Gang Starr‘s fourth album. Release date: March 8, 1994.

Hard To Earn featured the singles “Mass Appeal“, “DWYCK” and “Code Of The Streets”. Musically the album is constructed around a harder, more stripped-down sound that is distinctively less melodic than the duo’s previous work.

Guest appearances on the album come from Group Home, Jeru the Damaja, and Big Shug. At the time, all were part of the Gang Starr Foundation, which made the album a stepping-stone for future DJ Premier-helmed projects by Group Home and Jeru.

The single “DWYCK” recorded in 1992 also featured Hip Hop duo Nice & Smooth. The track “Now You’re Mine” originally appeared on the 1992 Soundtrack “White Men Can’t Rap”. Hard To Earn is also the duo’s first album to carry the “Parental Advisory” label.