Hard to Earn
{{Use mdy dates|date=June 2025}}
{{Infobox album
| name = Hard to Earn
| type = Studio album
| artist = Gang Starr
| cover = Hardtoearn.jpg
| alt =
| released = March 8, 1994
| recorded = July 1992–1993
| studio = D&D Studios (New York City)
| genre = *East Coast hip-hop{{cite web|author=Jason Birchmeier |url=https://www.allmusic.com/album/hard-to-earn-mw0000107963 |title=Hard to Earn - Gang Starr | Songs, Reviews, Credits |publisher=AllMusic |date=1994-03-08 |accessdate=2016-06-30}}
| length = {{Duration|58:57}}
| label = * Chrysalis
- EMI
7243 8 28435 2 8
F2-28435
| producer = * DJ Premier
- Guru (co-prod.)
| prev_title = Daily Operation
| prev_year = 1992
| next_title = Moment of Truth
| next_year = 1998
| misc = {{Singles
| name = Hard to Earn
| type = studio
| single1 = Dwyck
| single1date = December 29, 1992{{Cite web|url=https://www.allmusic.com/album/dwyck-mw0000626411|title = Dwyck - Gang Starr | Songs, Reviews, Credits | AllMusic|website = AllMusic}}
| single2 = Mass Appeal
| single2date = February 8, 1994{{Cite web|url=https://www.allmusic.com/album/release/mass-appeal-mr0000042810|title=Mass Appeal - Gang Starr | Release Info|website=AllMusic}}
| single3 = Code of the Streets
| single3date = May 17, 1994{{Cite web|url=https://www.allmusic.com/album/release/code-of-the-streets-mr0000047006|title = Code of the Streets - Gang Starr | Release Info|website = AllMusic}}
| single4 = Suckas Need Bodyguards
| single4date = October 4, 1994{{Cite web|url=https://www.allmusic.com/album/release/suckas-need-bodyguards-mr0001513094|title = Suckas Need Bodyguards - Gang Starr | Release Credits|website = AllMusic}}
}}
}}
{{Music ratings
| rev1 = AllMusic
| rev1score = {{Rating|4|5}}{{cite web | url=https://www.allmusic.com/album/hard-to-earn-mw0000107963 | title=Hard to Earn – Gang Starr | publisher=Rovi Corporation | work=AllMusic | accessdate=October 25, 2013 | author=Birchmeier, Jason}}
| rev3 = RapReviews
| rev3score = {{Rating|8.5|10}}{{cite web | url=http://www.rapreviews.com/archive/BTTL_hardtoearn.html | title=GangStarr:: Hard to Earn :: Chrysalis Records | publisher=RapReviews | date=May 24, 2005 | accessdate=October 25, 2013 | author=Doggett, Tom}}
| rev2 = Robert Christgau
| rev2score ={{Rating-Christgau|neither}}{{cite web | url=http://www.robertchristgau.com/get_artist.php?name=Gang+Starr | title=CG: Gang Starr | publisher=Robert Christgau | accessdate=October 25, 2013}}
| rev4 = Rolling Stone
| rev4score = {{rating|4|5}}{{cite magazine | url=https://www.rollingstone.com/reviews/album/127140/review/5940627/hardtoearn | title=Hard To Earn : Gang Starr : Review | publisher=Wenner Media | magazine=Rolling Stone | date=June 2, 1994 | accessdate=October 25, 2013 | author=Nelson, Havelock | url-status=dead | archiveurl=https://web.archive.org/web/20091120201640/http://www.rollingstone.com/reviews/album/127140/review/5940627/hardtoearn | archivedate=November 20, 2009}}
| rev5 = The Rolling Stone Album Guide
| rev5score = {{rating|4.5|5}}{{cite book|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=lRgtYCC6OUwC&q=gang&pg=PA322 |title=The New Rolling Stone Album Guide |author1=Nathan Brackett |author2=Christian David Hoard |page=322 |year=2004 |isbn=9780743201698 |accessdate=2016-06-30}}
| rev6 = The Source
}}
Hard to Earn is the fourth studio album by American hip hop duo Gang Starr. It was released on March 8, 1994, by Chrysalis and EMI Records in North America. The album featured the singles "Dwyck" (featuring Nice & Smooth), "Mass Appeal" (their first charting single on the Billboard Hot 100 chart), and "Code of the Streets". Guest appearances on the album include 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. Hard to Earn received acclaim and commercial success upon release.
