Hard Out Here (Raye song)

In 2021, Raye started writing "Hard Out Here" after declaring that Polydor Records, the label she was signed to at the time, prevented her from releasing her debut studio album for seven years.{{cite web |last1=Siroky |first1=Mary |title=Raye Shares Origins of New Track "Hard Out Here": Exclusive |url=https://consequence.net/2022/07/raye-hard-out-here-origins/ |website=Consequence |access-date=18 January 2025 |date=1 July 2022 |archive-date=13 March 2023 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230313103555/https://consequence.net/2022/07/raye-hard-out-here-origins/ |url-status=live}} She later agreed to depart the label and continued working on the song.{{cite web |last1=Levine |first1=Nick |title=RAYE: "I Became a 'Rent-a-Verse'. People Knew My Songs, but They Didn't Know Me" |url=https://www.nme.com/features/music-features/raye-polydor-new-album-hard-out-here-3260215 |website=NME |access-date=18 January 2025 |date=5 July 2022 |archive-date=18 January 2025 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20250118185600/https://www.nme.com/features/music-features/raye-polydor-new-album-hard-out-here-3260215 |url-status=live}} Raye stated that "it was an old track that [she] took the beat from and wrote a completely new song over", as the label did not give her permission to release it. She then became an independent artist and signed to the distribution company Human Re Sources, a subsidiary of The Orchard.{{cite magazine |last1=Eggertsen |first1=Chris |title=Raye Signs with Human Re Sources After Polydor Spat: 'I Will Finally Be Making Some Money' |url=https://www.billboard.com/pro/raye-record-deal-album-release-human-re-sources-signing/ |magazine=Billboard |access-date=20 January 2025 |date=15 June 2022 |archive-date=19 January 2025 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20250119203635/https://www.billboard.com/pro/raye-record-deal-album-release-human-re-sources-signing/ |url-status=live |url-access=limited}}

Human Re Sources released "Hard Out Here" on 30 June 2022 as Raye's first solo independent single after her departure from Polydor,{{cite web |last1=Kenneally |first1=Cerys |title=Raye Returns with New Single "Hard out Here" |url=https://www.thelineofbestfit.com/news/latest-news/raye-returns-with-new-single-hard-out-here |website=The Line of Best Fit |access-date=18 January 2025 |date=1 July 2022 |archive-date=18 January 2025 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20250118190903/https://www.thelineofbestfit.com/news/latest-news/raye-returns-with-new-single-hard-out-here |url-status=live}} and the lead single from her then-upcoming debut album.{{cite web |last1=Nugent |first1=Annabel |title=Raye: 'I'm a Young Woman of Colour Who Is Fed Up with Being Controlled and Manipulated' |url=https://www.independent.co.uk/arts-entertainment/music/features/raye-interview-polydor-hard-out-here-b2112273.html |website=The Independent |access-date=18 January 2025 |date=29 June 2022 |archive-date=19 January 2025 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20250119111919/https://www.independent.co.uk/arts-entertainment/music/features/raye-interview-polydor-hard-out-here-b2112273.html |url-status=live}} It was included as the third track on My 21st Century Blues (2023).{{cite web |last1=Wilkes |first1=Emma |title=Raye Reveals Tracklist for 'My 21st Century Blues' |url=https://www.nme.com/news/music/raye-reveals-tracklist-for-my-21st-century-blues-3375252 |website=NME |access-date=18 January 2025 |date=5 January 2023 |archive-date=18 January 2025 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20250118182707/https://www.nme.com/news/music/raye-reveals-tracklist-for-my-21st-century-blues-3375252 |url-status=live}} Commercially, it reached number 32 on the UK Independent Singles Chart issued for 14 July 2022. Raye included the song in the regular set list to the My 21st Century Blues Tour in 2023 and 2024.{{cite web |last1=Kaplan |first1=Rachel |title=Raye Brings '21st Century Blues' To NYC With Sold Out Show |url=https://www.iheart.com/content/2023-10-05-raye-brings-21st-century-blues-to-nyc-with-sold-out-show/ |publisher=iHeart |access-date=18 January 2025 |date=5 October 2023 |archive-date=15 August 2024 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20240815160859/https://www.iheart.com/content/2023-10-05-raye-brings-21st-century-blues-to-nyc-with-sold-out-show/ |url-status=live}}{{cite web |last1=Empire |first1=Kitty |title=Raye Review – the Sweet Sound of Revenge |url=https://www.theguardian.com/music/2024/feb/24/raye-02-academy-bristol-review-my-21st-century-blues-tour |website=The Guardian |access-date=18 January 2025 |date=24 February 2024 |author-link=Kitty Empire |archive-date=8 January 2025 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20250108211716/https://www.theguardian.com/music/2024/feb/24/raye-02-academy-bristol-review-my-21st-century-blues-tour |url-status=live}} In March 2024, she performed it in a one-off concert at The O2 Arena in London.{{cite web |last1=Mylrea |first1=Hannah |title=Raye Live in London: A Simply Sensational, Career-Defining Performance |url=https://www.nme.com/reviews/live/raye-london-o2-live-review-setlist-photos-3602676 |website=NME |access-date=18 January 2025 |date=18 March 2024 |archive-date=10 November 2024 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20241110190406/https://www.nme.com/reviews/live/raye-london-o2-live-review-setlist-photos-3602676 |url-status=live}}

