Hard Core

Michael Lavine photographed Lil' Kim on 30 July 1996 in a rented brownstone at 24 West 10th Street in Manhattan. His notes from her management described her as "the other woman" and asked for a look that was "Not raunchy," listing "Classy, sexy, lush, lustful." For the cover set, flowers were arranged in front of the fireplace and a bearskin rug was brought in.

The cover shows Kim in a bikini on that rug, surrounded by furs and red roses. The same session produced the famous squat pose, which was never planned. "There was no layout for her to do that pose. It just was natural," Lavine said. That image became the "Lil Kim Coming Soon" poster, and Lavine believes it "put her on the map" even more than the sleeve did.

Lavine said he felt uncomfortable sexualising women and saw the pictures as empowering. The campaign introduced a rapper presenting her sexuality on her own terms. Hard Core was released on 12 November 1996 by Undeas, Big Beat and Atlantic.