It Ain't Hard to Tell: Difference between revisions
Binksternet (talk | contribs) m Reverted 2 edits by 87.101.49.45 (talk) to last revision by 216.194.32.123 |
No edit summary Tags: Manual revert Reverted Mobile edit Mobile web edit |
||
Line 16: | Line 16: | ||
| length = 3:22 |
| length = 3:22 |
||
| label = [[Columbia Records|Columbia]] |
| label = [[Columbia Records|Columbia]] |
||
| writer = [[Nas|Nasir Jones]], [[Large Professor|William Paul Mitchell]], [[Steve Porcaro]], [[John Bettis]] |
| writer = [[Nas|Nasir Jones]], [[Large Professor|William Paul Mitchell]], [[Steve Porcaro]], [[John Bettis]], [[Leslie West]] |
||
| producer = [[Large Professor]] |
| producer = [[Large Professor]] |
||
| prev_title = [[Halftime (song)|Halftime]] |
| prev_title = [[Halftime (song)|Halftime]] |
Revision as of 00:41, 29 November 2020
This article needs additional citations for verification. (January 2009) |
"It Ain't Hard to Tell" | ||||
---|---|---|---|---|
![]() | ||||
Single by Nas | ||||
from the album Illmatic | ||||
Released | January 18, 1994 | |||
Recorded | 1992 | |||
Genre | East Coast hip hop, hardcore hip hop | |||
Length | 3:22 | |||
Label | Columbia | |||
Songwriter(s) | Nasir Jones, William Paul Mitchell, Steve Porcaro, John Bettis, Leslie West | |||
Producer(s) | Large Professor | |||
Nas singles chronology | ||||
|
"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.[1]
Music video
Nas created a homage to Wild Style (1983), the first hip hop motion picture, while shooting the music video, as he shot portions of the clip on the same stage used for the final scene of Wild Style.
Uses by other artists
Lyrics of "It Ain't Hard to Tell" have been sampled in the following songs:
- "Correct Technique" by Basement Khemists
- "Ebonics" by Big L
- "Testimonial" by Binkies
- "Correct Technique" by Black Attack
- "A Cold Day in Hell" by Brainwash Projects
- "Food for Thought" by Buckshot & 9th Wonder
- "Correct Technic" by Da Nuthouse
- "Backstabber" by Da Youngstas
- "Selassi I Continually" by Disrupt
- "Half & Half" by Lunar Heights
- "Killing Fieldz" by Gravediggaz
- "Inna Citi Life" by Group Home
- "Analyze This" by Kid Sublime & Cee Major
- "Rapfilm" by Kool Savas
- "Frozen" by The Left featuring Kool G. Rap
- "The Good Green" by Likwit Junkies
- "I Am... Album Intro" by Nas
- "Nas Is Like" by Nas
- "Invasion" by Jeru the Damaja
- "Classic (Better Than I've Ever Been) (DJ Premier Remix)" by Kanye West, Nas, KRS-One & Rakim
- "Lève-toi Et Rap" by MC Solaar
- "Survival Of The Fittest" by Mobb Deep
- "Give It to Y'all" by Pete Rock
- "Half Man Half Amazin" by Pete Rock & Method Man
- "Real Live Shit" by Real Live
- "Astro Travelin" by Quasimoto
- "Penmanship" by Skyzoo
- "Eight by Eight" by Epik High
- "Shades Of Black (Remix)" by Rakim
- "Amazin'" by Ras Kass & Neenah
- "Jack Frost" by Ras Kass
- "New School Leaders" by Shad
- "Wild" by Shad
- "Animosity" by Xperadó
- "Feel It" by Braille
- "Technics" by Eyedea & Abilities
- "Lucy's & Looseleafs" by Dela & Blu (rapper)
- "Like water" by Pro Era (Capital STEEZ, CJ Fly & Joey Badass)
- "Misconceptions" by Lecrae (featuring Propaganda, Braille, Odd Thomas, & DJ Efechto)
- "Smoke-N-Maintain" by Curren$y
- "Picasso Baby" by Jay-Z
- "Pass Me By" by MC Eiht featuring B-Real
Single track listing
US 12" Vinyl
A-Side
- "It Ain't Hard to Tell" (Main Mix)
B-Side
- "It Ain't Hard to Tell" (Instrumental)
- "It Ain't Hard to Tell" (A Cappella)
US 12" Vinyl (Remix)
A-Side
- "It Ain't Hard to Tell (Remix)"
B-Side
- "It Ain't Hard to Tell (Remix Instrumental)"
UK 12" Vinyl
A-Side
- "It Ain't Hard to Tell" (Main Mix)
- "It Ain't Hard to Tell" (Main Mix Instrumental)
B-Side
- "It Ain't Hard to Tell" (Remix)
- "It Ain't Hard to Tell" (Acapella)
UK 12" Vinyl (The Remixes)
A-Side
- "It Ain't Hard to Tell (The Stink Mix)"
- "It Ain't Hard to Tell (The Stink Instrumental Mix)"
B-Side
- "It Ain't Hard to Tell (The Laidback Remix)"
- "It Ain't Hard to Tell (The Laidback Instrumental Remix)"
Netherlands 12" Vinyl
A-Side
- "It Ain't Hard to Tell (Album Mix)" (3:20)
- "It Ain't Hard to Tell (Album Mix Instrumental)" (3:20)
B-Side
- "It Ain't Hard to Tell (Remix)" (2:50)
- "It Ain't Hard to Tell (Remix Instrumental)" (2:50)
- "It Ain't Hard to Tell (A cappella)" (2:24)
Austria Maxi-CD (COL 660470 2)
- "It Ain't Hard to Tell (Main Mix)" (3:25)
- "It Ain't Hard to Tell (Remix)" (2:53)
- "It Ain't Hard to Tell (Acapella)" (2:27)
- "It Ain't Hard to Tell (Main Mix Instrumental)" (3:23)
Austria CD (COL 660302 2)
- "It Ain't Hard to Tell (Album Mix)"
- "It Ain't Hard to Tell (Album Mix Instrumental)"
- "It Ain't Hard to Tell (Remix)"
- "It Ain't Hard to Tell (Remix Instrumental)"
- "It Ain't Hard to Tell (A cappella)"
Charts
Chart (1994) | Peak position |
---|---|
U.S. Billboard Hot 100[2] | 91 |
U.S. Billboard Hot R&B/Hip-Hop Songs[3] | 57 |
U.S. Billboard Hot Rap Tracks[4] | 13 |
References
- ^ Pitchfork Top 200 Tracks of the 90s
- ^ "The Billboard Hot 100 - It Ain't Hard to Tell - Nas". Billboard. Nielsen Business Media. Archived from the original on July 11, 2014. Retrieved 2009-01-24.
- ^ "Hot R&B/Hip-Hop Songs - It Ain't Hard to Tell - Nas". Billboard. Nielsen Business Media. Retrieved 2009-01-24. [dead link]
- ^ "Hot Rap Singles - It Ain't Hard to Tell - Nas". Billboard. Nielsen Business Media. Archived from the original on May 25, 2014. Retrieved 2009-01-24.