Told you they’d revive your career, but somebody lied‘,  spewed by Ms.Minaj on the Britney Spears ‘Till The World Ends’ remix.

In recent months, it is the ‘International Rock Stars‘ crew that have  orchestrated  Kim’s regression back into an underground ‘hood’ rapper, a severe slap in the face to her mainstream glory days which saw her grace ‘Dancing With The Stars’.

Here’s to hoping this new album delivers a brave and timeless sound for the Brooklyn native.