Hard Knock Life (Ghetto Anthem)
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| "Hard Knock Life (Ghetto Anthem)" | ||
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| Single by Jay-Z | ||
| from the album Vol. 2: Hard Knock Life | ||
| Released | 1998 | |
| Genre | Hip-Hop | |
| Label | Roc-A-Fella Records | |
| Producer(s) | DJ Mark the 45 King (as "Mark 45 King") | |
| Jay-Z singles chronology | ||
| "Wishing on a Star" (1997) |
"Hard Knock Life (Ghetto Anthem)" (1998) |
"Nigga What, Nigga Who (Originator 99)" (1998) |
"Hard Knock Life (Ghetto Anthem)" was a 1998 hit single from rapper Jay-Z's third album Vol. 2: Hard Knock Life. It became famous for the fact that it sampled the melody and chorus of "It's a Hard Knock Life" from the Broadway play Annie – sung by Danielle Brisebois – for its beat. The song was produced by legendary DJ/producer 45 King.
It is one of Jay-Z's most famous songs, and helped Vol. 2 go 5x Platinum and become his mainstream breakthrough. In 2002, the song was spoofed in the movie Austin Powers: Goldmember. Jay-Z's famous command to "take the bass line out" towards the beginning of the song is sometimes mistaken for "Take the bass line up". This may have been alluded to in the spoof, when Dr. Evil says the same thing, then, when there is no change, "No? You don't have to." The song's appearance in Goldmember is also notable as Beyoncé Knowles, the co-star of the film, is Jay's current girlfriend.
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