Lil Kim to go independent

Lil Kim, currently out of recording contract, has said she isn't planning on re-signing to Warner's Atlantic Records, preferring instead to self-release future releases. Speaking to DJ Kay Slay on his Sirius radio show, Kim said she hadn't fallen out with Atlantic, but that she thought now was the right time in her career to go independent, something she'd not have felt confident doing until recently. Some are speculating Kim will form a relationship with Imperial Records, the urban bit of EMI's Caroline Distribution which aims to provide distribution, marketing and digital support to independent releases by R&B or hip hop artists - though Kim's people have not commented on that as yet. The rapper already has a new album in the bag, which is now expected to be released in April or May this year.