Hard to Earn

Hard To Earn
Studio album by Gang Starr
Released	March 8, 1994 (US)
Recorded	1992–1993 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]
Rolling Stone Album Guide	[6]
The Source	[7]

Hard To Earn is the fourth album from the hip hop duo Gang Starr. It was released in March 8, 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" recorded in 1992 also featured hip hop duo Nice & Smooth. The track "Now You're Mine" originally appeared on the 1992 Soundtrack "White Men Can't Rap".

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	Guru, DJ Premier(co-produced)	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	"Suckaz 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

Samples

• "DWYCK"
  • "Hey Jude" by Clarence Wheeler and The Enforcers
  • "Synthetic Substitution" by Melvin Bliss
  • "Bumpin' Bus Stop" by Thunder and Lightning
  • "You Gotta Wash Your Ass" by Redd Foxx
  • "Funky for You" by Nice & Smooth
  • "No Bones in Ice Cream" by Nice & Smooth
  • "Step Up In The Arena" by Gang Starr
• "Aiiight Chill"
  • "Love and Happiness" by Monty Alexander
• "ALONGWAYTOGO"
  • "Snow Creatures" by Quincy Jones
  • "Impeach The President" by The Honey Drippers
  • "Synthetic Substitution" by Melvin Bliss
  • "Just Us" by Richard Pryor
  • "Check the Rhime" by A Tribe Called Quest
• "Blowin' Up the Spot"
  • "All Night" by George Clinton
  • "I Didn't Come Rhythm" by George Clinton
  • "I'm the Man" by Gang Starr
• "Brainstorm"
  • "Community Auditions Theme" by Dave Maynard
  • "Comic Strip" by Mikey Dread
• "Code of the Streets"
  • "Little Green Apples" by Monk Higgins
  • "Synthetic Substitution" by Melvin Bliss
  • "Change The Beat" by Beside & Fab 5 Freddy
• "Comin' for Datazz"
  • "Blind Alley" by The Emotions
  • "Here We Go (Live at the Funhouse)" by Run-DMC
• "F.A.L.A."
  • "Get Up and Dance" by Freedom
  • "Hard Like a Criminal" by Das EFX
• "Intro (The First Step)"
  • "Scarlet Woman" by Weather Report
• "Mass Appeal"
  • "Horizon Drive" by Vic Juris
  • "Raw" by Big Daddy Kane
  • "You're a Customer" by EPMD
  • "Pass Da Mic" by Da Youngsta's
• "Mostly Tha Voice"
  • "Give It Up or Turnit a Loose" by James Brown
  • "Hey! Last Minute" by The Meters
  • "Time Will Be Your Doctor" by Fuzzy Duck
  • "Bam Bam" by Sister Nancy
  • "You Gots to Chill" by EPMD
• "Now You're Mine"
  • "Feel The Heartbeat" by Treacherous Three
• "Speak Ya Clout"
  • "Up Against the Wall" by Quincy Jones
  • "Cucumber Slumber" by Weather Report
  • "Shack Up" by Banbarra
  • "Funk It Up" by Caesar Frazier
  • "The Jam" by Graham Central Station
  • "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
• "The Planet"
  • "It's All Because She's Gone" by Steve Davis
  • "The Cuckoo" by Taj Mahal
  • "Holy War (Live)" by Divine Force
  • "Lyte as a Rock" by MC Lyte
  • "The Place Where We Dwell" by Gang Starr
• "Tonz 'O' Gunz"
  • "Fire & Fury Grass Roots Speech (Side One)" by Malcolm X
  • "Breakthrough" by Isaac Hayes
  • "Just to Get a Rep" by Gang Starr
• "Words From the Nutcracker
  • "Journey From Within" by The Crusaders
  • "Long Red" by Mountain
  • "Lock It in the Pocket" by Grover Washington, Jr.

Charts

Chart (1994)	Peak position
UK Albums (OCC)[8]	29
US Billboard 200[9]	25
US Top R&B/Hip-Hop Albums (Billboard)[10]	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

References

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. http://books.google.co.uk/books?id=lRgtYCC6OUwC&pg=PA322&dq=rolling+stone+gang+starr&cd=1&redir_esc=y#v=onepage&q=gang&f=false. Page 322
7. The Source review
8. "Gang Starr | Artist | Official Charts". UK Albums Chart Retrieved April 19, 2016.
9. "Gang Starr – Chart history" Billboard 200 for Gang Starr. Retrieved October 25, 2013.
10. "Gang Starr – Chart history" Billboard Top R&B/Hip-Hop Albums for Gang Starr. Retrieved October 25, 2013.