Hard to Earn

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Hard To Earn
Studio album by Gang Starr
Released	March 8, 1994 (US)
Recorded	D&D Studios in New York, New York
Genre	Hip Hop
Length	58:57
Label	Chrysalis Records/Noo Trybe Records
Producer(s)	DJ Premier (Producer) Guru (Co-producer)
Professional reviews
All Music Guide link Rolling Stone June 2, 1994, p. 70
Gang Starr chronology
Daily Operation (1992)	Hard To Earn (1994)	Moment of Truth (1998)

Hard To Earn is the fourth album from the Hip Hop duo Gang Starr. The album was released in March of 1994 and featured the hit single "Mass Appeal". Though not quite as critically acclaimed as the album which preceded it, it was relatively well received by critics and fans alike, spawning singles such as "Dwyck" and "Mass Appeal" which are widely considered to be classics. This album is said to contain some of Premier's best beats to date, such as "Mass Appeal" and "Words From The Nutcracker". Although this album contains its share of socially conscious tracks, such as "Code of the Streets" and "Tons 'O' Gunz", overall it is known to be a harder and angrier effort than the duo's three previous albums.

Contents 1 Track listing 2 Samples 3 Album singles 4 Album Chart Positions 5 Singles Chart Positions

[edit] Track listing

#	Title	Songwriters	Producer(s)	Performer (s)
1	"Intro [The First Step]"		DJ Premier, Guru	*Instrumental*
2	"ALONGWAYTOGO"	Christopher Martin, Keith Elam	DJ Premier, Guru	Guru
3	"Code Of The Streets"	Christopher Martin, Keith Elam	DJ Premier, Guru	Guru
4	"Brainstorm"	Christopher Martin, Keith Elam	DJ Premier, Guru	Guru
5	"Tonz 'O' Gunz"	Christopher Martin, Keith Elam	DJ Premier, Guru	Guru
6	"The Planet"	Christopher Martin, Keith Elam	DJ Premier, Guru	Guru
7	"Aiiight Chill..."	Christopher Martin, Keith Elam	DJ Premier, Guru	*Skit*
8	"Speak Ya Clout"	Christopher Martin, Keith Elam, Jeru Kendrick Davis, Heath	DJ Premier, Guru	Jeru the Damaja, Lil' Dap, Guru
9	"DWYCK"	Christopher Martin, Keith Elam, Greg Mays, Daryl Barnes	DJ Premier, Guru	Guru, Nice & Smooth
10	"Words From The Nutcracker"	Christopher Martin, Keith Elam, Felder	DJ Premier, Guru	Melachi The Nutcracker
11	"Mass Appeal	Christopher Martin, Keith Elam	DJ Premier, Guru	Guru
12	"Blowin' Up The Spot"	Christopher Martin, Keith Elam	DJ Premier, Guru	Guru
13	"Suckas Need Bodyguards"	Christopher Martin, Keith Elam	DJ Premier, Guru	Guru
14	"Now You're Mine"	Christopher Martin, Keith Elam	DJ Premier, Guru	Guru
15	"Mostly Tha Voice"	Christopher Martin, Keith Elam	DJ Premier, Guru	Guru
16	"F.A.L.A."	Christopher Martin, Keith Elam, Guy	DJ Premier, Guru	Big Shug, Guru
17	"Comin' For Datazz"	Christopher Martin, Keith Elam	DJ Premier, Guru	Guru

[edit] Samples

Intro [The First Step]

• "Scarlet Woman" by Weather Report

ALONGWAYTOGO

• "Snow Creatures" by Quincy Jones
• "Impeach the President" by The Honey Drippers
• "Just Us" by Richard Pryor
• "Check the Rhime" by A Tribe Called Quest

Code Of The Streets

• "Little Green Apples" by Monk Higgins & the Specialites
• "Synthetic Substitution" by Melvin Bliss

Tonz 'O' Gunz

• "Breakthrough" by Isaac Hayes
• "Just to Get a Rep" by Gang Starr (Vocals by Guru)

The Planet

• "It's All Because She's Gone" by Steve Davis
• "The Cuckoo" by Taj Mahal
• "The Place Where We Dwell" by Gang Starr (Vocals by Guru)

Aiiight Chill...

• "Love and Happiness" by Monty Alexander

Speak Ya Clout

• "Shack Up" by Banbarra
• "Funk it Up" by Caesar Frazier
• "Up Against the Wall" by Quincy Jones
• "Cucumber Slumber" by Weather Report

DWYCK

• "Hey Jude" by Clarence Wheeler & the Enforcers
• "Synthetic Substitution" by Melvin Bliss
• "Intro Promo" by Redd Foxx

Words From The Nutcracker

• "Journey from Within" by The Crudasers
• "Lock it in the Pocket" by Grover Washington Jr.

Mass Appeal

• "Horizon Drive" by Vic Juris
• "Pass Da Mic" by Da Youngstas

Blowin' Up The Spot

• "Open All Night Drums" by George Clinton

Suckas Need Bodyguards

• "Put Your Love (In My Tender Care)" by The Fatback Band
• "It Takes Two" by Rob Base and DJ E-Z Rock

Now You're Mine

• "Poinciana (Live)" by Ahmad Jamal

Mostly Tha Voice

• "Hey, Last Minute" by The Meters
• "Bam Bam" by Sister Nancy

Comin' For Datazz

• "Blind Alley" by The Emotions

[edit] Album singles

Single cover	Single information
	"Code Of The Streets" Released: 1994 B-side: "Speak Ya Clout"
	"Dwyck" Released: 1994 B-side:
	"Mass Appeal" Released: 1994 B-side:
	"Suckas Need Bodyguards" Released: 1994 B-side: "The ? Remainz"

[edit] Album Chart Positions

Year	Album	Chart positions
		Billboard 200	Top R&B/Hip Hop Albums
1994	Hard To Earn	#25	#2

[edit] Singles Chart Positions

Year	Song	Chart positions
		Billboard Hot 100	Hot R&B/Hip-Hop Singles & Tracks	Hot Rap Singles	Hot Dance Music/Maxi-Singles Sales
1994	DWYCK	-	-	#25	#12
1994	Mass Appeal	#67	#42	#10	#3
1994	Code Of The Streets	-	#83	#33	#5
1994	Suckas Need Bodyguards	-	-	#44	#18

v • d • e Gang Starr
Members: Guru | DJ Premier
Albums: No More Mr. Nice Guy | Step in the Arena | Daily Operation | Hard to Earn | Moment of Truth | The Ownerz
Compilations: Full Clip: A Decade of Gang Starr | Mass Appeal: Best of Gang Starr
Singles: "Believe Dat!" | "The Lesson" | "Movin' On" | "Positivity" | "Words I Manifest (Remix)" | "Jazz Thing" | "Just to Get a Rep" | "Lovesick" | "Step in the Arena" | "Take It Personal" | "Ex Girl to Next Girl" | "Gonna Get Over (Taking Loot)" | "Code of the Streets" | "Dwyck" | "Mass Appeal" | "Suckas Need Bodyguards" | "You Know My Steez" | "The Militia" | "1/2 & 1/2" | "Full Clip" | "All 4 Tha Ca$h" | "Discipline" | "Skills" | "Nice Girl Wrong Place" | "The Ownerz"
See also: Gang Starr Foundation