Raye, Justin Tranter, Brandon Colbein, and Mike Sabath wrote "Hard Out Here", while the latter was in charge of its production. Sabath additionally was the engineer and string arranger, and played drums and synthesizers. Chad Gordon also engineered the track. The other musicians that played instruments are Jacob Braun and Charlie Bisharat on strings. Franky Fox, Jonathan Castelli was the mixing engineer, Dale Becker served as the mastering engineer, and Jenna Felsenthal served as the vocal engineer.

"Hard Out Here" is an R&B,{{cite web |last1=Woods |first1=Cat |url=https://www.telegraph.co.uk/music/what-to-listen-to/best-albums-week-shania-twain-raye-robert-forster/ |title=Best Albums of the Week |website=The Telegraph |date=3 February 2023 |access-date=18 January 2025 |archive-date=4 December 2023 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20231204012901/https://www.telegraph.co.uk/music/what-to-listen-to/best-albums-week-shania-twain-raye-robert-forster/ |url-status=live}} pop,{{cite magazine |last1=Havens |first1=Lyndsey |title=10 Cool New Pop Songs to Get You Through the Week: Jxdn, Raye, Rina Sawayama & More |url=https://www.billboard.com/music/pop/10-cool-new-pop-songs-jxdn-raye-rina-sawayama-1235110487/ |magazine=Billboard |access-date=18 January 2025 |date=5 July 2022 |archive-date=18 January 2025 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20250118192531/https://www.billboard.com/music/pop/10-cool-new-pop-songs-jxdn-raye-rina-sawayama-1235110487/ |url-status=live}} and dark pop{{cite web |last1=Firth |first1=Abigail |title=Raye: 21st Century Blues |url=https://readdork.com/features/raye-february-2023/ |website=Dork |access-date=18 January 2025 |date=2 February 2023 |archive-date=27 May 2023 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230527234553/https://readdork.com/features/raye-february-2023/ |url-status=live}} track with a length of 3 minutes and 11 seconds.{{cite web |title=Hard Out Here. — Single — Album by Raye |url=https://music.apple.com/us/album/hard-out-here-single/1623935947 |publisher=Apple Music (US) |access-date=18 January 2025 |archive-date=18 January 2025 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20250118203144/https://music.apple.com/us/album/hard-out-here-single/1623935947 |url-status=live}} It also contains elements of hip-hop,{{cite web |last1=Reece |first1=Adrianne |title="Escapism" Is Just a Taste of What Raye Has Up Her Sleeve |url=https://www.elitedaily.com/entertainment/what-will-raye-my-21st-century-blues-sound-like |website=Elite Daily |access-date=18 January 2025 |date=26 January 2023 |archive-date=16 September 2024 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20240916055254/https://www.elitedaily.com/entertainment/what-will-raye-my-21st-century-blues-sound-like |url-status=live}} and interpolates the 1991 song "Give It Away" by the band Red Hot Chili Peppers.{{cite web |last1=Hunter-Tilney |first1=Ludovic |title=Five Stars for Raye's Exhilarating Debut My 21st Century Blues — Album Review |url=https://www.ft.com/content/707dedeb-fb5a-4ad0-8c62-e2aece4d6339 |website=Financial Times |access-date=18 January 2025 |date=3 February 2023 |archive-date=5 January 2025 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20250105015928/https://www.ft.com/content/707dedeb-fb5a-4ad0-8c62-e2aece4d6339 |url-status=live |url-access=limited}} The lyrical content of the song is a criticism of misogyny and patriarchy in the music industry.