Hard

About Hard

"It Ain't Hard to Tell" is the second single and last track from American rapper Nas' debut album Illmatic. Although the track was technically the second single on the album, it was the first single to be released after the album was pressed in 1994. The first single, "Halftime," was released two years prior to Illmatic's debut. "It Ain't Hard to Tell" was produced by Large Professor, and samples Michael Jackson's 1983 hit single "Human Nature", "N. T." by Kool & the Gang, "Long Red" by Mountain & "Slow Dance" by Stanley Clarke. The single reached #91 on the Billboard Hot 100 chart. In 1991, Nas recorded a demo tape for Columbia Records, featuring the original version of "It Ain't Hard to Tell" named "Nas Will Prevail". This version is roughly 90 seconds longer, includes longer different verses, and has a more subdued, jazzier beat close to the album version. Pitchfork Media's included the song at number 28 on their Top 200 Tracks of the 90s. more »

Year:

2002

3:50

79 Views

Playlists:

#1

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When it all boils down, who got the motherfucking crown? 
For making that

[Chorus]
Hard! Street, ghetto rugged 
Beat that'll make your whole crew say "f*ck it" 
Hard! Street, ghetto wild 
Beat that'll make you feel my style 
Hard! Street, ghetto beat 
That I play when I think about out in the street, I got the 
Hard! Street, ghetto style 

(What about the smooth shit?) Yeah, I can do that too 
(What about the groove shit?) Yeah, I can do that too 
But when it comes time to rock the block 
Who got that old mad ghetto type shit stocked and locked? 
Large Pro, for those who don't know which way to go 
Listen to your man's latest show with the (Hard!) 
Street, you know the routine 
On the concrete where the things ain't too clean 
And it only gets rougher, and some will have to suffer 
I was there, and even had to get my share 
But as long as I'm alive I will never forget 
What I had to go through to hit 
That's why I play the 

[Chorus]

You see it's all in my blood so I could never be a dud 
The street mentality, I'll have you like "What?" 
When you walking around, both feet on the ground, 
No lie, about to take a nosedive 
Kid it ain't no joke, you either get gat or go broke 
Or get busy, the way the world turns you get dizzy 
In a spin, so listen to the rhymes I send 
They're only a reflection of the times I've been 
On the street trying to make it on my own alone 
I've grown, and now I'm here to let it be known 
That a wish on a star may be too far-fetched to catch 
Especially when you're trying to stretch 
One dollar to the next on the cement, with mad heads scheming 
But they ain't got a chance, they're dreaming 
And deal with the real with determination in this burning nation 
And listen to the 

[Chorus]

You see, if you can make it on the streets 
You're live enough to make it any place, I've seen many waste 
Mad time and talent, and I just stay silent 
Cause I ain't going out trying to teach a nonviolent 
Community rap, I had to learn 
The streets'll burn any man that is not concerned 
With a plan for the future, someone could just shoot ya 
On any given, that's why I thank God I'm living 
On this here day to relay the message I say about the

Hard! [Repeat: x8]

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Large Professor

Large Professor (born William Paul Mitchell on March 21, 1973, in the Harlem section of New York, New York. USA), also known as Large Pro and Xtra P, is a New York City-based hip hop record producer and emcee. He is also best known as a founding member of the influential underground hip hop group Main Source, and as mentor and frequent collaborator of Nas.About.com ranked Large Professor #5 on its Top 50 Hip-Hop Producers list. more »

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