Hard Knock Life (Ghetto Anthem)

Infobox Single
Name = Hard Knock Life (Ghetto Anthem)


Artist = Jay-Z
from Album = Vol. 2... Hard Knock Life
B-side =
Released = January 26, 1999
Format = 12-inch single, Cassette, CD, Vinyl
Recorded =
Genre = East Coast hip hop
Length = 3:58
Label = Roc-A-Fella Records
Writer = Shawn Carter
Mark James
Charles Strouse
Martin Charnin
Producer = The 45 King
Chart position =
*#15 (The Billboard Hot 100)
*#10 (Hot R&B/Hip-Hop Singles & Tracks)
*#2 (Hot Rap Singles)
*#10 (Rhythmic Top 40)
*#2 (UK Singles Chart)
*#7 (Canadian Singles Chart)
*#5 (German Singles Chart)
Last single = "Can I Get A..." (1998)
This single = "Hard Knock Life (Ghetto Anthem)" (1998)
Next single = "Money, Cash, Hoes" (1998)

"Hard Knock Life (Ghetto Anthem)" is a single from rapper Jay-Z's third album "Vol. 2... Hard Knock Life". It samples the song of the same name from the Broadway 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 of 1999. In addition, it was nominated for Best Rap Solo Performance at the 41st Grammy Awards in 1999.

Parodies

In 2002, the song was spoofed in the movie "Austin Powers in Goldmember". Jay-Z's command to "take the bass line out." may have been alluded to in the spoof, when Dr. Evil says the same thing, then, when there is no change, "No? You don't have to." The song's appearance in "Goldmember" is also notable as Beyoncé Knowles, the co-star of the film, was Jay's girlfriend at the time (and current wife).

MADtv parodied the song to include the Vancome Lady, though the "rapper" was Mase and not Jay-Z.

ingle track list

UK CD

# "Hard Knock Life (Ghetto Anthem) (Radio Edit)"
# "Can't Knock The Hustle (Fools Paradise Remix)"
# "Hard Knock Life (Ghetto Anthem) (Album Version)"

Vinyl

A-Side

# "Hard Knock Life (Ghetto Anthem) (Single Version Clean)"
# "Hard Knock Life (Ghetto Anthem) (LP Version)"

B-Side

# "Hard Knock Life (Ghetto Anthem) (Instrumental)"

ee also

*List of Jay-Z songs

External links

* [http://lyricwiki.org/Jay-Z:Hard_Knock_Life_%28Ghetto_Anthem%29 Lyrics on LyricWiki.org]
* [http://riaa.com/goldandplatinumdata.php?table=SEARCH Recording Industry Association of America Gold & Platinum Searchable Database]