Identify song using your Microphone
Lyrics
Meaning
Chords

Artist: Jay-Z
Track: Hard Knock Life

Lyrics
Take the bassline out, uh-huh
Jigga (bounce wit it), uh-huh uh-huh uh-huh, yeah
Let it bump, though

It's the hard knock life (uh-huh) for us
It's the hard knock life, for us
'Stead of treated, we get tricked
'Stead of kisses, we get kicked
It's the hard knock life

From standin' on the corners boppin'
To drivin' some of the hottest cars New York has ever seen
For droppin' some of the hottest verses rap has ever heard
From the dope spot, with the smoke Glock
Fleein' the murder scene, you know me well
From nightmares of a lonely cell, my only hell
But since when y'all niggas know me to fail? Fuck nah
Where all my niggas with the rubber grips? Bust shots
And if you with me, ma I'll rub on your tits, and what-not
I'm from the school of the hard knocks, we must not
Let outsiders violate our blocks, and my plot
Let's stick up the world and split it fifty-fifty, uh-huh
Let's take the dough and stay real jiggy, uh-huh
And sip the Cris' and get pissy-pissy
Flow infinitely like the memory of my nigga Biggie, baby
You know it's hell when I come through
The life and times of Shawn Carter
Nigga, Volume 2, y'all niggas get ready

It's the hard knock life, for us
It's the hard knock life, for us
'Stead of treated, we get tricked
'Stead of kisses, we get kicked
It's the hard knock life

I flow for those 'dro'ed out, all my niggas
Locked down in the ten by four, controllin' the house
We live in hard knocks, we don't take over we borrow blocks
Burn 'em down and you can have it back daddy, I'd rather that
I flow for chicks wishin', they ain't have to strip to pay tuition
I see your vision, mama, I put my money on the long shots
All my ballers that's born to clock
Now I'ma be on top whether I perform or not
I went from lukewarm to hot, sleepin' on futons and cots
To king size, green machines, the green fives
I've seen pies let the thing between my eyes analyze life's ills
Then I put it down, type braille
I'm tight grill with the phony, rappers y'all might feel we homies
I'm like still, y'all don't know me, shit
I'm tight grill when my situation ain't improving
I'm tryna murder everything movin', feel me?

It's the hard knock life, for us
It's the hard knock life, for us
'Stead of treated, we get tricked
'Stead of kisses, we get kicked
It's the hard knock life, for us
It's the hard knock life, for us
'Stead of treated, we get tricked
'Stead of kisses, we get kicked
It's the hard knock life

I don't how to sleep, I gotta eat, stay on my toes
Gotta a lot of beef, so logically, I prey on my foes
Hustling's still inside of me, and as far as progress
You'd be hard-pressed, to find another rapper hot as me
I gave you prophecy on my first joint, and y'all all lamed out
Didn't really appreciate it, 'til the second one came out
So I stretched the game out, X'ed your name out
Put Jigga on top, and drop albums non-stop for ya, nigga

It's the hard knock life, for us
It's the hard knock life, for us!
'Stead of treated, we get tricked
'Stead of kisses, we get kicked
It's the hard knock life, for us
It's the hard knock life, for us!
'Stead of treated, we get tricked
'Stead of kisses, we get kicked
It's the hard knock life

