Backstage: A Hard Knock Life
Encyclopedia
Backstage: A Hard Knock Life is the soundtrack to the 2000 documentary film, Backstage
. It was released on August 29, 2000 through Def Jam Recordings
and featured production from DJ Clue?, Irv Gotti and Swizz Beatz
, among others. Rappers DMX and Method Man
did appear in the film, however they weren't featured on the soundtrack (although Method Man is noticeably on the album cover).
The soundtrack was a commercial success, peaking at 6 on the Billboard 200
and topping the R&B/Hip-Hop charts at No. 1. Two singles also made it to the Billboard charts, "Best of Me, Pt 2" and "My Mind Right" made it to #55 and #85 on the Hot R&B/Hip-Hop Singles & Tracks respectively. Backstage: A Hard Knock Life was certified gold by the RIAA on December 4, 2000 for sales of over 500,000 copies.
Backstage (2000 film)
Backstage is a 2000 documentary film directed by Chris Fiore, chronicling the 1999 Hard Knock Life tour that featured several of hip hops top acts including Jay-Z, DMX, Method Man and Redman...
. It was released on August 29, 2000 through Def Jam Recordings
Def Jam Recordings
Def Jam Recordings is an American record label, focused primarily on hip hop and urban music, owned by Universal Music Group, and operates as a part of The Island Def Jam Motown Music Group...
and featured production from DJ Clue?, Irv Gotti and Swizz Beatz
Swizz Beatz
Kasseem Dean , better known by his stage name, Swizz Beatz, is an American record producer, DJ, rapper and painter. At the age of 17, he gained attention in the hip-hop world through his friendship with rapper DMX. Grady Spivey and rapper Cassidy helped launch his label Full Surface Records...
, among others. Rappers DMX and Method Man
Method Man
Clifford Smith , better known by his stage name Method Man is an American hip hop artist, record producer, actor and member of the hip hop collective Wu-Tang Clan. He took his stage name from the 1979 film The Fearless Young Boxer, also known as Method Man. He is one half of the rap duo Method Man...
did appear in the film, however they weren't featured on the soundtrack (although Method Man is noticeably on the album cover).
The soundtrack was a commercial success, peaking at 6 on the Billboard 200
Billboard 200
The Billboard 200 is a ranking of the 200 highest-selling music albums and EPs in the United States, published weekly by Billboard magazine. It is frequently used to convey the popularity of an artist or groups of artists...
and topping the R&B/Hip-Hop charts at No. 1. Two singles also made it to the Billboard charts, "Best of Me, Pt 2" and "My Mind Right" made it to #55 and #85 on the Hot R&B/Hip-Hop Singles & Tracks respectively. Backstage: A Hard Knock Life was certified gold by the RIAA on December 4, 2000 for sales of over 500,000 copies.
Track listing
- "Intro Skit"- 2:55 (DJ ClueDJ ClueErnesto Shaw better known as DJ Clue?, is a mixtape DJ.-Biography:For more than 10 years, DJ Clue has proven that he is more than just a beat-thumper. His accomplishments show how a turntable genius precisely puts together different songs to make a concoction of beats and melodies that rule the...
) - "Best of Me, Pt. 2The Best of Me (Mýa song)"The Best of Me" is an R&B-hip hop song by American singer-songwriter Mýa and features rapper Jadakiss. The track was produced by Swizz Beatz for Harrison's second studio album Fear of Flying...
"- 3:41 (MýaMya-A person:* Bo Mya , Chief Commander of the Karen National Union* Mýa , American R&B singer-songwriter and actress** Mýa , a 1998 album by Mýa-A code:* Burmese language, ISO 639-3 code is mya* Moruya Airport's IATA code...
and Jay-ZJay-ZShawn Corey Carter , better known by his stage name Jay-Z, is an American rapper, record producer, entrepreneur, and occasional actor. He is one of the most financially successful hip hop artists and entrepreneurs in America, having a net worth of over $450 million as of 2010...
