Hard to Earn

Hard to Earn
Studio album by Gang Starr
Released	8 March 1994
Recorded	July 1992 - June 1993
Studio	D&D Studios (New York City)
Genre(s)	Hip hop, East Coast hip hop, hardcore hip hop, jazz rap
Length	58:57
Label	Chrysalis/EMI Records
Producer(s)	DJ Premier, Guru

Gang Starr chronology
Previous	Daily Operation (1992)
Next	Moment of Truth (1998)

Hard to Earn is the fourth album by American hip hop duo Gang Starr, released in March 8, 1994 on Chrysalis Records. 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 are supplied by Gang Starr Foundation members Group Home, Jeru the Damaja and Big Shug. It also features the single "DWYCK", which features hip hop duo Nice & Smooth. Hard to Earn is the duo's first album to carry the "Parental Advisory" label.

The album peaked at #25 on the Billboard 200 and #2 on the Top R&B/Hip-Hop Albums chart.

Track listing

All songs produced by DJ Premier and Guru.

No.	Title	Performer(s)	Writer(s)	Time
1.	"Intro (The First Step)	-	-	0:54
2.	"ALONGWAYTOGO"	Guru	Elam, Martin	4:13
3.	"Code of the Streets"	Guru	Elam, Martin	3:29
4.	"Brainstorm"	Guru	Elam, Martin	3:02
5.	"Tonz 'o' Gunz"	Guru	Elam, Martin	3:55
6.	"The Planet"	Guru	Elam, Martin	5:16
7.	"Aiiight Chill..."	-	Elam, Martin	3:13
8.	"Speak Ya Clout"	Jeru the Damaja, Lil' Dap, Guru	Davis, Elam, Heath, Martin	3:35
9.	"DWYCK"	Greg Nice, Guru, Smooth B	Barnes, Elam, Martin, Mays	4:03
10.	"Words from the Nutcracker"	Melachi the Nutcracker	Felder, Martin	1:29
11.	"Mass Appeal"	Guru	Elam, Martin	3:41
12.	"Blowin' Up the Spot"	Guru	Elam, Martin	3:10
13.	"Suckas Need Bodyguards"	Guru	Elam, Martin	4:05
14.	"Now You're Mine"	Guru	Elam, Martin	2:44
15.	"Mostly tha Voice"	Guru	Elam, Martin	3:38
16.	"F.A.L.A."	Guru, Big Shug	Elam, Guy	4:17
17.	"Comin' for Datazz"	Guru	Elam, Martin	4:02

Samples

Intro (The First Step)

• "Scarlet Woman" by Weather Report

ALONGWAYTOGO

• "Check The Rhime" by A Tribe Called Quest
• "Snow Creatures" by Quincy Jones

Code of the Streets

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

Brainstorm

• "Comic Strip" by Mikey Dread

Tonz 'O' Gunz

• "Breakthrough" by Isaac Hayes
• "Woman" by Three Dog Night
• "Fire & Fury Grass Roots Speech (Side One)" by Malcolm X

The Planet

• "The Cuckoo" by Taj Mahal
• "It's All Because She's Gone" by Steve Davis
• "Lyte as a Rock" by MC Lyte

Aiiight Chill

• "Love and Happiness" by Monty Alexander
• "Dynomite - Part I" by Tony Camillo's Bazuka

Speak Ya Clout

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

DWYCK

• "Synthetic Substitution" by Melvin Bliss
• "Hey Jude" by Clarence Wheeler and The Enforcers

Words from The Nutcracker

• "Journey From Within" by The Crusaders
• "Lock It in the Pocket" by Grover Washington, Jr.

Mass Appeal

• "You're a Customer" by EPMD
• "Horizon Drive" by Vic Juris
• "Pass Da Mic (Remix)" by Da Youngsta's

Blowin' Up the Spot

• "I Didn't Come Rhythm" by George Clinton
• "I Didn't Come Bass" by George Clinton

Suckas Need Bodyguards

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

Now You're Mine

• "Feel the Hearbeat" by Treacherous Three
• "Miss Bessie's Cooking" by Buddy Rich

Mostly tha Voice

• "Time Will Be Your Doctor" by Fuzzy Duck
• "Bam Bam" by Sister Nancy
• "Give It Up or Turnit a Loose" by James Brown

F.A.L.A.

• "Get Up and Dance" by Freedom
• "Hard Like a Criminal" by Das EFX

Comin' for Datazz

• "Blind Alley" by The Emotions
• "Here We Go (Live at the Funhouse)" by Run-D.M.C.