The Hard Way is the only studio album from American hip hop trio 213, which consisted of Snoop Dogg, Warren G and Nate Dogg. The reunion of the group first appeared as 213 in Warren G's The Return of the Regulator in the track "Yo' Sassy Ways". In 2003 Snoop Dogg, released his series of mixtapes, from which the second compilation Welcome to tha chuuch, Vol. 2 included the first version of "So Fly", which is a parody of the then chart-running hit single by Monica, So Gone. Missy Elliott, a co-producer of the song (with Spike & Jamahl), got to hear the tape and was very impressed by it. She agreed with Snoop to cede the right of the sample for the upcoming 213 project in exchange for their rapping on Tamia's "Can't Go for That" remix. In the end it came out to be the first unofficial radio single of The Hard Way and was performed live at BET's 106 & Park. The album version differs from the mixtape version in a way that it is five seconds shorter and misses Snoop's intro where he gives the shootouts "Welcome to tha chuuch Vol. 2...exclusive 213". 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
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Outkast is an American hip hop duo formed in 1992, in East Point, Atlanta, Georgia, composed of Atlanta-based rappers André "André 3000" Benjamin (formerly known as Dré) and Antwan "Big Boi" Patton. Achieving both critical acclaim and commercial success, the duo helped popularize the Dirty South style of hip hop in the 1990s while developing distinctive personas and an idiosyncratic sound that incorporated genres such as funk, psychedelia, techno, and gospel.
After forming the group as high school students in 1992, Outkast released their debut album Southernplayalisticadillacmuzik (1994), which gained popularity after the single "Player's Ball", reached number one on the Billboard Hot Rap Tracks chart. With successive releases including ATLiens in 1996, Aquemini in 1998 and Stankonia in 2000, Outkast continually experimented and developed their music. In 2003, the duo released the double album Speakerboxxx/The Love Below, which featured the number one singles "Hey Ya!" and "The Way You Move". Speakerboxxx/The Love Below won the Grammy Award for Album of the Year in 2004, the first and only for a hip hop group. Outkast next created the soundtrack for the 2006 musical film Idlewild, which they starred in. Since 2007, Outkast has been on hiatus and both members have pursued their solo careers, although the group moved to Epic Records in September 2011. In 2014, Outkast reunited to celebrate their 20th anniversary by performing at more than 40 festivals worldwide in 2014, beginning at the Coachella Festival in April.
3 The Hard Way is a New Zealand hip hop group formed in 1994. They are best known for their two number one singles - "Hip Hop Holiday" from 1994 and "It's On (Move to This)" from 2003.
3 The Hard Way's first release was "Hip Hop Holiday", which was released on Deepgrooves Entertainment in 1994. The song spent three weeks at the top of the New Zealand charts, selling in excess of 7,500 copies. Following the success of the record and the top-ten status of its follow-up, "Many Rivers", the group released their debut album later that year, Old School Prankstas.
"Hip Hop Holiday" spent three weeks at #1 and also charted in Australia, peaking at #17. The song featured an element of "Dreadlock Holiday" by 10cc. Due to a mix up with the clearance rights, all of this song's royalties now go to 10cc members Graham Gouldman and Eric Stewart.
At the end of 1995, after a dispute with their label Deepgrooves Entertainment the group decided to take a break. That break lasted longer than anyone anticipated, and, despite a number of demos freshly recorded, it wasn’t until a chance meeting with producer Alan Jansson in 2001 that 3 The Hard Way found themselves back in the studio, signing a deal with Jansson and Simon Grigg's Joy label through Sony Music.
The Hard Way may refer to: