It Ain't Hard to Tell

"It Ain't Hard to Tell" is the second single and last track from American rapper Nas' debut album Illmatic. 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"
Single by Nas
from the album Illmatic
ReleasedJanuary 18, 1994 (1994-01-18)
Recorded1992
GenreEast Coast hip hop, hardcore hip hop
Length3:22
LabelColumbia
Songwriter(s)Nasir Jones, William Paul Mitchell, Steve Porcaro, John Bettis
Producer(s)Large Professor
Nas singles chronology
"Halftime"
(1992)		 "It Ain't Hard to Tell"
(1994)		 "Life's a Bitch"
(1994)

"It Ain't Hard to Tell" was produced by Large Professor, and samples Michael Jackson's 1983 hit single "Human Nature", "N.T." by Kool & the Gang, "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.[1]

Music video

Nas created a homage to Wild Style (1983), the first hip hop motion picture, while shooting the 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:

Single track listing

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)

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

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

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)

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)"

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[2] 91
U.S. Billboard Hot R&B/Hip-Hop Songs[3] 57
U.S. Billboard Hot Rap Tracks[4] 13

References
  1. Pitchfork Top 200 Tracks of the 90s
  2. "The Billboard Hot 100 - It Ain't Hard to Tell - Nas". Billboard. Nielsen Business Media. Archived from the original on July 11, 2014. Retrieved 2009-01-24.
  3. "Hot R&B/Hip-Hop Songs - It Ain't Hard to Tell - Nas". Billboard. Nielsen Business Media. Retrieved 2009-01-24.
  4. "Hot Rap Singles - It Ain't Hard to Tell - Nas". Billboard. Nielsen Business Media. Archived from the original on May 25, 2014. Retrieved 2009-01-24.
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