Hard Knock Life (Ghetto Anthem)

Jay-Z

About Hard Knock Life (Ghetto Anthem)

"Hard Knock Life (Ghetto Anthem)" is a single from American rapper Jay-Z's third album Vol. 2... Hard Knock Life. It features a pitch-modified sample of the song "It's the Hard Knock Life" from the 1977 musical Annie. The song was produced by The 45 King and at the time of its release was the most commercially successful Jay-Z single. The RIAA certified it as a gold single in March 1999, and it reached platinum status on July 15, 2015. In addition, it was nominated for Best Rap Solo Performance at the 41st Grammy Awards in 1999. The song peaked at number fifteen on the Billboard Hot 100. Outside the United States, the song peaked within the top ten of the charts in Canada, Denmark, Germany, Netherlands, New Zealand, Norway, the Republic of Ireland, Sweden, Switzerland and the United Kingdom, as well as the top twenty of the charts in Austria and Belgium. 


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Take the bassline out, uh-huh
Jigga (bounce wit it), uh-huh uh-huh uh-huh, yeah
Let it bump, though

It's the hard knock life (uh-huh) for us
It's the hard knock life, for us
'Stead of treated, we get tricked
'Stead of kisses, we get kicked
It's the hard knock life

From standin' on the corners boppin'
To drivin' some of the hottest cars New York has ever seen
For droppin' some of the hottest verses rap has ever heard
From the dope spot, with the smoke Glock
Fleein' the murder scene, you know me well
From nightmares of a lonely cell, my only hell
But since when y'all niggas know me to fail? F*ck nah
Where all my niggas with the rubber grips? Bust shots
And if you with me, ma I'll rub on your tits, and what-not
I'm from the school of the hard knocks, we must not
Let outsiders violate our blocks, and my plot
Let's stick up the world and split it fifty-fifty, uh-huh
Let's take the dough and stay real jiggy, uh-huh
And sip the Cris' and get pissy-pissy
Flow infinitely like the memory of my nigga Biggie, baby
You know it's hell when I come through
The life and times of Shawn Carter
Nigga, Volume 2, y'all niggas get ready

It's the hard knock life, for us
It's the hard knock life, for us
'Stead of treated, we get tricked
'Stead of kisses, we get kicked
It's the hard knock life

I flow for those 'dro'ed out, all my niggas
Locked down in the ten by four, controllin' the house
We live in hard knocks, we don't take over we borrow blocks
Burn 'em down and you can have it back daddy, I'd rather that
I flow for chicks wishin', they ain't have to strip to pay tuition
I see your vision, mama, I put my money on the long shots
All my ballers that's born to clock
Now I'ma be on top whether I perform or not
I went from lukewarm to hot, sleepin' on futons and cots
To king size, green machines, the green fives
I've seen pies let the thing between my eyes analyze life's ills
Then I put it down, type braille
I'm tight grill with the phony, rappers y'all might feel we homies
I'm like still, y'all don't know me, shit
I'm tight grill when my situation ain't improving
I'm tryna murder everything movin', feel me?

It's the hard knock life, for us
It's the hard knock life, for us
'Stead of treated, we get tricked
'Stead of kisses, we get kicked
It's the hard knock life, for us
It's the hard knock life, for us
'Stead of treated, we get tricked
'Stead of kisses, we get kicked
It's the hard knock life

I don't how to sleep, I gotta eat, stay on my toes
Gotta a lot of beef, so logically, I prey on my foes
Hustling's still inside of me, and as far as progress
You'd be hard-pressed, to find another rapper hot as me
I gave you prophecy on my first joint, and y'all all lamed out
Didn't really appreciate it, 'til the second one came out
So I stretched the game out, X'ed your name out
Put Jigga on top, and drop albums non-stop for ya, nigga

It's the hard knock life, for us
It's the hard knock life, for us!
'Stead of treated, we get tricked
'Stead of kisses, we get kicked
It's the hard knock life, for us
It's the hard knock life, for us!
'Stead of treated, we get tricked
'Stead of kisses, we get kicked
It's the hard knock life

It's the hard knock life

It's the hard knock life

 The easy, fast & fun way to learn how to sing: 30DaySinger.com


Jay-Z

Shawn Corey Carter (born December 4, 1969), better known by his stage name Jay-Z, is an American rapper, record producer, entrepreneur, and occasional actor. He is one of the most financially successful hip hop artists and entrepreneurs in America. In 2012, Forbes estimated Carter's net worth at nearly $500 million. He has sold approximately 50 million albums worldwide, while receiving fourteen Grammy Awards for his musical work, and numerous additional nominations. He is consistently ranked as one of the greatest rappers of all-time. He was ranked #1 by MTV in their list of The Greatest MCs of All-Time in 2006. Two of his albums, Reasonable Doubt (1996) and The Blueprint (2001) are considered landmarks in the genre with both of them being ranked in Rolling S… more »

6 fans

Written by: Charles Strouse, Mark James, Martin Charnin, Sean Carter

Lyrics © Kobalt Music Publishing Ltd., Warner Chappell Music, Inc.

Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind


8 facts about this song

Artist Background
"Hard Knock Life (Ghetto Anthem)" is a song by American rapper Jay-Z. - It is one of Jay-Z's most popular and well-known songs, showcasing his journey from the streets to stardom.
Song Features
It was released as the lead single from Jay-Z's third album "Vol. 2... Hard Knock Life." - The song features a pitch-modified sample of the song "It's the Hard Knock Life" from the Broadway musical "Annie."
Release & Ranking
"Hard Knock Life (Ghetto Anthem)" was released on 22 September 1998 by Roc-A-Fella Records and Def Jam Recordings. - It peaked at number 15 on the U.S. Billboard Hot 100.
Awards & Nominations
In the 41st Annual Grammy Awards, "Hard Knock Life (Ghetto Anthem)" received a nomination for Best Rap Solo Performance but unfortunately lost to "Gettin' Jiggy wit It" by Will Smith.
Impact & Influence
This track had unprecedented popularity and brought Jay-Z into the mainstream. - It demonstrated that Jay-Z could make commercially successful singles without compromising his street-cred.
Cultural Influence
The use of the sample from "Annie" was a major musical and cultural moment, blending hip-hop with Broadway in a truly unique way. - It further proved Jay-Z's creative approach to using uncommon sources for hip-hop samples.
Music Video
The music video for the song, directed by Mark Romanek, also received high praise and helped further popularize the single. - It portrays children living a "hard knock life" in New York City.
Song Making
The “Annie” sample was creatively turned from a melancholic show tune into a triumphant ghetto anthem through pitch correction and loop processing. - Jay-Z didn't initially believe the song would be a hit and was skeptical of how fans would receive it.

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    Top Hot 100 Songs 1999

    Billboard #15


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