Hard to Earn

1994DJ Premier Gang Starr Guru Chrysalis The Golden Age Brooklyn

Music videos Official videos via YouTube

Gang Starr - Code Of The Streets [Video]

Gang Starr - Suckas Need Bodyguards (Official Music Video)

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Hard to Earn is Gang Starr’s fourth album, released on March 8, 1994, by Chrysalis and EMI. DJ Premier and Guru produced it, and it continued the stripped-down, drum-heavy sound of Daily Operation with Premier’s scratched hooks. Guests included Big Shug, Jeru the Damaja, Group Home’s Lil’ Dap and Melachi the Nutcracker, and Nice & Smooth.

The album reached No. 25 on the Billboard 200 and No. 2 on the Top R&B/Hip-Hop Albums chart. Its singles were “Code of the Streets,” “Mass Appeal,” “Suckas Need Bodyguards” and “DWYCK” with Nice & Smooth. “Mass Appeal,” built on a short looped piano figure under Guru’s verses about commercial rap, reached No. 67 on the Hot 100 and became the group’s breakthrough single.

Released between the Chrysalis-era classics and the gold-certified Moment of Truth, Hard to Earn is often cited as the record where the duo’s sound was at its hardest.

See the Gang Starr artist page for the full story, videos and discography.

Tracklist & credits

Produced by DJ Premier, Guru

A1
Intro (First Step)
0:54
A2
Alongwaytogo
4:13
A3
Code Of The Streets
3:29
A4
Brainstorm
3:02
A5
Tonz 'O' Gunz
3:55
B1
The Planet
5:16
B2
Aiiight Chill...
3:13
B3
Speak Ya Clout
3:35
B4
DWYCK
4:03
C1
Words From The Nutcracker
1:29
C2
Mass Appeal
3:41
C3
Blowin' Up The Spot
3:10
C4
Suckas Need Bodyguards
4:05
D1
Now You're Mine
2:55
D2
Mostly Tha Voice
3:38
D3
F.A.L.A.
4:17
D4
Comin' For Datazz
4:02

Tracklist and producer credits: Discogs. Gear credits: Breakbeat Archive, sourced on each credit.

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Released March 8, 1994. More from hip hop in 1994.

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