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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 Meanings
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
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
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.
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
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
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
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
Play – It's the Hard Knock Life
It's the hard knock life / (Hard-knock life, a hard knock life) / (Hard knock life, a hard knock life) / It's the hard knock life / (Hard knock life, a hard knock life) / (Hard
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
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
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. DMX) – Money, Cash, Hoes
“Money, Cash, Hoes” is about the 3 most important things in life: Money Cash Charitable Acts (no j/k! #3 is Hoes) It was released on November 9, 1998 as the third single from
Kanye West – Big Brother
“Big Brother” details the ups and downs of Kanye’s working relationship with Jay-Z. Both sentimental and honest; Kanye runs a fine line between hero-worship and idol killing. This
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-
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
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
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SongFacts
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SongMeanings Interpretations
Jay-Z - Hard Knock Life (Ghetto Anthem) Lyrics
Ed Sheeran reflects on love lost, and although he wishes his former partner find happiness, he cannot but admit his feelings are still very much there. He ...
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Log in now to tell us what you think this song means. Don't have an account? Create an account with SongMeanings to post comments, submit lyrics, and more. It's ...
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... Jay-Z I met him; well, I saw him in a restaurant once ("It's a hard knock life!") Stick that in yer, blunt and smoke it! Yeahhhh, I said BLUNT! Edit Lyrics.
Dr. Evil - Hard Knock Life Lyrics
... Lyrics. Lyrics submitted by alternativeaddict06. Hard Knock Life song meanings. Add Your Thoughts ... Jay-Z. Its hilarious. I love it! I do I do I do ooooohhhhh.
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2: Hard Knock Life ended up winning a Grammy for Best Rap Album. Like clockwork, Jay-Z returned a year later with another album, Vol. 3: Life and Times of S.
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SongTell Meaning
Meaning of "Hard Knock Life (Ghetto Anthem)" by JAY-Z
"Hard Knock Life (Ghetto Anthem)" by JAY-Z is a song that speaks to the struggles of growing up in poverty in urban areas. The chorus repeats "It's the har...
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