Hard to Earn

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Hard To Earn
Studio album by Gang Starr
Released March 8, 1994 (US)
Recorded 1992–93
D&D Studios
(New York, New York)
Genre East Coast Hip Hop,[1] Hardcore Hip Hop [1]
Length 58:57
Label Chrysalis/EMI Records
7243 8 28435 2 8
F2-28435
Producer DJ Premier (Producer)
Guru (Co-producer)
Gang Starr chronology

Daily Operation
(1992)
Hard To Earn
(1994)
Moment of Truth
(1998)
Professional ratings
Review scores
Source Rating
AllMusic [2]
RapReviews [3]
Robert Christgau [4]
Rolling Stone [5]
The Source [6]

Hard to Earn is the fourth album from the hip hop duo Gang Starr. It was released in March 1994 and featured the singles "Mass Appeal", "DWYCK" and "Code of the Streets". Musically the album is constructed around a harder, more stripped-down sound that is distinctively less melodic than the duo's previous work.

Guest appearances on the album come from Group Home, Jeru The Damaja, and Big Shug. At the time, all were part of the Gang Starr Foundation, which made the album a stepping-stone for future DJ Premier-helmed projects by Group Home and Jeru. The single "DWYCK" also featured hip hop duo Nice & Smooth.

Hard to Earn is also the duo's first album to carry the "Parental Advisory" label.

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* featuring MC Eiht, Nas
8 "Speak Ya Clout" Christopher Martin, Keith Elam, Jeru Kendrick Davis, Heath DJ Premier, Guru Guru, Lil' Dap, Jeru the Damaja
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, Melachi the Nutcracker
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." Keith Elam, Cary Guy DJ Premier, Guru Guru, Big Shug
17 "Comin' for Datazz" Christopher Martin, Keith Elam DJ Premier, Guru Guru

Charts

Chart (1994) Peak
position
scope="row" US Billboard 200[ 1] 25
scope="row" US Top R&B/Hip Hop Albums (Billboard)[ 1] 2

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
Mass Appeal 67 42 10 3
Code of the Streets - 83 33 5
Suckas Need Bodyguards - - 44 18

Samples

References

  1. 1.0 1.1 http://www.allmusic.com/album/hard-to-earn-mw0000107963
  2. Birchmeier, Jason. "Hard to Earn – Gang Starr". AllMusic. Rovi Corporation. Retrieved October 25, 2013. 
  3. Doggett, Tom (May 24, 2005). "GangStarr:: Hard to Earn :: Chrysalis Records". RapReviews. Retrieved October 25, 2013. 
  4. "CG: Gang Starr". Robert Christgau. Retrieved October 25, 2013. 
  5. Nelson, Havelock (June 2, 1994). "Hard To Earn : Gang Starr : Review". Rolling Stone. Wenner Media. Archived from the original on November 20, 2009. Retrieved October 25, 2013. 
  6. The Source review
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