It Ain't Hard to Tell

About It Ain't Hard to Tell

"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:

1994

3:22

142 Views

Playlists:

#2

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It ain't hard to tell, I excel then prevail
The mic is contacted, I attract clientèle
My mic check is life or death, breathin' a sniper's breath
I exhale the yellow smoke of Buddha
Through righteous steps

Deep like 'The Shining', sparkle like a diamond
Sneak a Uzi on the island, in my army jacket linin'
Hit the Earth like a comet, invasion
Nas is like the Afrocentric Asian, half-man, half-amazin'

'Cause in my physical, I can express through song
Delete stress like Motrin, then extend strong
I drank Moet with Medusa, give her shotguns in Hell
From the spliff that I lift an' inhale
It ain't hard to tell

The Buddha monk's in your trunk, turn the bass up
Not stories by Aesop, place your loot up
Parties, I shoot up
Nas, I analyze, drop a jewel, inhale from the L
School a fool, well, you feel it like Braille

It ain't hard to tell
I kick a skill like Shaquille holds a pill
Vocabulary spills I'm 'Ill' plus 'Matic'
I freak beats, slam it like Iron Sheik
Jam like a tech with correct techniques

So analyze me, surprise me but can't magmatize me
Scannin' while you're plannin' ways to sabotage me
I leave 'em froze like heron in your nose
Nas'll rock well, it ain't hard to tell

This rhythmatic explosion
Is what your frame of mind has chosen
I'll leave your brain stimulated, niggaz is frozen
Speak with criminal slang, begin like a violin
End like Leviathan, it's deep, well, let me try again

Wisdom be leakin' out my grapefruit troop
I dominate break loops, givin' mics menstrual cycles
Street's disciple, I rock beats that's mega trifle
An' groovy but smoother than moves by Villanova

You're still a soldier, I'm like Sly Stone in 'Cobra'
Packin' like a rasta in the weed spot
Vocals'll squeeze glocks, MC's eavesdrop
Though they need not to sneak, my poetry's deep
I never fell, Nas's raps should be locked in a cell
It ain't hard to tell

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Nas

Nasir bin Olu Dara Jones ( /nɑːˈsɪər/; born September 14, 1973), better known mononymously as Nas ( /ˈnɑːz/), is an American rapper and actor. He is also the son of jazz musician Olu Dara. Nas has released eight consecutive platinum and multi-platinum albums since 1994, four of which topped the Billboard charts upon release and has sold over thirteen-million records in the United States alone. Nas was also part of the hip hop supergroup The Firm, which released one album under Dr. Dre's record label Aftermath. Aside from rapping, Nas is also an occasional actor and has appeared in feature films such as Hype Williams' directorial debut Belly, Ticker and In Too Deep and the television show Hawaii Five-0. more »

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