Hard to Earn

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Hard To Earn
Hard To Earn cover
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/EMI Records
7243 8 28435 2 8
F2-28435
Producer DJ Premier (Producer)
Guru (Co-producer)
Professional reviews
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 that 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

[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]

ALONGWAYTOGO

Code Of The Streets

Tonz 'O' Gunz

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...

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

Mass Appeal

Blowin' Up The Spot

Suckas Need Bodyguards

Now You're Mine

Mostly Tha Voice

Comin' For Datazz

[edit] Album singles

Audio samples of Hard to Earn
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
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