{{cite web |last1=Savage |first1=Mark |title=Raye: 'My Drug Use Got Pretty Deep and Really Dangerous' |url=https://www.bbc.com/news/entertainment-arts-64468448 |publisher=BBC News |access-date=18 January 2025 |date=1 February 2023 |archive-date=8 January 2025 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20250108101731/https://www.bbc.com/news/entertainment-arts-64468448 |url-status=live}}{{cite web |last1=Mylrea |first1=Hannah |title=Raye – 'My 21st Century Blues' Review: A Triumphant, Hard-Fought Debut |url=https://www.nme.com/reviews/album/raye-my-21st-century-blues-review-3391162 |website=NME |access-date=18 January 2025 |date=2 February 2023 |archive-date=16 January 2025 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20250116150640/https://www.nme.com/reviews/album/raye-my-21st-century-blues-review-3391162 |url-status=live}}{{cite web |last1=Gonzalez |first1=Alex |title=With 'My 21st Century Blues,' Raye Is Finally in Control of Her Own Narrative |url=https://uproxx.com/pop/raye-interview-my-21st-century-blues/ |website=Uproxx |access-date=18 January 2025 |date=9 February 2023 |archive-date=14 January 2025 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20250114130939/https://uproxx.com/pop/raye-interview-my-21st-century-blues/ |url-status=live}} Raye confronts male executives and "white men CEOs", implying that she has been silenced by them,{{cite web |last1=Bell |first1=Crystal |title=Raye's Perfect Blues |url=https://www.papermag.com/raye-my-21st-century-blues |website=Paper |access-date=18 January 2025 |date=9 February 2023 |archive-date=4 January 2025 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20250104085653/https://www.papermag.com/raye-my-21st-century-blues |url-status=live}} and declares that they should take their "pink chubby hands" off her.{{cite web |last1=Cliff |first1=Aimee |title=Raye: My 21st Century Blues Album Review |url=https://pitchfork.com/reviews/albums/raye-my-21st-century-blues/ |website=Pitchfork |access-date=20 January 2025 |date=8 February 2023 |archive-date=8 April 2024 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20240408192452/https://pitchfork.com/reviews/albums/raye-my-21st-century-blues/ |url-status=live}} She also mentions struggles with drug addiction and suicidal thoughts. In an interview with Consequence, the singer stated that "Hard Out Here" represents her fight to have her own voice and decisions, without the permission of the "men in charge". According to The New York Times{{'}} Jon Pareles, Raye "switches between hard-nosed rapping and gospel-charged singing".{{cite web |last1=Pareles |first1=Jon |title=Cardi B's All-Star Team-Up, and 9 More New Songs |url=https://www.nytimes.com/2022/07/01/arts/music/playlist-cardi-b-raye-steve-lacy.html |website=The New York Times |access-date=18 January 2025 |date=1 July 2022 |archive-date=24 November 2024 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20241124082706/https://www.nytimes.com/2022/07/01/arts/music/playlist-cardi-b-raye-steve-lacy.html |url-status=live |url-access=limited}} Cat Woods for The Telegraph compared the track to FKA Twigs' "empowered sexiness".

