"Hard in da Paint" is the second single from American rapper Waka Flocka Flame's debut studio album ''

Flockaveli ''Flockaveli'' is the debut studio album by American rapper Waka Flocka Flame. The title of the album is a portmanteau of Waka Flocka Flame's name and that of the Italian political theorist Machiavelli, and was inspired by fellow American rapper ...

''.

Background

Waka Flocka's "Hard in da Paint", like his previous hit "

O Let's Do It "O Let's Do It" is the first single from American rapper Waka Flocka Flame's debut studio album, ''Flockaveli''. The song features Lil' Capp, who is not credited on the single version. Track listing ;Digital single ;CD single ;Remix single ...

", was originally a mixtape track. It first appeared on his fourth mixtape titled ''LeBron Flocka James'', released on October 17, 2009. An early remix featuring French Montana was released on April 19, 2010, and appeared in the latter's ninth mixtape titled ''Mac & Cheese 2'', released on May 6. The track was produced by up-and-coming producer

Lex Luger Lawrence Wendell Pfohl (born June 2, 1958), better known by the ring name Lex Luger, is an American retired professional wrestler, bodybuilder, and football player. In 2011 he began working with WWE on its wellness policy. He is best known for h ...

, and went on to become an underground hit before being released as a commercial single on May 13.

Music video

The music video was released on July 19, 2010. During the music video the production was shut down by

gang activity A gang is a group or society of associates, friends or members of a family with a defined leadership and internal organization that identifies with or claims control over territory in a community and engages, either individually or collecti ...

and police presence due to the Black P. Stones Bloods

gang injunction A civil gang injunction or CGI is a type of restraining order issued by courts in the United States prohibiting gang members in particular cities from participating in certain specified activities. It is based on the legal theory that gang activi ...

. The music video was directed by Benny Boom. It was shot on Palmwood Drive in Baldwin Village, Los Angeles, often referred to as "the Jungles", a neighborhood made infamous courtesy of the Denzel Washington movie ''

Training Day ''Training Day'' is a 2001 American crime thriller film directed by Antoine Fuqua and written by David Ayer. It stars Denzel Washington as Alonzo Harris and Ethan Hawke as Jake Hoyt, two LAPD narcotics officers over a 24-hour period in the gan ...

''.

Reception

In August 2014, ''Pitchfork'' listed the track at number 41 on their "The 200 Best Tracks of the Decade So Far (2010-2014)."

Remixes

An official remix featuring French Montana was released on April 19, while a second remix featuring

Gucci Mane Radric Delantic Davis (born February 12, 1980), known professionally as Gucci Mane, is an American rapper and record executive. He helped pioneer the hip hop subgenre of trap music alongside fellow Atlanta-based rappers T.I. and Young Jeezy ...

was released on June 22. R&B singer

Ciara Ciara Princess Wilson ( ; Harris; born October 25, 1985) is an American singer, songwriter, actress, model and entrepreneur. She released her debut studio album, '' Goodies'' in 2004, which spawned four singles: " Goodies" (featuring Petey Pa ...

released her own remix of the song on June 2, 2010. Rappers

2 Chainz Tauheed K. Epps (born September 12, 1977), known professionally as 2 Chainz (or Tity Boi), is an American rapper. Born and raised in College Park, Georgia, he initially gained recognition as one-half of the Southern hip hop duo Playaz Circle, ...

Young Jeezy Jay Wayne Jenkins (born September 28, 1977), known by his stage name Jeezy (or Young Jeezy), is an American rapper. Signing to Def Jam Recordings in 2004, his major label debut, '' Let's Get It: Thug Motivation 101'', was released the followin ...

and Pusha T released a version of the song titled "Hard in the Kitchen" on February 11, 2011. Several rappers released freestyles over the production, including Rick Ross, Vado,

Lil Flip Wesley Eric Weston Jr. (born March 3, 1981), better known by his stage name Lil' Flip, is an American rapper. He embarked on his musical career as a freestyle and battle rapper before earning a record deal with Suckafree Records in 1999. Lil' Fl ...

