Hard Knock Life
Jay-Z
The easy, fast & fun way to learn how to sing: 30DaySinger.com
Check the bassline out, uh-huh Jigga (bounce wit it), uh-huh uh-huh uh-huh, yeahh Let it bump though It's the hard knock life (uh-huh) for us It's the hard knock life, for us! 'Steada treated, we get tricked 'Steada 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 niggaz know me to fail? F*ck naw Where all my niggaz with the rubber grips, bust shots And if you with me mom I 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 niggaz get ready It's the hard knock life, for us It's the hard knock life, for us! 'Steada treated, we get tricked 'Steada kisses, we get kicked It's the hard knock life! I flow for those 'dro'ed out, all my niggaz Locked down in the ten by fo', 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 you 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 braile 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 tryin to murder everything movin', feel me?! It's the hard knock life, for us It's the hard knock life, for us! 'Steada treated, we get tricked 'Steada kisses, we get kicked It's the hard knock life, for us It's the hard knock life, for us! 'Steada treated, we get tricked 'Steada 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 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, nigguh! It's the hard knock life, for us It's the hard knock life, for us! 'Steada treated, we get tricked 'Steada kisses, we get kicked It's the hard knock life, for us It's the hard knock life, for us! 'Steada treated, we get tricked 'Steada 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
Written by: Charles Strouse, Mark James, Martin Charnin, Sean Carter
Lyrics © Kobalt Music Publishing Ltd., Warner Chappell Music, Inc.
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
11 facts about this song
Song Release"Hard Knock Life (Ghetto Anthem)" was released in October 1998 as the lead single from Jay-Z's third studio album, "Vol. 2... Hard Knock Life".
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Sampling OriginThe song's core melody is sampled from the Broadway show "Annie". The melody was taken from the song "It's the Hard Knock Life".
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Sampling PermissionThe rights to use the sample from "Annie" were notoriously hard to clear. Jay-Z and his team directly appealed to the original creators, explaining the song’s meaning and significance to get their permission.
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Commercial SuccessThe song is one of Jay-Z's most commercially successful singles. It peaked at number 15 on the Billboard Hot 100 and was certified platinum by the RIAA in 2000.
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Award Recognition"Hard Knock Life" received a nomination for Best Rap Solo Performance at the 41st Grammy Awards in 1999.
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Global ResonanceIt resonated with global audiences and achieved significant success internationally, peaking at number 2 on the UK Singles Chart.
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Theme of the SongThe song delves into Jay-Z's upbringing in the Marcy Houses of Brooklyn, New York, illustrating the harsh realities of living in the ghetto.
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Music VideoThe song's music video was directed by renowned filmmaker Hype Williams, known for his work with numerous other hip hop artists.
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Album SuccessThe single helped Jay-Z's "Vol. 2... Hard Knock Life" album become his most commercially successful album to date, being certified 5× Platinum.
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Quintessential Jay-Z SongMany fans and critics consider “Hard Knock Life” to be a defining song in Jay-Z's discography, representing his unique blend of authentically gritty lyrics with mainstream musical appeal.
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InfluenceThe song's successful marriage of hip-hop and Broadway samples opened up new potential for future experimentation in the genre.
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Citation
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"Hard Knock Life Lyrics." Lyrics.com. STANDS4 LLC, 2024. Web. 13 May 2024. <https://www.lyrics.com/lyric/27234847/Jay-Z/Hard+Knock+Life>.
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