"Hard Knock Life (Ghetto Anthem)" is a single from American rapperJay-Z's third album Vol. 2... Hard Knock Life, released on October 27, 1998. It features a vocal and pitch-modified instrumental sample[1] of the song "It's the Hard Knock Life" from the 1977 musicalAnnie. The song was produced by The 45 King and at the time of its release was the most commercially successful Jay-Z single. The RIAAcertified 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 15 on the Billboard Hot 100. Outside of the United States, "Hard Knock Life (Ghetto Anthem)" peaked within the top ten of the charts in Canada, Denmark, Germany, Netherlands, New Zealand, Norway, Iceland, Ireland, Sweden, Switzerland, and the United Kingdom, as well as the top 20 of the charts in Austria and Belgium. This marks the first time Jay-Z was associated with the Annie brand, as Jay-Z would later produce the 2014 film adaptation of Annie.
Chuck Taylor of Billboard praised the inclusion of the "Hard-Knock Life" sample from "Annie", noting: "It's this kind of clever twist and original thinking that has the potential to expand the horizons of the genre." However, he criticized the radio version of the song, writing that song was "edited and blanked to the point of distraction." He went on to say: "Programmers will have to weigh the value of the novelty against wondering why the artist didn't just start over with a clean slate if he intended to hit the airwaves."[2]
Commercial receptionedit
While it peaked at number 15 on the Billboard Hot 100, "Hard Knock Life" was also Jay-Z's first single to achieve significant success outside the United States, peaking within the top ten of the charts in several countries, including Canada, Germany, and the United Kingdom. "Hard Knock Life" achieved its biggest success in the latter country, debuting and peaking at number two on the UK Singles Chart in December 1998, stalling behind Britain's biggest-selling song of 1998, "Believe" by Cher, during its seventh consecutive week at the summit of the chart.
Music videoedit
The music video for the song consists of Jay-Z performing outdoors in his native Brooklyn, New York. Dame Dash, DJ Clue, and Beanie Sigel all appear in the video.[3]
Impact and legacyedit
Slant Magazine listed "Hard Knock Life" at number 84 in their ranking of "The 100 Best Singles of the 1990s" in 2011, writing, "Jay-Z’s co-opting of a discordant, already famous showtune is a rare novel endeavor in a genre generally defined by following the leader; it’s pulled off so seamlessly that it’s easy to forget what a ballsy move it was. The transformation of the original’s piano base into a thumping organ creep sets the stage, but it’s undeniably Jay-Z, transparently showing off his executive command by fussing with the levels at the start, which makes the song. The source material and the resulting product may seem diametrically opposed, but they end up being fundamentally about the same thing: forming a common thread of struggles with poverty spun into gold."[4]
VH1 placed it at number 11 on their list of "100 Greatest Songs of Hip-Hop".
Formats and track listingsedit
UK CDedit
"Hard Knock Life (Ghetto Anthem) (Radio Edit)"
"Can't Knock The Hustle (Fools Paradise Remix)"
"Hard Knock Life (Ghetto Anthem) (Album Version)"
Vinyledit
A-sideedit
"Hard Knock Life (Ghetto Anthem) (swearing version)"
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Hard Knock Life Ghetto Anthem is a single from American rapper Jay Z s third album Vol 2 Hard Knock Life released on October 27 1998 It features a vocal and pitch modified instrumental sample 1 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 15 on the Billboard Hot 100 Outside of the United States Hard Knock Life Ghetto Anthem peaked within the top ten of the charts in Canada Denmark Germany Netherlands New Zealand Norway Iceland Ireland Sweden Switzerland and the United Kingdom as well as the top 20 of the charts in Austria and Belgium This marks the first time