, Haystak,

, Tyga, Lil Chuckee,

Curren$y Shante Scott Franklin (born April 4, 1981), better known by his stage name Currensy (often stylized as Curren$y), is an American rapper. In 2011, he founded the label Jet Life Recordings. Music career 2002–2008: No Limit and Young Money ...

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Crooked I Dominick Antron Wickliffe (born September 23, 1976), better known by his stage names Crooked I and Kxng Crooked, (stylised as KXNG Crooked and pronounced "King Crooked") is an American rapper from Long Beach, California. He is best known as a for ...

Joell Ortiz Joell Christopher Ortiz (born July 6, 1980) is an American rapper and a former member of the group Slaughterhouse. Ortiz grew up in the Cooper Park Houses in the East Williamsburg section of Brooklyn, New York, formerly signed to Dr. Dre's Af ...

, Meek Mill,

Slim Thug Stayve Jerome Thomas (born September 8, 1980), better known by his stage name Slim Thug, is an American rapper. He initially gained mainstream attention for his contribution to the hit single by rapper Mike Jones, " Still Tippin'". In July 2005, ...

and Scrim from $uicideboy$. German hip hop group

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released a version titled "Undercut, Tumblrblog". British rapper Giggs also made his own version. There is also a remix performed by drummer Travis Barker.

Canadian Canadians (french: Canadiens) are people identified with the country of Canada. This connection may be residential, legal, historical or cultural. For most Canadians, many (or all) of these connections exist and are collectively the source o ...

jazz/

instrumental hip hop Hip hop production is the creation of hip hop music in a recording studio. While the term encompasses all aspects of hip hop music creation, including recording the rapping of an MC, a turntablist or DJ providing a beat, playing samples and " ...

band,

BadBadNotGood BadBadNotGood (stylized in all caps) is a Canadian instrumental band and production team from Toronto, Canada. The group was founded in 2010 by bassist Chester Hansen, keyboardist Matthew Tavares, and drummer Alexander Sowinski. In 2016, they ...

did an arrangement of the song. Metalcore band Of Mice & Men included samples of the track in the Warped Tour remix of their single "OG Loko".

Parodies

A popular video parody of "Hard in da Paint" was posted on YouTube, with

Barack Obama Barack Hussein Obama II ( ; born August 4, 1961) is an American politician who served as the 44th president of the United States from 2009 to 2017. A member of the Democratic Party, Obama was the first African-American president of the U ...

(played by comedian James Davis) as the subject of the song. The "Baracka Flacka Flames: Head of the State" video has gained over 13 million views as of 2016. A remix by The Hood Internet which contains Waka Flocka's lyrics over a Flock of Seagulls, called "Waka Flocka Seagulls" has also been made. "Hard in da Paint" was referred to in an episode of The Eric Andre Show, with co-host

Hannibal Buress Hannibal Amir Buress ( , born February 4, 1983) is an American actor, comedian, producer, rapper and writer. He started performing comedy in 2002 while attending Southern Illinois University. He starred on Adult Swim's ''The Eric Andre Show'' f ...

asking

Lauren Conrad Lauren Katherine Conrad (born February 1, 1986)) is an American television personality, fashion designer and author. In September 2004, as an 18-year-old, Conrad came to prominence after being cast in the reality television series '' Laguna Beac ...

if she had ever listened to Waka Flocka Flame. He proceeds to rap the song's intro, with various words not associated with profanity being censored as well as the intended profanity.

Charts

Weekly charts

Year-end charts

References

{{authority control 2008 songs 2010 singles Music videos directed by Benny Boom Song recordings produced by Lex Luger (musician) Songs written by Lex Luger (musician) Songs written by Waka Flocka Flame Waka Flocka Flame songs Crunk songs