It's the hard knock life

It's the hard knock life
Full Lyrics and Meaning
Genius Lyrics
JAY-Z – Hard Knock Life (Ghetto Anthem)
The song that made Jay-Z a superstar. Famously sampling “It’s a Hard Knock Life” from the Annie movie (1982), Jay raps about his rags-to-riches story (it’s slightly different than
Knowledge Drop: How JAY-Z Cleared The ‘Annie’ Sample For “Hard Knock Life (Ghetto Anthem)”
He wrote a letter based on a lie to the copyright holder of the theme song.
JAY-Z – Hard Knock Life (Ghetto Anthem) Interpolations
See all of “Hard Knock Life (Ghetto Anthem)” by JAY-Z’s interpolations
JAY-Z – Hard Knock Life (Ghetto Anthem) Samples
See all of “Hard Knock Life (Ghetto Anthem)” by JAY-Z’s samples, covers, remixes, interpolations and live versions
Mike Myers – Hard Knock Life (Dr. Evil Remix)
A parody of Jay Z’s song of the same name, which was featured in the third Austin Powers movie: Goldmember.
JAY-Z (Ft. Jaguar Wright) – Hard Knock Life (MTV Unplugged)
[Intro] / Bounce / Left and right / Left and right / Come on / Uh / Uh / Che / Uhuh / Yeah keep it best man / Nah nah you don't sing yet man / Sing now! / [Hook: Jaguar Wright (Jay
JAY-Z – Hard Knock Life (Ghetto Anthem) Samples
See all of “Hard Knock Life (Ghetto Anthem)” by JAY-Z’s samples
JAY-Z – Hard Knock Life (MTV Unplugged) Samples
See all of “Hard Knock Life (MTV Unplugged)” by JAY-Z’s samples, covers, remixes, interpolations and live versions
Cher Lloyd – Hard Knock Life
[Intro] / Don't it feel like the wind is always howlin'? / Don't it seem like there's never any light? / Once a day don't you wanna throw the towel in? / It's easier than puttin
Nipsey Hussle – Hussle & Motivate Samples
See all of “Hussle & Motivate” by Nipsey Hussle’s samples, covers, remixes, interpolations and live versions
JAY-Z (Ft. Beanie Sigel, The LOX, Pain In Da Ass & Sauce Money) – Reservoir Dogs
Reservoir Dogs is the eleventh track on Jay Z’s Vol.2… Hard Knock Life album. It features Sheek Louch, The Lox, Sauce Money, Jadakiss, Beanie Sigel and Styles P
Mike Myers – Hard Knock Life (Dr. Evil Remix) Samples
See all of “Hard Knock Life (Dr. Evil Remix)” by Mike Myers’s samples, covers, remixes, interpolations and live versions
Aileen Quinn – It’s the Hard-Knock Life
[ORPHANS] / It's the hard-knock life for us! / It's the hard-knock life for us! / [ANNIE] / 'Stead of treated / [ORPHANS] / We get tricked! / [ANNIE] / 'Stead of kisses / [ORPHANS
Spotify – This Is JAY-Z
1. JAY-Z- Izzo (H.O.V.A.) / 2. JAY-Z & Kanye West- Niggas In Paris / 3. JAY-Z- Hard Knock Life (Ghetto Anthem) / 4. JAY-Z- 99 Problems / 5. JAY-Z- Big Pimpin' (feat. UGK) / 6. JAY-
DJ Blazin – Hard Knock Life remix
(DJ Blazin) Intro: (0:00:00 – 0:00:12) / Hey man you know “Hard Knock Life's” / That was great by “Jay Z” / But this is the remix and it is / DJ Blazin / (Children) Chorus: (0:00:
Cher Lloyd – Hard Knock Life Samples
See all of “Hard Knock Life” by Cher Lloyd’s samples, covers, remixes, interpolations and live versions
FLEE & StoopidXool – Hard Knock Trife
(𝘗𝘭𝘶𝘨) / [Intro] / Hard knock life / Hard knock life (Uh) / Hard knock life / [Chorus] / Got a whole lotta sprite on us / Drinkin' dark never light on us / Drinkin' dirty, we love
Aileen Quinn – It’s the Hard-Knock Life Samples
See all of “It’s the Hard-Knock Life” by Aileen Quinn’s samples, covers, remixes, interpolations and live versions
Aileen Quinn – It’s a Hard-Knock Life Samples
See all of “It’s a Hard-Knock Life” by Aileen Quinn’s samples, covers, remixes, interpolations and live versions
JAY-Z (Ft. Amil & Ja Rule) – Can I Get A…
“Can I Get A…” features Jay-Z, almost counter-intuitively, letting women know that money can’t buy love. Under producer Irv Gotti’s watchful eye Hov employs new Roc-A-Fella Records
Nipsey Hussle – Hussle & Motivate
An obvious play on his own name (“Hustle”), Nipsey samples Jay-Z’s “Hard Knock Life (Ghetto Anthem)” to address the misconception of people who grew up in the hood wanting to live
Dr. Evil – Hard Knock Life
(spoken) / Take the base line out! / No? / You don't have to / Bounce wit it! / (it's the hard knock life for us, it's the hard knock life for us, 'stead of treated, we get tricked
JAY-Z (Ft. Memphis Bleek & Pain In Da Ass) – Intro - Hand It Down
“Intro/Hand It Down” is another classic introductory track from Jay-Z. After Pain in Da Ass delivers Jay’s threat to retire from the rap game, Hov passes the torch to his Roc-A-
JAY-Z (Ft. Too $hort) – A Week Ago
On “A Week Ago,” Jay-Z and Too $hort reflect on the age-old situation of things changing between close friends. In this specific context, they describe how partnerships in the drug
UglyFace – RAP MUSiC FYT
