Gang Starr - Hard To Earn

Gang Starr came out hard on their 1994 album, Hard to Earn, an album notably different from its two predecessors. While those two classic albums garnered tremendous praise for their thoughtful lyrics and jazzy beats, Hard to Earn seems much more reactionary, especially its lyrics. Guru opens the album with a tough, dismissive spoken-word intro: "Yo, all you kids want to get on and sh*t/Just remember this/This sh*t ain't easy/If you ain't got it, you ain't got it, motherf*cker." While this sense of superiority is undoubtedly a long-running convention of not just East Coast rap but rap in general, you don't expect to hear it coming from Gang Starr, particularly with such a bitter tone. Yet this attitude pervades throughout Hard to Earn. Songs such as "Suckas Need Bodyguards" and "Mass Appeal" take aim at unnamed peers, and other songs such as "ALONGWAYTOGO" similarly center on "whack crews." The best moments on Hard to Earn aren't these songs but instead "Code of the Streets" and "Tonz 'O' Gunz," two songs where Guru offers the type of social commentary that made Gang Starr so admirable in the first place. Yet, even though Hard to Earn is a bit short on such thoughtful moments, instead weighed down a bit with harsh attitude, it does offer some of DJ Premier's best productions ever. He's clearly at or, at least, near his best here. There isn't a song on the album that's a throwaway, and even the interludes are stunning. Given the subtly bitter tone of this album, it perhaps wasn't surprising then that Guru and Premier took some time to pursue solo opportunities after Hard to Earn. You can sense the duo's frustration with the rap scene circa 1994. Released March 8, 1994 on Chrysalis/EMI Record, the album peaked at #25 on the Billboard 200 chart and #2 on the Top R&B/Hip Hop Albums.

''Intro (The First Step)'' (Produced By. DJ Premier & Guru) 0:55

''ALONGWAYTOGO'' (Produced By. DJ Premier & Guru) 4:13

''Code Of The Streets'' (Produced By. DJ Premier & Guru) 3:29

''Brainstorm'' (Produced By. DJ Premier & Guru) 3:02

''Tonz 'O' Gunz'' (Produced By. DJ Premier & Guru) 3:55

''The Planet'' (Produced By. DJ Premier & Guru) 5:16

''Aiiiight Chill...'' (Produced By. DJ Premier & Guru) 3:13

''Speak Ya Clout'' (feat. Lil' Dap & Jeru The Damaja) (Produced By. DJ Premier & Guru) 3:35

''DWYCK'' (feat. Nice & Smooth) (Produced By. DJ Premier & Guru) 4:03

''Words From The Nutcracker'' (feat. Melachi The Nutcracker) (Produced By. DJ Premier & Guru) 1:28

''Mass Appeal'' (Produced By. DJ Premier & Guru) 3:41

''Blowin' Up The Spot'' (Produced By. DJ Premier & Guru) 3:10

''Suckas Need Bodyguards'' (Produced By. DJ Premier & Guru) 3:57

''Now You're Mine'' (Produced By. DJ Premier & Guru) 2:55

''Mostly Tha Voice'' (Produced By. DJ Premier & Guru) 3:38

''F.A.L.A.'' (feat. Big Shug) (Produced By. DJ Premier & Guru) 4:17

''Comin' For Datazz'' (Produced By. DJ Premier & Guru) 4:02


http://www.mediafire.com/?mzonxxzyygc

(if you like what you hear GO OUT AND PURCHASE the album cuz if its good music its worth it)