Hard to Earn

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

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

Hard to Earn is the fourth studio album by American hip hop duo Gang Starr, released in March 8, 1994 on Chrysalis Records. Recording sessions took place at D&D Studios in New York City from July 1992 to June 1993. Production was handled solely by DJ Premier, with co-production from Guru. It includes guest appearances by Nice & Smooth and Gang Starr Foundation members: Group Home (Lil' Dap and Melachi the Nutcracker), Jeru the Damaja and Big Shug. Musically, the album is constructed around a harder, more stripped-down sound that is distinctively less melodic than the duo's previous work. 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. Hard to Earn spawned the four hit singles: "DWYCK" (which debuted at #25 on the Hot Rap Singles and #12 on the Hot Dance Music/Maxi-Singles Sales chart), "Mass Appeal" (which debuted at #67 on the Billboard Hot 100, #42 on the Hot R&B/Hip-Hop Singles & Tracks, #10 on the Hot Rap Singles and #3 on the Hot Dance Music/Maxi-Singles Sales chart), "Code of the Streets" (which peaked at #83 on the Hot R&B/Hip-Hop Singles chart, #33 on the Hot Rap Singles chart and #5 on Hot Dance Music/Maxi-Singles Sales chart) and "Suckas Need Bodyguards" (which peaked at #44 on the Hot Rap Singles and #18 on the Hot Dance Music/Maxi-Singles Sales chart in the United States). Music videos also were released for all four songs.

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
• "Impeach the President" by The Honey Drippers
• "Snow Creatures" by Quincy Jones
• "Just Us" by Richard Pryor

Code of the Streets

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

Brainstorm

• "Comic Strip" by Mikey Dread

Tonz 'O' Gunz

• "Breakthrough" by Isaac Hayes
• "Fire & Fury Grass Roots Speech (Side One)" by Malcolm X
• "Woman" by Three Dog Night
• "Just to Get a Rep" by Gang Starr
• "Never Let 'Em Say" by Ballin' Jack

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
• "Shack Up" by Banbarra
• "I'm the Man" by Gang Starr
• "Up Against the Wall" by Quincy Jones
• "Funk It Down" by Caesar Frazier

DWYCK

• "Synthetic Substitution" by Melvin Bliss
• "Hey Jude" by Clarence Wheeler and The Enforcers
• "Funky for You" and "No Bones in Ice Cream" by Nice & Smooth
• "Step in the Arena" by Gang Starr

Words from The Nutcracker

• "Lock It in the Pocket" by Grover Washington, Jr.
• "Journey from Within" by The Crusaders
• "Long Red" by Mountain

Mass Appeal

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

Blowin' Up the Spot

• "I Didn't Come Rhythm" by George Clinton
• "I Didn't Come Bass" by George Clinton
• "I'm the Man" by Gang Starr

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

• "Miss Bessie's Cooking" by Buddy Rich
• "Sally" by Stetsasonic
• "Feel the Heartbeat" by Treacherous Three

Mostly tha Voice

• "Time Will Be Your Doctor" by Fuzzy Duck
• "You Gots to Chill" by EPMD
• "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
• "Come Dancing" by Jeff Beck
• "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.