On her 37th birthday (July 11, 2011), Lil Kim announced that she’d release a new single titled “Looks Like Money” off her fifth studio album. Neither the single nor the album ever materialized until last week when the Queen Bee unleashed the single in celebration of her 39th birthday. Kim’s last album “The Naked Truth” peaked at No. 3 on Top R&B/Hip-Hop Albums (2005) and “Download,” featuring Charlie Wilson and T-Pain, was her last hit on Hot R&B/Hip-Hop Songs (No. 21, 2009). “Looks Like Money” wouldn’t be complete without a swipe at rap nemesis Nicki Minaj and accordingly, Kim opens the song with the line, “Cash Money, that’s so last year/ Now when I do a show, they gotta pay me in gold.”
Jim Jones is also mounting a return with the release of his Jeremih and DJ Spinking-assisted “Nasty Girl.” The Vinylz-produced single dropped the same week as Jones’ take on Daft Punk’s smash single “Get Lucky” titled “Get Money.” The Harlem rapper hasn’t been on Hot R&B/Hip-Hop Songs since “Perfect Day,” featuring Chink Santana and Logic, peaked at No. 67 in 2011. Could “Nasty Girl” return him to the tally?