I've liked rap music the very fuckin first time / I heard that shit / What was the first song you heard that stuck? / Very first song? / That stuck / Jay-Z, Hard Knock Life, Volume
JAY-Z – Moment Of Clarity
This song, with beat by Eminem, shows Jay looking back on his life and career, and the roads taken – and not taken – therein
Dyme – Ladies Are U Wit Me
Mark The 45 King flips another old school sample ala Craig Mack’s ‘Wooden Horse’ and Jay-Z’s ‘Hard Knock Life’.
JAY-Z (Ft. Memphis Bleek) – Coming of Age (Da Sequel)
From Jay’s liner notes to this album: Coming of Age: Y'all really have to take your time with this one. It’s all about thought. If you notice in the first verse I say “What’s up
CJ Francis IV – Middle Class
[Chorus] / It's the hard knock life for us / It's the hard knock life for us / Instead of treated, we get tricked / Instead of kisses, we get kicked / It's the hard knock life! / [
JAY-Z – Anything
“Anything” is a Jay-Z single found on Beanie Sigel’s 2000 album The Truth. It was also was included as a bonus track on the European version of Jay-Z’s Vol. 3… Life and Times of S
Sudden Death – Star Trek Life
{*a parody of Jay-Z's song "Hard Knock Life"*} / [Chorus] / It's a Star Trek life for us / It's a Star Trek life for us! / Steadda work-outs, feed my gut / Steadda drivin, beam me
JAY-Z (Ft. Amil & Jaz-O) – Nigga What, Nigga Who (Originator '99)
This track finds Jay-Z linking with his early rap mentor Jaz-O for a sequel to one of their first collaborations; with the hook being delivered by one of Roc-A-Fella Records
JAY-Z – Ride Or Die
Jay-Z use this song to say, “Don’t fuck with me”. Jay gives you two options; either you ride with him or you die.
Aileen Quinn – It’s a Hard-Knock Life Samples
See all of “It’s a Hard-Knock Life” by Aileen Quinn’s samples
Nipsey Hussle Says JAY-Z Cleared The ‘Annie’ Sample On “Hard Knock Life” For All Future Rappers
Jay did some important legal work back in 1998.
Action Bronson – Funkmaster Flex Freestyle
These are the lyrics to Action Bronson’s freestyle over the instrumental to Jay Z’s “Hard Knock Life (Ghetto Anthem)” on the Funkmaster Flex Show. The first verse can be matched up
Aileen Quinn – It’s the Hard-Knock Life Samples
See all of “It’s the Hard-Knock Life” by Aileen Quinn’s samples
JAY-Z – Reservoir Dogs Samples
See all of “Reservoir Dogs” by JAY-Z’s samples
View 35 More →
AZ Lyrics
Jay-Z - Hard Knock Life (Ghetto Anthem) Lyrics
Jay-Z Lyrics ... It's the hard knock life! ... Flow infinitely like the memory of my nigga Biggie, baby! ... Y'all niggas get ready! ... It's the hard knock life! ... I'm ...
Genius Albums
Vol. 2… Hard Knock Life by JAY-Z
Jay’s 3rd studio album, released September 29, 1998, less than a year after his sophomore record. The album spawned his biggest hit so far, “Hard Knock Life (Ghetto Anthem),” which
Vol. 3… Life and Times of S. Carter by JAY-Z
Jay’s 4th studio album, and the final in his Vol. series. The record was released December 28, 1999, and debuted atop the US Billboard 200, selling 462k copies in it’s first week
MTV Unplugged by JAY-Z
The record was released a month after Jay’s MTV Unplugged 2.0 episode, released November 18 2001. The Roots backed Jay up, and as a testament to Jay’s popularity at the time, it
The Hits Collection, Volume One by JAY-Z
Jay-Z: The Hits Collection, Volume One is a greatest hits album by American rapper Jay-Z. It was released on November 22, 2010 by Def Jam Recordings and Roc Nation. Although
View 1 More →
Genius Q&A
Q:Who produced “Hard Knock Life (MTV Unplugged)” by JAY-Z?
“Hard Knock Life (MTV Unplugged)” by JAY-Z was produced by ?uestlove, The Roots & DJ Mark The 45 King.
Q:When did JAY-Z release “Hard Knock Life (Ghetto Anthem)”?
JAY-Z released “Hard Knock Life (Ghetto Anthem)” on September 29, 1998.
Q:Who wrote “Hard Knock Life (Ghetto Anthem)” by JAY-Z?
“Hard Knock Life (Ghetto Anthem)” by JAY-Z was written by Charles Strouse, Martin Charnin, James H. Billington & JAY-Z.
Q:When did JAY-Z release Vol. 2… Hard Knock Life?
JAY-Z released Vol. 2… Hard Knock Life on September 29, 1998.
View 1 More →
MusixMatch Lyrics
Jay-Z - Hard Knock Life (Ghetto Anthem) Lyrics
Songtext zu Hard Knock Life (Ghetto Anthem) von Jay-Z. Check the bassline out, uh huh Jigga, uh huh, uh huh, uh huh, yeah Let it bump though It′...
Jay-Z - Hard Knock Life (Ghetto Anthem) translation in Spanish
Spanish translation of lyrics for Hard Knock Life (Ghetto Anthem) by Jay-Z. Check the bassline out, uh huh Jigga, uh huh, uh huh, uh huh, yeah Let it bump though It′...
Shazam Lyrics
Hard Knock Life (Ghetto Anthem) [Remix / Radio Edit] - JAY-Z
Listen to Hard Knock Life (Ghetto Anthem) [Remix / Radio Edit] by JAY-Z, 5549 Shazams, featuring on '90s Hip-Hop Essentials, and Hip-Hop/R&B Throwback Apple ...