Jay Z was associated with the Annie brand as Jay Z would later produce the 2014 film adaptation of Annie Hard Knock Life Ghetto Anthem Single by Jay Zfrom the album Vol 2 Hard Knock LifeReleasedOctober 27 1998Recorded1998GenreEast Coast hip hopLength3 58 album version 3 36 radio edit LabelRoc A FellaDef JamSongwriter s Shawn CarterMark JamesCharles StrouseMartin CharninProducer s The 45 KingJay Z singles chronology Can I Get A 1998 Hard Knock Life Ghetto Anthem 1998 Money Cash Hoes 1998 Alternative cover Contents 1 Reception 1 1 Critical reception 1 2 Commercial reception 2 Music video 3 Impact and legacy 4 Formats and track listings 4 1 UK CD 4 2 Vinyl 4 2 1 A side 4 2 2 B side 5 Charts 5 1 Weekly charts 5 2 Year end charts 6 Certifications 7 Usage in media 8 References 9 External linksReception editCritical reception edit Chuck Taylor of Billboard praised the inclusion of the Hard Knock Life sample from Annie noting It s this kind of clever twist and original thinking that has the potential to expand the horizons of the genre However he criticized the radio version of the song writing that song was edited and blanked to the point of distraction He went on to say Programmers will have to weigh the value of the novelty against wondering why the artist didn t just start over with a clean slate if he intended to hit the airwaves 2 Commercial reception edit While it peaked at number 15 on the Billboard Hot 100 Hard Knock Life was also Jay Z s first single to achieve significant success outside the United States peaking within the top ten of the charts in several countries including Canada Germany and the United Kingdom Hard Knock Life achieved its biggest success in the latter country debuting and peaking at number two on the UK Singles Chart in December 1998 stalling behind Britain s biggest selling song of 1998 Believe by Cher during its seventh consecutive week at the summit of the chart Music video editThe music video for the song consists of Jay Z performing outdoors in his native Brooklyn New York Dame Dash DJ Clue and Beanie Sigel all appear in the video 3 Impact and legacy editSlant Magazine listed Hard Knock Life at number 84 in their ranking of The 100 Best Singles of the 1990s in 2011 writing Jay Z s co opting of a discordant already famous showtune is a rare novel endeavor in a genre generally defined by following the leader it s pulled off so seamlessly that it s easy to forget what a ballsy move it was The transformation of the original s piano base into a thumping organ creep sets the stage but it s undeniably Jay Z transparently showing off his executive command by fussing with the levels at the start which makes the song The source material and the resulting product may seem diametrically opposed but they end up being fundamentally about the same thing forming a common thread of struggles with poverty spun into gold 4 VH1 placed it at number 11 on their list of 100 Greatest Songs of Hip Hop Formats and track listings editUK CD edit Hard Knock Life Ghetto Anthem Radio Edit Can t Knock The Hustle Fools Paradise Remix Hard Knock Life Ghetto Anthem Album Version Vinyl edit A side edit Hard Knock Life Ghetto Anthem swearing version Hard Knock Life Ghetto Anthem LP Version B side edit Hard Knock Life Ghetto Anthem Instrumental Charts editWeekly charts edit Chart 1998 1999 Peakposition Australia ARIA 5 31 Austria O3 Austria Top 40 6 14 Belgium Ultratop 50 Flanders 7 11 Belgium Ultratop 50 Wallonia 8 24 Canada RPM 6 Denmark Tracklisten 9 6 France SNEP 10 21 Germany Official German Charts 11 5 Iceland Islenski Listinn Topp 40 12 2 Ireland IRMA 13 9 Netherlands Dutch Top 40 14 5 Netherlands Single Top 100 15 6 New Zealand Recorded Music NZ 16 10 Norway VG lista 17 4 Scotland OCC 18 10 Sweden Sverigetopplistan 19 6 Switzerland Schweizer Hitparade 20 7 UK Singles OCC 21 2 UK Hip Hop R amp B OCC 22 1 US Billboard Hot 100 23 15 US Hot R amp B Hip Hop Songs Billboard 24 10 US Hot Rap Songs Billboard 25 2 Year end charts