Billboard has officially crowned Lil’ Kim’s “Hard Core” the greatest rap album cover of all time, and honestly, it kind of makes sense.

Billboard has officially ranked the Best Rap Album Covers of All Time, and coming in at the top spot is none other than Lil’ Kim’s groundbreaking 1996 debut, Hard Core. The publication’s staff placed Kim at #1 above a lineup of legendary artwork from OutKast, DMX, Kanye West, 2Pac, Kendrick Lamar, and more.

Billboard’s Top 10 Best Rap Album Covers of All Time:

Hard Core — Lil’ Kim

Stankonia — OutKast Flesh of My Flesh

Blood of My Blood — DMX

My Beautiful Dark Twisted Fantasy — Kanye West

Ready to Die — The Notorious B.I.G.

The Don Killuminati: The 7 Day Theory — 2Pac

As Nasty As They Wanna Be — 2 Live Crew

Jeffery — Young Thug

Get Rich or Die Tryin’ — 50 Cent

To Pimp a Butterfly — Kendrick Lamar

Let’s be honest—Hard Core’s cover is… a lot. Bold, erotic, eccentric, and absolutely unforgettable, it features Lil’ Kim lounging in sheer lace with bright yellow lingerie, surrounded by roses, a fireplace, champagne, and a plush white rug (yes, the polar bear one). It’s a fantasy—well, someone’s fantasy—and Kim leans into it with full confidence.

Compared to the darker, more symbolic, or cryptic visuals from other classics on the list, Hard Core stands in a category of its own. While many rap covers have gone for shock value through gore, surreal imagery, or stark minimalism, Lil’ Kim elicits the same response femininity, glamour, sexuality, and power to the forefront—and did it in a way the culture had never seen before.

Nearly 30 years later, the cover is still being discussed, referenced, and celebrated. Though it may not be everyone’s cup of tea, Billboard’s #1 ranking just confirms what hip-hop fans already knew: Lil’ Kim changed the game.

Ileyah

Ileyah is a mom, a writer and a musician. She loves late nights and gluten free snacks.