It Ain't Hard to Tell

"It Ain't Hard to Tell"
File:Nas - It Ain't Hard to Tell.jpg
Single by Nas
from the album Illmatic
Released	January 18, 1994 (1994-01-18)
Format	12" single, CD single
Recorded	1992
Genre	East Coast hip hop, hardcore hip hop, Jazz rap
Length	3:22
Label	Columbia
Writer(s)	Nasir Jones, W.P. Mitchell
Producer(s)	Large Professor
Nas singles chronology
"Halftime" (1992) "It Ain't Hard to Tell" (1994) "Life's a Bitch" (1994)
Illmatic track listing "Represent" (9) "It Ain't Hard to Tell" (10)

"It Ain't Hard to Tell" is the second single and last track from the debut album Illmatic by the rapper Nas. Although the track was technically the second single on the album, it was the first single to be released after the album was pressed in 1994. The first single, "Halftime," was released two years prior to Illmatic's debut.

"It Ain't Hard to Tell" was produced by Large Professor, the song samples Michael Jackson's 1983 hit single "Human Nature", "N.T." by Kool & the Gang, "Why Can't People Be Colors Too?" by The Whatnauts, "Long Red" by Mountain & "Slow Dance" by Stanley Clarke. The single reached #91 on the Billboard Hot 100 chart.

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. Pitchfork Media's included the song at number 28 on their Top 200 Tracks of the 90s.

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.

Uses by other artists

Lyrics of "It Ain't Hard to Tell" have been sampled in the following songs:

• "Correct Technique" by Basement Khemists
• "Ebonics" by Big L
• "Testimonial" by Binkies
• "Correct Technique" by Black Attack
• "A Cold Day in Hell" by Brainwash Projects
• "Food for Thought" by Buckshot & 9th Wonder
• "Correct Technic" by Da Nuthouse
• "Backstabber" by Da Youngstas
• "Selassi I Continually" by Disrupt
• "Killing Fieldz" by Gravediggaz
• "Inna Citi Life" by Group Home
• "Analyze This" by Kid Sublime & Cee Major
• "Rapfilm" by Kool Savas
• "Frozen" by The Left featuring Kool G. Rap
• "The Good Green" by Likwit Junkies
• "I Am... Album Intro" by Nas
• "Nas Is Like" by Nas
• "Invasion" by Jeru the Damaja
• "Classic (Better Than I've Ever Been) (DJ Premier Remix)" by Kanye West, Nas, KRS-One & Rakim
• "Lève-toi Et Rap" by MC Solaar
• "Survival Of The Fittest" by Mobb Deep
• "Give It to Y'all" by Pete Rock
• "Half Man Half Amazin" by Pete Rock & Method Man
• "Real Live Shit" by Real Live
• "Astro Travelin" by Quasimoto
• "Penmanship" by Skyzoo
• "Eight by Eight" by Epik High
• "Shades Of Black (Remix)" by Rakim
• "Amazin'" by Ras Kass & Neenah
• "Jack Frost" by Ras Kass
• "New School Leaders" by Shad
• "Wild" by Shad
• "Animosity" by Xperadó
• "Feel It" by Braille
• "Technics" by Eyedea & Abilities
• "Lucy's & Looseleafs" by Dela & Blu (rapper)
• "Like water" by Pro Era (Capital STEEZ, CJ Fly & Joey Badass)
• "Misconceptions" by Lecrae (featuring Propaganda, Braille, Odd Thomas, & DJ Efechto)
• "Smoke-N-Maintain" by Curren$y

Single track listing

US 12" Vinyl

A-Side

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

B-Side

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

US 12" Vinyl (Remix)

A-Side

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

B-Side

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

UK 12" Vinyl

A-Side

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

B-Side

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

UK 12" Vinyl (The Remixes)

A-Side

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

B-Side

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

Netherlands 12" Vinyl

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)

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 (A cappella)" (2:24)

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)

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 (A cappella)"

Charts

Chart (1994)	Peak position
U.S. Billboard Hot 100	91
U.S. Billboard Hot R&B/Hip-Hop Songs	57
U.S. Billboard Hot Rap Tracks	13

External links

• Lyrics of this song at MetroLyrics