Hard to Earn | |
---|---|
Studio album by Gang Starr | |
Released |
8 March 1994 |
Recorded |
July 1992 - June 1993 |
Studio |
D&D Studios |
Genre(s) |
|
Length |
58:57 |
Label |
Chrysalis/EMI Records |
Producer(s) |
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.