Misplaced Pages

The Hard Way
Studio album by 213
Released	August 17, 2004 (2004-08-17)
Recorded	2002–2004
Studio	DSR (Los Angeles) Battery (New York City) Larrabee Studios East (Los Angeles) Larrabee Studios North (Los Angeles) Planet (Los Angeles) The G-Spot (Los Angeles)
Genre	West Coast hip hop gangsta rap G-funk
Length	71:59
Label	Doggystyle G-Funk Dogg Foundation TVT
Producer	Fredwreck Hi-Tek Quaze B Sharp Tha Chill Kanye West DJ Pooh Nottz Josef Lil ½ Dead Niggarochi Terrace Martin Marlon Williams Michael Angelo Tha Bizness Missy Elliott Jelly Roll
Snoop Dogg chronology
Paid tha Cost to Be da Boss (2002) The Hard Way (2004) R&G (Rhythm & Gangsta): The Masterpiece (2004)
Nate Dogg chronology
Nate Dogg (2003) The Hard Way (2004)
Warren G chronology
The Return of the Regulator (2001) The Hard Way (2004) In the Mid-Nite Hour (2005)
Singles from The Hard Way
"So Fly" Released: July 26, 2004 "Groupie Luv" Released: August 4, 2004

The Hard Way is the only studio album from American hip hop trio 213, which consisted of Snoop Dogg, Warren G and Nate Dogg. It was released on August 17, 2004, under Doggystyle Records, G-Funk Entertainment, Dogg Foundation, and TVT Records.

Reception

Professional ratings

Review scores
Source	Rating
AllMusic
Blender
Entertainment Weekly	C+
HipHopDX
RapReviews	5.5/10
Rolling Stone
Stylus	6/10
Vibe

The Hard Way received mixed to positive reviews from music critics. Jason Birchmeier of AllMusic especially praised Warren G for "rapping tougher and more gangsta than usual." For HipHopDX, K.B. Tindal described the album as containing "risp beats, sharp hooks, and straight lyrics." Rating the album three out of four stars, Rob Sheffield of Rolling Stone called 213 an "excellent G-funk-era-revival supergroup."

Grading the album with a C-plus, Michael Endelman of Entertainment Weekly compared the group to the 2003–04 Los Angeles Lakers, because the album "boasts marquee talent but doesn’t quite deliver the championship trophy." Matt Barone of RapReviews scored the album 5.5 out of 10 points for "overly generic left coast production and uninspired verses." Scott McKeating of Stylus rated the album six points out of 10, in part due to lackluster lyrics: "Snoop and Nate seem to have a problem going longer than a few bars without dropping some lines about 'dirty ass hoes.'" Rondell Conway of Vibe rated the album with 2.5 out of five due to 213 offering what he called "obsolete subject matter" despite "nostalgically offer its signature G-funk sound."

Commercial performance

The Hard Way debuted at number four on the US Billboard 200, selling 95,000 copies in its first week. The album debuted at top on the US Top R&B/Hip-Hop Albums chart.

"So Fly" was released on July 6, 2004 at first single from the album. The song reached at number 2 on US Billboard Bubbling Under Hot 100 Singles.

The official debut retail single was "Groupie Luv", which was also accompanied by a promo video. It was directed by Chris Robinson and was filmed in Snoop Dogg's own house (see also Still a G Thang). It is also the video debut for dancer Criscilla Crossland. "Groupie Luv" topped at number 26 on Billboard Hot 100 Airplay.

Track listing

Notes

• "Twist Yo' Body" features backing vocals performed by Dion.
• "Rick James" (Interlude) features vocals performed by Dave Chappelle.

