Can't Get Any Harder

{{Infobox song

| name = Can't Get Any Harder

| cover =

| alt =

| type = single

| artist = James Brown

| album = Universal James

| B-side =

| released = {{Start date|1993|1}}

| recorded = 1992

| studio =

| genre = {{hlist|R&B|hip hop}}

| length =

| label = Scotti Bros.

| writer = {{hlist|Robert Clivillés|David Cole|Duran Ramos|Sheldon Scott|James Jackson|Trevor Smith|Bryan Higgins}}

| producer = Clivillés and Cole

| chronology = James Brown charting

| prev_title = (So Tired of Standing Still We Got to) Move On

| prev_year = 1991

| next_title = Funk on Ah Roll

| next_year = 1998

| misc = {{External music video|{{YouTube|WU-FqZKekKs|"Can't Get Any Harder"}}|header=Audio video}}

}}

"Can't Get Any Harder" is a song by American singer James Brown from his fifty-sixth studio album, Universal James (1993). It was released in January 1993 via Scotti Brothers Records as the album's lead single. Written by C+C Music Factory members Robert Clivillés and David Cole, Trilogy's Duran Ramos, and Leaders of the New School, it was produced by Clivillés and Cole with co-production by Ricky Crespo, and features guest rap vocals from Trilogy and Leaders of the New School.

The single peaked at number 58 on the UK Singles Chart, as well as number 76 on the Hot R&B/Hip-Hop Songs and number 7 on the Dance Singles Sales, making it Brown's last charting single in the United States. It was also a Brown's final music video to date featured a live dancer and college students.

Critical reception

It was poorly received by critics; AllMusic described it as "strain[ing] for rap credibility",{{cite web |author=Ankeny |first=Jason |title=Universal James - James Brown |url=http://www.allmusic.com/album/universal-james-mw0000727915 |access-date=August 17, 2021 |publisher=AllMusic}} while Entertainment Weekly dismissed it as "junky".{{Cite magazine |author=Browne |first=David |author-link=David Browne (journalist) |date=April 30, 1993 |title=James Brown: Jail equals profit |url=https://ew.com/article/1993/04/30/james-brown-jail-equals-profit/ |url-status=live |magazine=Entertainment Weekly |language=en |publisher=Dotdash Meredith |publication-date=April 30, 1993 |issue=168 |archive-url=https://archive.today/20130629041727/http://www.ew.com/ew/article/0,,306385,00.html |archive-date=June 29, 2013 |access-date=December 17, 2021}}

Track listing

{{Track listing

| all_writing =

| extra_column = Producer(s)

| title1 = Can't Get Any Harder

| note1 = Radio Mix

| writer1 = {{hlist|Robert Clivillés|David Cole|Duran Ramos|Sheldon Scott|James Jackson|Trevor Smith|Bryan Higgins}}

| extra1 = {{hlist|Clivillés and Cole|Ricky Crespo ({{abbr|co.|co-producer}})}}

| length1 = 3:53

| title2 = Can't Get Any Harder

| note2 = Alternative Brown Radio Groove

| writer2 = {{hlist|Clivillés|Cole|Ramos|Scott|Jackson|Smith|Higgins}}

| extra2 = {{hlist|Clivillés and Cole|Ricky Crespo ({{abbr|co.|co-producer}})}}

| length2 = 3:35

| title3 = Can't Get Any Harder

| note3 = On The Edge Radio Mix

| writer3 = {{hlist|Clivillés|Cole|Ramos|Scott|Jackson|Smith|Higgins}}

| extra3 = {{hlist|Clivillés and Cole|Ricky Crespo ({{abbr|co.|co-producer}})}}

| length3 = 5:21

| title4 = Can't Get Any Harder

| note4 = C&C - Leaders Of The New School Mix

| writer4 = {{hlist|Clivillés|Cole|Ramos|Scott|Jackson|Smith|Higgins}}

| extra4 = {{hlist|Clivillés and Cole|Ricky Crespo ({{abbr|co.|co-producer}})|Leaders of the New School ({{abbr|co.|co-producers}})}}

| length4 = 4:53

| title5 = Can't Get Any Harder

| note5 = Universal Hip Hop Mix

| writer5 = {{hlist|Clivillés|Cole|Ramos|Scott|Jackson|Smith|Higgins}}

| extra5 = {{hlist|Clivillés and Cole|Ricky Crespo ({{abbr|co.|co-producer}})}}

| length5 = 9:59

| title6 = Can't Get Any Harder

| note6 = Clivilles & Cole House Of Soul Mix

| writer6 = {{hlist|Clivillés|Cole|Ramos|Scott|Jackson|Smith|Higgins}}

| extra6 = {{hlist|Clivillés and Cole|Ricky Crespo ({{abbr|co.|co-producer}})}}

| length6 = 13:07

| total_length = 40:58

}}

Personnel

James Brown – vocals
Trilogy – rap vocals
Bryan "Charlie Brown" Higgins – songwriter, rap vocals, additional producer (track 4)
Sheldon "Cut Monitor Milo" Scott – songwriter, rap vocals, additional producer (track 4)
Trevor "Busta Rhymes" Smith – songwriter, rap vocals, additional producer (track 4)
James "Dinco D" Jackson – songwriter, rap vocals, additional producer (track 4)
Robert Clivillés – songwriter, producer, arranger, editing, mixing, remixing
David Cole – songwriter, producer, arranger, mixing, remixing
Ricky Crespo – additional producer, programming, editing
Alan Friedman – programming
Acar Key – recording, mixing, engineering
Katherine Miller – recording, engineering
Richard Joseph – recording, engineering
Herbert Powers Jr. – mastering

Charts

scope="col"\| Chart (1993) ! scope="col"\| Peak position
class="wikitable sortable plainrowheaders" style="text-align:center"
{{single chart\|UK\|58\|artist=James Brown\|date=1993-04-17\|rowheader=true\|access-date=February 19, 2023}}
scope="row"\|UK Club Chart (Music Week){{cite magazine\|title=The RM Club Chart\|magazine=Music Week, in Record Mirror (Dance Update Supplemental Insert)\|date=April 3, 1993\|page=4\|accessdate=May 8, 2023\|url=https://worldradiohistory.com/UK/Music-Week/1993/Music-Week-1993-04-03.pdf}} \|6
{{single chart\|Billboardrandbhiphop\|76\|artist=James Brown\|rowheader=true}}

References

External links

{{Discogs master|176204|James Brown – Can't Get Any Harder}}

Category:1992 songs

Category:1993 singles

Category:James Brown songs

Category:Songs written by Busta Rhymes

Category:Scotti Brothers Records singles

Category:Songs written by Robert Clivillés

Category:Song recordings produced by Robert Clivillés

Category:Songs written by David Cole (record producer)