The Hard Way (213 album)

The Hard Way is the only album from American hip hop trio 213, which consisted of Snoop Dogg, Warren G and Nate Dogg. It was released on August 17, 2004, under Doggystyle Records, G-Funk Entertainment, Dogg Foundation, TVT Records.

The Hard Way
Studio album by
213
ReleasedAugust 17, 2004 (2004-08-17)
Recorded2002–2004
Studio
Various
  • DSR Studios (Los Angeles)
  • Battery Studios (New York City)
  • Larrabee Studios East (Los Angeles)
  • Larrabee Studios North (Los Angeles)
  • Planet Studio (Los Angeles)
  • The G-Spot (Los Angeles)
Genre
Length71:59
Label
Producer
Snoop Dogg chronology
Tha Dogg: Best of the Works
(2003)		 The Hard Way
(2004)		 R&G (Rhythm & Gangsta): The Masterpiece
(2004)
Nate Dogg chronology
Nate Dogg
(2003)		 The Hard Way
(2004)
Warren G chronology
The Return of the Regulator
(2001)		 The Hard Way
(2004)		 In the Mid-Nite Hour
(2005)
Singles from The Hard Way
  1. "So Fly"
    Released: July 26, 2004
  2. "Groupie Luv"
    Released: August 4, 2004

Background

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.

Reception
Professional ratings
Review scores
SourceRating
AllMusic[1]
Blender[2]
Entertainment WeeklyC+[3]
HipHopDX[4]
RapReviews(5.5/10)[5]
Rolling Stone[6]
Stylus(6/10)[7]
Vibe[8]

The Hard Way received mixed to positive reviews from music critics. Jason Birchmeier of AllMusic especially praised Warren G for "rapping tougher and more gangsta than usual."[1] For HipHopDX, K.B. Tindal described the album as containing "[c]risp beats, sharp hooks, and straight lyrics."[4] Rating the album three out of four stars, Rob Sheffield of Rolling Stone called 213 an "excellent G-funk-era-revival supergroup."[6]

Grading the album with a C-plus, Michael Endelman of Entertainment Weekly compared the group to the 2003–04 Los Angeles Lakers, because the album "boasts marquee talent but doesn’t quite deliver the championship trophy."[3] Matt Barone of RapReviews scored the album 5.5 out of 10 points for "overly generic left coast production and uninspired verses."[5] Scott McKeating of Stylus rated the album six points out of 10, in part due to lackluster lyrics: "Snoop and Nate seem to have a problem going longer than a few bars without dropping some lines about 'dirty ass hoes.'"[7] Rondell Conway of Vibe rated the album with 2.5 out of five due to 213 offering what he called "obsolete subject matter" despite "nostalgically offer[ing] its signature G-funk sound."[8]

Commercial performance

The Hard Way debuted at number four on the US Billboard 200, selling 95,000 copies in its first week.[9] The album debuted at top on the US Top R&B/Hip-Hop Albums chart.[10]

"So Fly" was released on July 6, 2004 at first single from the album. The song reached at number 2 on US Billboard Bubbling Under Hot 100 Singles.

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. "Groupie Luv" topped at number 26 on Billboard Hot 100 Airplay.

Track listing
No.TitleWriter(s)Producer(s)Length
1."Intro"
Fredwreck1:49
2."Twist Yo' Body"
Hi-Tek3:28
3."Absolutely"
Quaze4:00
4."Keep It Gangsta"
B Sharp4:36
5."Run on Up"
Tha Chill3:33
6."Groupie Luv"
DJ Pooh3:52
7."Lonely Girl"
Nottz4:04
8."Another Summer" (featuring LaToiya Williams)
West4:12
9."213 tha Gangsta Clicc"
Leimberg3:52
10."Gotta Find a Way"
3:25
11."Ups & Downs" (featuring Boki)
  • Broadus
  • Hale
  • Griffin III
  • A Edwards
  • Gilliam
  • Johnson
  • B Sharp
  • Tha Chill
3:53
12."Joysticc"
  • Martin
  • Williams
4:48
13."Rick James" (Interlude)
  • Broadus
  • Hale
  • Griffin III
  • Nassar
Fredwreck0:36
14."Mary Jane"
Quaze3:48
15."MLK"
B Sharp3:44
16."Lil Girl"
  • Broadus
  • Hale
  • Griffin III
  • Michael Angelo Saulsberry
Michael Angelo3:19
17."My Dirty Ho"
  • Broadus
  • Hale
  • Griffin III
  • Christopher Whitacre
  • Justin Henderson
  • Vincent Bell
Tha Bizness4:12
18."Appreciation"
  • Broadus
  • Hale
  • Griffin III
  • Whitacre
  • Henderson
Tha Bizness4:06
19."So Fly"
Missy Elliott4:07
European edition bonus track
No.TitleWriter(s)Producer(s)Length
20."Whistle While You Hustle" (featuring Daz Dillinger and Soopafly)
Jelly Roll2:35

