Hard To Earn: Original Samples

Didn’t I just post a Gang Starr sample set last Sunday? Maybe we’ll dedicate Sundays to DJ Premier from now on… nah, just a coincidence. Anyway, we WILL finish all the Gang Starr albums. Surprisingly, I haven’t worked on their first two albums yet… we”l hook that up. As for Hard To Earn, this is one hell of a sample set.

Released on March 8, 1994, Hard To Earn is Gang Starr’s fourth release. Not quite as popular as their previous, Daily Operation, Hard To Earn was well-received by both critics and fans, spawning singles such as “Dwyck” and “Mass Appeal” which are widely considered to be classics. This album contains some of Premo’s best beats to date, such as “Mass Appeal” and “Words From The Nutcracker.” Thanks to Thomas, Goon, and Ivan who all helped out on this set.

1. “Scarlet Woman” by Weather Report
   • Sampled in “Intro (The First Step)”
   • Produced by DJ Premier & Guru
2. “Snow Creatures” by Quincy Jones
   • Sampled in “ALONGWAYTOGO”
   • Produced by DJ Premier & Guru
3. “Impeach the President” by The Honey Drippers
   • Sampled in “ALONGWAYTOGO”
   • Produced by DJ Premier & Guru
4. “Just Us” by Richard Pryor
   • Sampled in “ALONGWAYTOGO”
   • Produced by DJ Premier & Guru
5. “Check the Rhime” by A Tribe Called Quest
   • Sampled in “ALONGWAYTOGO”
   • Produced by DJ Premier & Guru
6. “Little Green Apples” by Monk Higgins & the Specialites
   • Sampled in “Code Of The Streets”
   • Produced by DJ Premier & Guru
7. “Synthetic Substitution” by Melvin Bliss
   • Sampled in “Code Of The Streets” and “DWYCK”
   • Produced by DJ Premier & Guru
8. “Breakthrough” by Isaac Hayes
   • Sampled in “Tonz ‘O’ Gunz”
   • Produced by DJ Premier & Guru
9. “Just to Get a Rep” by Gang Starr
   • Sampled in “Tonz ‘O’ Gunz”
   • Produced by DJ Premier & Guru
10. “It’s All Because She’s Gone” by Steve Davis *
    • Sampled in “The Planet”
    • Produced by DJ Premier & Guru
11. “The Cuckoo” by Taj Mahal
    • Sampled in “The Planet”
    • Produced by DJ Premier & Guru
12. “The Place Where We Dwell” by Gang Starr
    • Sampled in “The Planet”
    • Produced by DJ Premier & Guru
13. “Love and Happiness” by Monty Alexander
    • Sampled in “Aiiight Chill…”
    • Produced by DJ Premier & Guru
14. “Shack Up” by Banbarra
    • Sampled in “Speak Ya Clout”
    • Produced by DJ Premier & Guru
15. “Funk it Up” by Caesar Frazier
    • Sampled in “Speak Ya Clout”
    • Produced by DJ Premier & Guru
16. “Up Against the Wall” by Quincy Jones
    • Sampled in “Speak Ya Clout”
    • Produced by DJ Premier & Guru
17. “Cucumber Slumber” by Weather Report
    • Sampled in “Speak Ya Clout”
    • Produced by DJ Premier & Guru
18. “Hey Jude” by Clarence Wheeler & the Enforcers
    • Sampled in “DWYCK”
    • Produced by DJ Premier & Guru
19. “Intro Promo” by Redd Foxx *
    • Sampled in “DWYCK”
    • Produced by DJ Premier & Guru
20. “Journey from Within” by The Crudasers
    • Sampled in “Words From The Nutcracker”
    • Produced by DJ Premier & Guru
21. “Lock it in the Pocket” by Grover Washington Jr.
    • Sampled in “Words From The Nutcracker”
    • Produced by DJ Premier & Guru
22. “Horizon Drive” by Vic Juris
    • Sampled in “Mass Appeal”
    • Produced by DJ Premier & Guru
23. “Pass Da Mic” by Da Youngstas
    • Sampled in “Mass Appeal”
    • Produced by DJ Premier & Guru
24. “Open All Night Drums” by George Clinton *
    • Sampled in “Blowin’ Up The Spot”
    • Produced by DJ Premier & Guru
25. “Put Your Love (In My Tender Care)” by The Fatback Band
    • Sampled in “Suckas Need Bodyguards”
    • Produced by DJ Premier & Guru
26. “It Takes Two” by Rob Base and DJ E-Z Rock
    • Sampled in “Suckas Need Bodyguards”
    • Produced by DJ Premier & Guru
27. “Poinciana (Live)” by Ahmad Jamal
    • Sampled in “Now You’re Mine”
    • Produced by DJ Premier & Guru
28. “Hey, Last Minute” by The Meters
    • Sampled in “Mostly Tha Voice”
    • Produced by DJ Premier & Guru
29. “Bam Bam” by Sister Nancy
    • Sampled in “Mostly Tha Voice”
    • Produced by DJ Premier & Guru
30. “Blind Alley” by The Emotions
    • Sampled in “Comin’ For Datazz”
    • Produced by DJ Premier & Guru

* unavailable in compilation

Download Hard To Earn: Original Samples