It Ain't Hard to Tell

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“It Ain't Hard to Tell”
“It Ain't Hard to Tell” cover
Single by Nas
from the album Illmatic
Released January 18, 1994
Format 12" single, CD single
Recorded 1992
Genre East Coast hip hop
Jazz rap
Hardcore rap
Length 3:22
Label Columbia
Writer(s) Nasir Jones
W.P. Mitchell
Producer Large Professor
Nas singles chronology
"Halftime"
(1992)		 "It Ain't Hard to Tell"
(1994)		 "The World Is Yours"
(1994)
Illmatic track listing
"Represent"
(9)		 "It Ain't Hard to Tell"
(10)

"It Ain't Hard to Tell" is Nas' second single and last track from his debut album Illmatic. Produced by Large Professor, the song samples Michael Jackson's 1983 hit single "Human Nature". The lyrics are a braggadocios and have been sampled on "Ebonics" by Big L. The single reached #97 on the Billboard Hot 100 chart and was also a critical success.

The song was later sampled for the chorus of his later hit single, "Nas Is Like".

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.

Contents

[edit] Music video

Nas created a homage to Wild Style (1982), the first hip hop motion picture, while shooting "It Ain't Hard to Tell's" music video, as he shot portions of the clip on the same stage used for the final scene of Wild Style.

[edit] Single track listing

[edit] US 12" Vinyl

[edit] A-Side

  1. "It Ain't Hard to Tell" (Main Mix)

[edit] B-Side

  1. "It Ain't Hard to Tell" (Instrumental)
  2. "It Ain't Hard to Tell" (A Cappella)

[edit] US 12" Vinyl (Remix)

[edit] A-Side

  1. "It Ain't Hard to Tell (Remix)"

[edit] B-Side

  1. "It Ain't Hard to Tell (Remix Instrumental)"

[edit] UK 12" Vinyl

[edit] A-Side

  1. "It Ain't Hard to Tell" (Main Mix)
  2. "It Ain't Hard to Tell" (Main Mix Instrumental)

[edit] B-Side

  1. "It Ain't Hard to Tell" (Remix)
  2. "It Ain't Hard to Tell" (Acapella)

[edit] UK 12" Vinyl (The Remixes)

[edit] A-Side

  1. "It Ain't Hard to Tell (The Stink Mix)"
  2. "It Ain't Hard to Tell (The Stink Instrumental Mix)"

[edit] B-Side

  1. "It Ain't Hard to Tell (The Laidback Remix)"
  2. "It Ain't Hard to Tell (The Laidback Instrumental Remix)"

[edit] Netherlands 12" Vinyl

[edit] A-Side

  1. "It Ain't Hard to Tell (Album Mix)" (3:20)
  2. "It Ain't Hard to Tell (Album Mix Instrumental)" (3:20)

[edit] B-Side

  1. "It Ain't Hard to Tell (Remix)" (2:50)
  2. "It Ain't Hard to Tell (Remix Instrumental)" (2:50)
  3. "It Ain't Hard to Tell (Acapella)" (2:24)

[edit] Austria Maxi-CD (COL 660470 2)

  1. "It Ain't Hard to Tell (Main Mix)" (3:25)
  2. "It Ain't Hard to Tell (Remix)" (2:53)
  3. "It Ain't Hard to Tell (Acapella)" (2:27)
  4. "It Ain't Hard to Tell (Main Mix Instrumental)" (3:23)

[edit] Austria CD (COL 660302 2)

  1. "It Ain't Hard to Tell (Album Mix)"
  2. "It Ain't Hard to Tell (Album Mix Instrumental)"
  3. "It Ain't Hard to Tell (Remix)"
  4. "It Ain't Hard to Tell (Remix Instrumental)"
  5. "It Ain't Hard to Tell (Acapella)"

[edit] External links


v • d • e
Nas
Studio albums
Compilations
Collaborations
Singles
"Halftime" · "It Ain't Hard to Tell" · "The World Is Yours" · "Life's a Bitch" · "One Love" · "If I Ruled the World" · "Street Dreams" · "The Message" · "Escobar '97" · "Nas Is Like" · "Hate Me Now" · "In Too Deep" · "Nastradamus" · "Analyze This" · "You Owe Me" · "Rule" · "Got Ur Self A..." · "One Mic" · "Made You Look" · "I Can" · "Get Down" · "Thief's Theme" · "Bridging the Gap" · "Just a Moment" · "Hip Hop Is Dead" · "Can't Forget About You" · "Classic" · "Less Than an Hour" · "Be a Nigger Too" ·
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