Notes

  • "Twist Yo' Body" features backing vocals performed by Dion.
  • "Rick James" (Interlude) features vocals performed by Dave Chappelle.

Sample credits

Personnel

Charts

Singles
Year Title Peak chart positions
U.S. Hot 100 U.S. R&B U.S. Rap NZ AUS
2004 "So Fly" 102 39 18 — —
"Groupie Love" 48 24 23 16 39

Certifications
Region CertificationCertified units/sales
Canada (Music Canada)[24] Gold 50,000^

^ Shipments figures based on certification alone.

See also

References
  1. Birchmeier, Jason (August 10, 2004). "213: The Hard Way". All Music Guide. Retrieved August 10, 2018.
  2. Beato, G. (August 17, 2004). "Snoop Dogg and his childhood pals strut through a reunion set". Blender. Archived from the original on March 24, 2005. Retrieved August 10, 2018.
  3. Endelman, Michael (September 10, 2004). "The Hard Way (2004)". Entertainment Weekly. No. 782–783. Archived from the original on June 7, 2011. Retrieved August 10, 2018.
  4. Tindal, K.B. (August 31, 2004). "213 - The Hard Way". HipHopDX. Archived from the original on September 6, 2004. Retrieved August 10, 2018.
  5. Barone, Matt (August 17, 2004). "213's The Hard Way". RapReviews.com. Archived from the original on August 25, 2004.
  6. "213: The Hard Way". Rolling Stone. September 2, 2004. Archived from the original on September 30, 2004. Retrieved August 10, 2018.
  7. McKeating, Scott (September 15, 2004). "213: The Hard Way". Stylus. Archived from the original on November 8, 2004. Retrieved August 10, 2018.
  8. Conway, Rondell (September 2004), "213 – The Hard Way (TVT)", Vibe, vol. 12, no. 9, p. 236, archived from the original on March 9, 2005, retrieved August 10, 2018
  9. Whitmire, Margo (2004-08-25). "'NOW 16' Is No. 1 Again". Billboard. Retrieved 2009-02-15.
  10. "Now Takes Down Ashlee; 213 Stomps in at #4 on Albums Chart". MTV.
  11. "Australiancharts.com – 213 – The Hard Way". Hung Medien.
  12. "Ultratop.be – 213 – The Hard Way" (in Dutch). Hung Medien.
  13. "213 Chart History (Canadian Albums)". Billboard.
  14. "R&B : Top 50". Jam!. October 7, 2004. Archived from the original on October 10, 2004. Retrieved January 29, 2023.
  15. "Dutchcharts.nl – 213 – The Hard Way" (in Dutch). Hung Medien.
  16. "Offiziellecharts.de – 213 – The Hard Way" (in German). GfK Entertainment Charts. Retrieved August 10, 2019.
  17. "Charts.nz – 213 – The Hard Way". Hung Medien.
  18. "Swisscharts.com – 213 – The Hard Way". Hung Medien.
  19. "Official R&B Albums Chart Top 40". Official Charts Company.
  20. "213 Chart History (Billboard 200)". Billboard.
  21. "213 Chart History (Independent Albums)". Billboard. Retrieved October 27, 2015.
  22. "213 Chart History (Top R&B/Hip-Hop Albums)". Billboard.
  23. "Best of 2004 – R&B/Hip-Hop Albums". Billboard. Prometheus Global Media. Retrieved December 14, 2015.
  24. "Canadian album certifications – 213 – Hard Way". Music Canada.
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