Sample credits

• "Keep It Gangsta" contains an interpolation of "Black Cow" performed by Steely Dan.
• "Groupie Luv" contains an interpolation of "Chameleon" performed by Herbie Hancock, Paul Jackson, Harvey Mason and Bennie Maupin.
• "Another Summer" contains excerpts of "Intimate Friends" performed by Eddie Kendricks.
• "Gotta Find a Way" contains excerpts of "Rejoice" performed by the Emotions.
• "Joysticc" contains an interpolation of "Juicy Fruit" performed by James Mtume.
• "Mary Jane" contains excerpts of "It's Time" performed by the Jungle Brothers.
• "MLK" contains an interpolation of "Riding High" performed by Faze-O.
• "My Dirty Ho" contains an interpolation of "The Rain" performed by Oran "Juice" Jones. It also samples Lacrimosa (Requiem) in Requiem (Mozart).
• "So Fly" contains excerpts of the recording "So Gone" performed by Monica and excerpts of "You Are Number 1" performed by the Whispers.

Personnel

Charts

Certifications

See also

• List of Billboard number-one R&B/hip-hop albums of 2004

References

1. ^ Birchmeier, Jason (August 10, 2004). "213: The Hard Way". All Music Guide. Retrieved August 10, 2018.
2. Beato, G. (August 17, 2004). "Snoop Dogg and his childhood pals strut through a reunion set". Blender. Archived from the original on March 24, 2005. Retrieved August 10, 2018.
3. ^ Endelman, Michael (September 10, 2004). "The Hard Way (2004)". Entertainment Weekly. No. 782–783. Archived from the original on June 7, 2011. Retrieved August 10, 2018.
4. ^ Tindal, K.B. (August 31, 2004). "213 - The Hard Way". HipHopDX. Archived from the original on September 6, 2004. Retrieved August 10, 2018.
5. ^ Barone, Matt (August 17, 2004). "213's The Hard Way". RapReviews.com. Archived from the original on August 25, 2004.
6. ^ "213: The Hard Way". Rolling Stone. September 2, 2004. Archived from the original on September 30, 2004. Retrieved August 10, 2018.
7. ^ McKeating, Scott (September 15, 2004). "213: The Hard Way". Stylus. Archived from the original on November 8, 2004. Retrieved August 10, 2018.
8. ^ Conway, Rondell (September 2004), "213 – The Hard Way (TVT)", Vibe, vol. 12, no. 9, p. 236, archived from the original on March 9, 2005, retrieved August 10, 2018
9. Whitmire, Margo (2004-08-25). "'NOW 16' Is No. 1 Again". Billboard. Retrieved 2009-02-15.
10. "Now Takes Down Ashlee; 213 Stomps in at #4 on Albums Chart". MTV. Archived from the original on September 12, 2014.
11. "Australiancharts.com – 213 – The Hard Way". Hung Medien.
12. "Ultratop.be – 213 – The Hard Way" (in Dutch). Hung Medien.
13. "213 Chart History (Canadian Albums)". Billboard.
14. "R&B : Top 50". Jam!. October 7, 2004. Archived from the original on October 10, 2004. Retrieved January 29, 2023.
15. "Dutchcharts.nl – 213 – The Hard Way" (in Dutch). Hung Medien.
16. "Offiziellecharts.de – 213 – The Hard Way" (in German). GfK Entertainment Charts. Retrieved August 10, 2019.
17. "Charts.nz – 213 – The Hard Way". Hung Medien.
18. "Swisscharts.com – 213 – The Hard Way". Hung Medien.
19. "Official R&B Albums Chart Top 40". Official Charts Company.
20. "213 Chart History (Billboard 200)". Billboard.
21. "213 Chart History (Independent Albums)". Billboard. Retrieved October 27, 2015.
22. "213 Chart History (Top R&B/Hip-Hop Albums)". Billboard.
23. "Best of 2004 – R&B/Hip-Hop Albums". Billboard. Prometheus Global Media. Retrieved December 14, 2015.
24. "Canadian album certifications – 213 – Hard Way". Music Canada.

• 2004 debut albums
• 213 (group) albums
• Albums produced by Hi-Tek
• Albums produced by JellyRoll
• Albums produced by Kanye West
• Albums produced by Missy Elliott
• Albums produced by Nottz
• Albums produced by Terrace Martin
• Albums produced by DJ Pooh
• Albums produced by Battlecat (producer)
• Albums produced by Fredwreck
• 2004 collaborative albums