Critics praised Raye's performance as powerful; Alex Rigotti of Clash compared it to a "fresh war veteran".{{cite web |last1=Rigotti |first1=Alex |title=Raye – My 21st Century Blues |url=https://www.clashmusic.com/reviews/raye-my-21st-century-blues/ |website=Clash |access-date=18 January 2025 |date=20 January 2023 |archive-date=2 February 2023 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230202142728/https://www.clashmusic.com/reviews/raye-my-21st-century-blues/ |url-status=live}}{{cite web |last1=Milross |first1=Hayley |title=Raye Opens Her Heart on Her Long-Awaited Debut My 21st Century Blues |url=https://www.thelineofbestfit.com/albums/raye-my-21st-century-blues-opens-her-heart |website=The Line of Best Fit |access-date=18 January 2025 |date=31 January 2023 |archive-date=29 May 2024 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20240529110008/https://www.thelineofbestfit.com/albums/raye-my-21st-century-blues-opens-her-heart |url-status=live}} Alex Gonzalez of Uproxx believed that Raye "proved her a promising act" with the track, while Dork{{'s}} Abigail Firth wrote that it is "an immediate indication of what she's capable of". When adding it to a list of the best pop songs of its release week, Billboard{{'s}} Lyndsey Havens said that "each lyric is more eviscerating and empowered than the last". Andy Kellman of AllMusic described the song as "defiant, strutting",{{cite web |last1=Kellman |first1=Andy |date=10 February 2023 |title=My 21st Century Blues Review by Andy Kellman |url=https://www.allmusic.com/album/my-21st-century-blues-mw0003858147 |publisher=AllMusic |access-date=20 January 2025 |archive-date=5 January 2025 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20250105050546/https://www.allmusic.com/album/my-21st-century-blues-mw0003858147 |url-status=live}} while Woods wrote that it depicts "the exhilarating sound of a woman calling out those who have treated her badly". Writing for Beats Per Minute, JT Early highlighted the pre-chorus and believed that releasing "Hard Out Here" as the album's lead single was a risk.{{cite web |last1=Early |first1=JT |title=Album Review: Raye – My 21st Century Blues |url=https://beatsperminute.com/album-review-raye-my-21st-century-blues/ |website=Beats Per Minute |access-date=20 January 2025 |date=13 February 2023 |archive-date=14 September 2024 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20240914081812/https://beatsperminute.com/album-review-raye-my-21st-century-blues/ |url-status=live}} Callie Alghrim of Business Insider listed it as one of the five best songs on My 21st Century Blues.{{cite web |title=The Best Albums of 2023 |url=https://www.businessinsider.com/best-albums-this-year-ranked-2023-12 |website=Business Insider |access-date=20 January 2025 |date=9 December 2023 |last1=Alghrim |first1=Callie |archive-date=23 December 2024 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20241223200942/https://www.businessinsider.com/best-albums-this-year-ranked-2023-12 |url-status=live}}

The accompanying music video for "Hard Out Here" was filmed in one of Henry VIII's hunting lodges; Raye said that he was "renowned for his disrespect and disregard of women in history". The video depicts the early stages of a rising artist.{{cite web |last1=Richards |first1=Bailey |title=Raye Shares Exclusive BTS Look at 'Hard Out Here' |url=https://www.papermag.com/raye-hard-out-here |website=Paper |access-date=18 January 2025 |date=1 July 2022 |archive-date=16 January 2025 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20250116150640/https://www.papermag.com/raye-hard-out-here |url-status=live}} According to Raye, it felt like she was "done being a nice polite pop star".{{cite magazine |last1=Mier |first1=Tomás |title=Raye Is 'Done Being a Nice Polite Pop Star' As She Debuts Unapologetic Comeback |url=https://www.rollingstone.com/music/music-features/raye-hard-out-here-review-1377031/ |magazine=Rolling Stone |access-date=18 January 2025 |date=1 July 2022 |archive-date=16 January 2025 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20250116150641/https://www.rollingstone.com/music/music-features/raye-hard-out-here-review-1377031/ |url-status=live |url-access=limited}} She represented all the things she was allegedly forced to do by Polydor, such as different outfits and musical identities. At the end of the video, she takes off her wig, which Rolling Stone{{'s}} Tomás Mier considered an act of liberation. Mary Siroky from Consequence described the video as "powerful and evocative".

The personnel shown below are adapted from the album's liner notes.{{cite AV media notes |title=My 21st Century Blues |type=liner notes |author=Raye |year=2023 |publisher=Human Re Sources}}

• Raye – lead vocals, songwriter
• Mike Sabath – songwriter, production, drums, synthesizers, string arranger, engineer
• Jenna Felsenthal – vocal engineer
• Jacob Braun – strings
• Charlie Bisharat – strings
• Brandon Colbein – songwriter
• Justin Tranter – songwriter
• Chad Gordon – engineer
• Jonathan Castelli – mixing engineer
• Dale Becker – mastering engineer

{{reflist}}

{{Raye}}

Category:2022 singles

Category:2022 songs

Category:Raye (singer) songs

Category:Songs written by Raye (singer)

Category:British contemporary R&B songs

Category:British pop songs

Category:Songs with feminist themes

Category:Songs about racism and xenophobia

Category:Songs written by Justin Tranter