It has been four years since Faith Evans, late rapper Biggie’s widow, released her “First Lady” LP.  Now Evans told MTV at the “Notorious” premiere — the biopic about Biggie — that she is ready to get back to performing.

“I’m not ready to record a whole album tonight, but I’m back in that mode,” she said. “I’ve been taking a lot of meetings, and I’ve been enjoying my freedom, not being tied down to anything other than my family.

“I’m ready to record again,” Evans added.  “I’ve been hesitant to get into any type of record-deal situation. The offers have been coming in. Through the process of elimination, I’ll pick the one that’s right for me. But I’m gonna begin recording soon and have an album out this year. Sooner than later.”

Reggie Rock Bythewood, one of the writers of the ‘Notorious’ movie, speaks out about Lil Kim’s portrayal. Bythewood’s previous experience includes directing the movie, “Biker Boyz.”

“When I was brought onto the project, I requested to speak with Kim,” Bythewood told MTV. “Once I was granted access, I was blown away by the two-hour phone interview [we had]. She is a complex person. She is a sister with a lot of vulnerability and a lot of strength. Much of what she told me went directly into my next draft. Unfortunately, she was slipped a draft that was written before our conversation. She was angry at the producers and I did not get to speak with her again.”

Voletta Wallace, Biggie’s mom, said that after viewing the “Notorious” movie she co-produced, she would like to speak to Lil Kim.

“I need to ask more about this love relationship because I really didn’t like the way he treated her and I’m praying that that’s not it,” she told Essence.com.  “Only she can answer those questions. She’s a sweet girl and I didn’t think she deserved to be treated the way he treated her, if that’s the case.”

“Notorious,” the biopic about the slain rapper’s life, will open Friday, Jan. 16 in theaters.