edit Chart 1998 Position Sweden Sverigetopplistan 26 98 UK Singles OCC 27 56 UK Urban Music Week 28 2 Chart 1999 Position Germany Official German Charts 29 48 Netherlands Dutch Top 40 30 110 Netherlands Single Top 100 31 82 Switzerland Schweizer Hitparade 32 46 US Billboard Hot 100 33 89 US Hot R amp B Hip Hop Songs Billboard 34 53Certifications editRegion Certification Certified units sales United Kingdom BPI 35 Platinum 600 000 United States RIAA 36 Platinum 1 000 000 Sales streaming figures based on certification alone Usage in media editThe song was parodied by Mike Myers as his character Dr Evil in the 2002 movie Austin Powers in Goldmember 37 Comedy rap trio Sudden Death parodied the song on their album Die Laughing 2005 titled Star Trek Life 38 References edit Deconstructing Hip Hop 9 July 2012 Remaking Jay Z s Hard Knock Life Ghetto Anthem YouTube Deconstructing Hip Hop Taylor Chuck October 24 1998 Reviews amp Previews Singles PDF Billboard p 22 Retrieved December 6 2020 Jay Z 11 January 2023 Hard Knock Life Ghetto Anthem 1998 YouTube Francesco Marcone The 100 Best Singles of the 1990s Slant Magazine January 9 2011 Retrieved May 3 2021 Jay Z Hard Knock Life Ghetto Anthem ARIA Top 50 Singles Retrieved May 14 2020 Jay Z Hard Knock Life Ghetto Anthem in German O3 Austria Top 40 Retrieved May 14 2020 Jay Z Hard Knock Life Ghetto Anthem in Dutch Ultratop 50 Retrieved May 14 2020 Jay Z Hard Knock Life Ghetto Anthem in French Ultratop 50 Retrieved May 14 2020 Billboard Hits of the World February 27 1999 Jay Z Hard Knock Life Ghetto Anthem in French Les classement single Retrieved May 14 2020 Jay Z Hard Knock Life Ghetto Anthem in German GfK Entertainment charts Retrieved May 14 2020 Islenski Listinn Nr 305 Vikuna 8 1 15 1 1999 Dagbladid Visir in Icelandic January 8 1999 p 10 Retrieved December 20 2020 Irish charts com Discography Jay Z Irish Singles Chart Retrieved May 14 2020 Nederlandse Top 40 week 52 1998 in Dutch Dutch Top 40 Retrieved May 14 2020 Jay Z Hard Knock Life Ghetto Anthem in Dutch Single Top 100 Retrieved May 14 2020 Jay Z Hard Knock Life Ghetto Anthem Top 40 Singles Retrieved May 14 2020 Jay Z Hard Knock Life Ghetto Anthem VG lista Retrieved May 14 2020 Official Scottish Singles Sales Chart Top 100 Official Charts Company Jay Z Hard Knock Life Ghetto Anthem Singles Top 100 Retrieved May 14 2020 Jay Z Hard Knock Life Ghetto Anthem Swiss Singles Chart Retrieved May 14 2020 Official Singles Chart Top 100 Official Charts Company Official Hip Hop and R amp B Singles Chart Top 40 Official Charts Company Jay Z Chart History Hot 100 Billboard Jay Z Chart History Hot R amp B Hip Hop Songs Billboard Jay Z Chart History Hot Rap Songs Billboard Arslista Singlar Ar 1998 in Swedish Sverigetopplistan Retrieved May 14 2020 Best Sellers of 1998 Singles Top 100 PDF Music Week January 16 1999 p 7 Retrieved September 15 2023 The Urban Top 40 Of 1998 PDF Music Week January 9 1999 Retrieved August 6 2023 Top 100 Single Jahrescharts in German GfK Entertainment Retrieved April 21 2018 Jaarlijsten 1999 in Dutch Dutch Top 40 Retrieved May 12 2022 Jaaroverzichten Single 1999 dutchcharts nl Retrieved June 23 2020 Swiss year end chart swisscharts com 1999 Archived from the original on November 14 2011 Retrieved November 22 2017 Billboard Top 100 1999 Retrieved 2010 08 28 Hot R amp B Hip Hop Songs Year End 1999 Billboard Retrieved May 14 2020 British single certifications Jay Z Hard Knock Life Ghetto Anthem British Phonographic Industry Retrieved April 19 2022 American single certifications Jay Z Hard Knock Life Recording Industry Association of America Comedies Grooveshark Free Music Streaming Online Music grooveshark com Archived from the original on 2014 03 29 External links editRecording Industry Association of America Gold amp Platinum Searchable Database Samplin Annie at Vibe Retrieved from https en wikipedia org w index php title Hard Knock Life Ghetto Anthem amp oldid 1214186668, wikipedia, wiki, book, books, library,
