"Hard Times" is a rap song written by Jimmy Bralower, J.B. Moore,

Russell Simmons Russell Wendell Simmons (born October 4, 1957) is an American entrepreneur, writer and record executive. He co-founded the hip-hop label Def Jam Recordings, and created the clothing fashion lines Phat Farm, Argyleculture, and Tantris. He has p ...

, Larry Smith and William Waring. It was originally recorded by

Kurtis Blow Kurtis Walker (born August 9, 1959), known professionally by his stage name Kurtis Blow, is an American rapping , rapper, songwriter, and record producer. Walker is the first commercially successful rapper and the first to sign with a major rec ...

for his 1980 eponymous debut album, then the rap group Run–D.M.C. issued a cover of this song as their second single in 1983, which was included as the first track on their eponymous debut album '' Run–D.M.C.''. "Hard Times" rose to No. 11 on

Hot R&B/Hip-Hop Songs The Hot R&B/Hip-Hop Songs chart ranks the most popular R&B and hip hop songs in the United States and is published weekly by '' Billboard''. Rankings are based on a measure of radio airplay, sales data, and streaming activity. The chart had 100 ...

Background

"Hard Times" was originally recorded by

for his 1980 eponymous debut album. The Run–D.M.C. found the song and decided to make a

cover version In popular music, a cover version, cover song, remake, revival, or simply cover is a new performance or recording by a musician other than the original performer or composer of the song. Originally, it referred to a version of a song release ...

, through their connection with Blow. Kurtis BLow and Run's older brother

met in college, and Russell became the rapper's manager. Run working as Kurtis’ DJ. Larry Smith, who produced the Run–D.M.C.'s debut album, played on Kurtis' original version of the song.

Composition and reception

''Billboard (magazine), Billboard'' described the original as "more funk-oriented than the stripped down Run-D.M.C.'s" version, which shifts focus from melody to a "lurching drum machine pitter patter", a "sole repeated keyboard stab", and "vocals". The elements of lyrics represent a

gangsta rap Gangsta rap or gangster rap, initially called reality rap, is a subgenre of rap music that conveys the culture, values, and experiences of urban gangs and street hustlers, frequently discussing unpleasant realities of the world in general th ...

style, subgenre of

rap music Rapping (also rhyming, flowing, spitting, emceeing, or MCing) is an artistic form of vocal delivery and emotive expression that incorporates "rhyme, rhythmic speech, and ommonlystreet vernacular". It is usually performed over a backing ...

, sharing about the "type environment they were living in, and brought a dose of reality to rap". Both ''Billboard'' and '' Grammy.com'' that the album was greatly different from other contemporary rap recordings.

Track listing

; 12" Profile - PRO-7036 (US) # "Hard Times" (D. McDaniels, J. Simmons, L. Smith, W. Warring) - 5:10 # "Jam-Master Jay" (D. McDaniels, J. Mitzell, J. Simmons, L. Smith, R. Simmons) - 3:21 # "Hard Times (Instrumental)" (D. McDaniels, J. Simmons, L. Smith, W. Warring) - 3:51 # "Jam-Master Jay (Instrumental)" (D. McDaniels, J. Mitzell, J. Simmons, L. Smith, R. Simmons) - 3:51

Chart positions

Notes: * ¹ - Charted with "Jam Master Jay"

References

{{DEFAULTSORT:Hard Times (Run-D.M.C. song) 1983 songs 1984 singles Run-DMC songs Songs written by Russell Simmons Arista Records singles