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. The single "Mass Appeal" appeared in the video game Tony Hawk's Pro Skater 4.{{cite web|url=https://www.ign.com/articles/2002/10/09/tony-hawk-4-soundtrack-2|date=October 9, 2002|accessdate=November 23, 2021 |title=Tony Hawk 4 Soundtrack|archiveurl=https://web.archive.org/web/20110713004824/http://uk.faqs.ign.com/articles/801/801372p1.html |archivedate=July 13, 2011}}
Hard to Earn is also the duo's first album to carry the "Parental Advisory" label.
Track listing
{{Track listing
| all_music = Keith Elam and Christopher Martin, except where noted
| extra_column = Performer(s)
| title1 = Intro (The First Step)
| length1 = 0:54
| extra1 = (Instrumental)
| title2 = Alongwaytogo
| length2 = 4:13
| extra2 = Guru
| title3 = Code of the Streets
| length3 = 3:29
| extra3 = Guru
| title4 = Brainstorm
| length4 = 3:02
| extra4 = Guru
| title5 = Tonz 'O' Gunz
| length5 = 3:55
| extra5 = Guru
| title6 = The Planet
| length6 = 5:16
| extra6 = Guru
| title7 = Aiiight Chill...
| length7 = 3:13
| extra7 = A skit featuring Nas, A.G., Masta Ace, MC Eiht, DJ Scratch, Mister Cee
| title8 = Speak Ya Clout
| writer8 = Martin, Elam, Jeru Kendrick Davis, James Heath
| length8 = 3:35
| extra8 = Guru, Lil' Dap, Jeru the Damaja
| title9 = Dwyck
| writer9 = Martin, Elam, Greg Mays, Daryl Barnes
| length9 = 4:03
| extra9 = Guru, Nice & Smooth
| title10 = Words from the Nutcracker
| writer10 = Martin, Elam, Jamal Felder
| length10 = 1:29
| extra10 = Melachi the Nutcracker
| title11 = Mass Appeal
| length11 = 3:41
| extra11 = Guru
| title12 = Blowin' Up the Spot
| length12 = 3:10
| extra12 = Guru
| title13 = Suckas Need Bodyguards
| length13 = 4:05
| extra13 = Guru, Melachi the Nutcracker
| title14 = Now You're Mine
| length14 = 2:55
| extra14 = Guru
| title15 = Mostly Tha Voice
| length15 = 3:38
| extra15 = Guru
| title16 = F.A.L.A.
| length16 = 4:17
| extra16 = Guru, Big Shug
| title17 = Comin' for Datazz
| length17 = 4:02
| extra17 = Guru
}}
Charts
{{col-begin}}
{{col-2}}
=Weekly charts=
| class="wikitable sortable plainrowheaders" style="text-align:center;" |
| scope="col" | Chart (1994)
! scope="col" | Peak |
|---|
| {{album chart|UK|29|artist=Gang Starr|accessdate=April 19, 2016|rowheader=true}} |
| {{album chart|Billboard200|25|artist=Gang Starr|album=Hard to Earn|accessdate=October 25, 2013|rowheader=true}} |
| {{album chart|BillboardRandBHipHop|2|artist=Gang Starr|album=Hard to Earn|accessdate=October 25, 2013|rowheader=true}} |
{{col-2}}
=Year-end charts=
| class="wikitable plainrowheaders" style="text-align:center;" |
| scope="col" | Chart (1994)
! scope="col" | Position |
|---|
| scope="row"| US Top R&B/Hip-Hop Albums (Billboard){{cite magazine|url=https://www.billboard.com/charts/year-end/1994/top-r-and-b-hip-hop-albums|title=Top R&B/Hip-Hop Albums – Year-End 1994|magazine=Billboard|date=2 January 2013|accessdate=November 24, 2020}}
| 58 |
{{col-end}}
Singles chart positions
| class="wikitable" |
| rowspan="2"| Year
!rowspan="2"| Song !colspan="4"| Chart positions |
|---|
| Billboard Hot 100
! Hot R&B/Hip-Hop Singles & Tracks ! Hot Rap Singles |
| rowspan="4"| 1994
| DWYCK | style="text-align:center;"| - | style="text-align:center;"| - | style="text-align:center;"|25 | style="text-align:center;"|12 |
| Mass Appeal
| style="text-align:center;"|67 | style="text-align:center;"|42 | style="text-align:center;"|10 | style="text-align:center;"|3 |
| Code of the Streets
| style="text-align:center;"| - | style="text-align:center;"|83 | style="text-align:center;"|33 | style="text-align:center;"|5 |
| Suckas Need Bodyguards
| style="text-align:center;"| - | style="text-align:center;"| - | style="text-align:center;"|44 | style="text-align:center;"|18 |
References
{{reflist}}
{{Gang Starr}}
{{Authority control}}
Category:Albums produced by DJ Premier