The Hard Way (213 album)

The Hard Way
Studio album by 213
Released August 17, 2004
Recorded 1994-2004
Genre West Coast hip hop, gangsta rap, G-funk
Length 71:59
Label Doggystyle, TVT
Producer Fredwreck, Hi-Tek, Quaze, B Sharp, Battlecat, Tha Chill, Kanye West, DJ Pooh, Nottz, Josef, Lil' Half Dead, Niggaracci, Terrace Martin, Marlon Williams, Michael Angelo, J-Hen, Missy Elliott, Jelly Roll
Singles from The Hard Way
  1. "So Fly"
    Released: July 6, 2004
  2. "Groupie Luv"
    Released: 2004
Professional ratings
Review scores
Source Rating
Allmusic 2004
Artist Direct 2004
Entertainment Weekly (C+) 2004
HipHopDX.com 2004
RapReviews.com (5.5/10) 2004
Rolling Stone 2004
Stylus (C) 2004
USA Today 2004
Vibe 2004

The Hard Way is the 2004 album by hip hop group, 213 which consisted of Snoop Dogg, Warren G and Nate Dogg. It has sold 500,000 copies according to TVT Records by December 16, 2004. The reunion of the group first appeared as 213 in Warren G's The Return of the Regulator in the track "Yo' Sassy Ways". In 2003 Snoop Dogg, released his series of mixtapes, from which the second compilation Welcome to tha chuuch, Vol. 2 included the first version of "So Fly", which is a parody of the then chart-running hit single by Monica, So Gone. Missy Elliott, a co-producer of the song (with Spike & Jamahl), got to hear the tape and was very impressed by it. She agreed with Snoop to cede the right of the sample for the upcoming 213 project in exchange for their rapping on Tamia's "Can't Go for That" remix. In the end it came out to be the first unofficial radio single of The Hard Way and was performed live at BET's 106 & Park. The album version differs from the mixtape version in a way that it is five seconds shorter and misses Snoop's intro where he gives the shootouts "Welcome to tha chuuch Vol. 2...exclusive 213". The official debut retail single was "Groupie Luv", which was also accompanied by a promo video. It was directed by Chris Robinson and was filmed in Snoop Dogg's own house (see also Still a G Thang). It is also the video debut for dancer Criscilla Crossland

Track listing

No. TitleProducer(s) Length
1. "Intro"  Fredwreck 1:49
2. "Twist Yo Body"  Hi-Tek 3:28
3. "Absolutely"  Quazedelic 4:00
4. "Keep It Gangsta"  B Sharp 4:36
5. "Run On Up"  Tha Chill 3:33
6. "Groupie Luv"  DJ Pooh 3:52
7. "Lonely Girl"  Nottz 4:04
8. "Another Summer"  Kanye West 4:12
9. "213 tha Gangsta Clicc"  Josef Laimberg 3:52
10. "Gotta Find a Way"  Lil' ½ Dead, Terrace Martin 3:25
11. "Ups & Downs"  B Sharp, tha Chill 3:53
12. "Joysticc"  Terrace Martin, Marlon Williams 4:48
13. "Rick James" (Interlude performed by Dave Chappelle)Fredwreck 0:36
14. "Mary Jane"  Quazedelic 3:48
15. "MLK"  B Sharp 3:44
16. "Lil Girl"  Michael Angelo 3:19
17. "My Dirty Ho"  J-Hen 4:12
18. "Appreciation"  J-Hen 4:06
19. "So Fly"  Spike & Jamahl, Missy Elliott 4:07
European edition
No. TitleProducer(s) Length
20. "Whistle While You Hustle" (featuring Daz Dillinger and Soopafly)Jelly Roll 2:35

Chart positions

Album

Chart (2004) Peak
position
German Albums (Offizielle Top 100)[1] 34
Australian Albums (ARIA)[2] 50
Belgian Albums (Ultratop Flanders)[3] 57
Canadian Albums (Billboard)[4] 3
US Independent Albums (Billboard)[5]
1
US Billboard 200[6] 4
US Top R&B/Hip-Hop Albums (Billboard)[7] 1
New Zealand Albums (Recorded Music NZ)[8] 21
Dutch Albums (MegaCharts)[9] 57
Swiss Albums (Schweizer Hitparade)[10] 33

Singles

Year Title Peak chart positions
U.S. Hot 100 U.S. R&B U.S. Rap NZ AUS
2004 "So Fly" — — 27 — —
"Groupie Love" 48 24 23 16 39

Notes

  1. ↑ "Longplay-Chartverfolgung at Musicline" (in German). Musicline.de. Phononet GmbH.
  2. ↑ "213 – The Hard Way". Australiancharts.com. Hung Medien.
  3. ↑ "213 – The Hard Way" (in Dutch). Ultratop.be. Hung Medien.
  4. ↑ "213 Album & Song Chart History" Billboard Canadian Albums Chart for 213.
  5. ↑ "213 Album & Song Chart History". Billboard Independent Albums para213. Prometheus Global Media.
  6. ↑ "213 Album & Song Chart History" Billboard 200 for 213.
  7. ↑ "213 Album & Song Chart History" Billboard Top R&B/Hip-Hop Albums for 213.
  8. ↑ "213 – The Hard Way". Charts.org.nz. Hung Medien.
  9. ↑ "213 – The Hard Way" (in Dutch). Dutchcharts.nl. Hung Medien.
  10. ↑ "213 – The Hard Way". Swisscharts.com. Hung Medien.

External links