) - "In the Club"- 4:22 (Beanie SigelBeanie SigelDwight Grant , also known as Beanie Sigel, is a American rapper from Philadelphia, Pennsylvania,most recently he was in talks with 50 Cent to sign with G-Unit Records and is a former member/artist of Dame Dash Music Group and Roc-A-Fella Records where he had formed a close association with rappers...
) - "Keep It Thoro"- 2:46 (ProdigyProdigy (rapper)Lance Albert Johnson Banks, better known as Prodigy, is an American rapper and one half of the hip-hop and rap duo Mobb Deep....
) - "My Mind Right"- 3:45 (Memphis BleekMemphis BleekMalik Thuston Patrick Cox , better known by his rap persona of Memphis Bleek or "Bleek", is a New York rapper mainly known for his tenure with Roc-a-Fella Records and CEO of his own label Get Low Records...
) - "Who Did You Expect"- 4:19 (The LOXThe LOXThe Lox are an American hip hop group composed of Jadakiss, Sheek Louch, and Styles P. They were originally signed to Sean Combs' Bad Boy Records before joining Ruff Ryders Entertainment, and are now a part of their own label, D-Block Records-Early career:...
) - "Wanna Take Me Back"- 4:00 (T-BozTionne WatkinsTionne Tenese Watkins better known by her stage name T-Boz, is a four-time Grammy Award–winning American singer, actress, author, and executive producer who rose to fame as the lead singer and one-third of the R&B/hip-hop girl group TLC.-Early life:Tionne "T-Boz" Watkins was born in Des Moines,...
) - "Just Leave Your Love"- 4:01 (ChristiónChristiónChristión was a male duo featuring brothers Kenni Ski and Allen Anthony, the first R&B act to be signed to Jay-Z's Roc-A-Fella Records. They released their single "Full of Smoke" on Roc-A-Fella in 1996, reaching #53 on the Hot 100 and #15 on the R&B charts....
) - "Darlin'"- 4:00 (RellRellGerrell Gaddis , known by his stage name Rell, is an American R&B singer. He was the first male R&B singer signed to Roc-A-Fella Records, where he recorded with artists such as Kanye West, Jay-Z, Consequence, and Young Gunz....
) - "Millionaire"- 3:51 (Hot BoysHot BoysThe Hot Boys is a music American hip hop group active from 1996 to 2001 and reformed in 2007. The group consists of rappers formerly on the New Orleans-based record label, Cash Money Records. The members are Lil Wayne, Juvenile, B.G. and Turk.-History:The members of the group were rappers, Lil...
and Big TymersBig TymersThe Big Tymers were an American rap duo active from 1997 to 2005 from New Orleans, Louisiana. The Big Tymers consisted of Cash Money Records co-founder, Baby and former Cash Money in-house producer, Mannie Fresh. Baby later changed his stage name to Birdman after the group was dissolved...
) - "Road Dawgs"- 4:52 (AmilAmilAmil Whitehead more commonly known by her stage name Amil, is an American female rapper, singer, and songwriter from New York City. She was prominent in the late 1990s as a Jay-Z protégé, most notably on the single "Can I Get A..." from the Rush Hour soundtrack.-Early life:Amil was born September...
, EveEve (rapper)Eve Jihan Jeffers , is an American rapper, songwriter, record producer and actress. Her first three albums have reached a total of over 8 million albums sold worldwide. She has also achieved success in fashion as she started a clothing line titled "Fetish." She won a Grammy Award in 2002 for the...
, Da BratDa BratShawntae Harris , better known as Da Brat, is an American rapper and actress. Her debut album, Funkdafied, sold one million copies, making her the first female rapper to have a platinum-selling album.-Early life:...
and Jay-Z) - "Funkanella"- 4:06 (OutKastOutKastOutkast is an American hip hop duo based in East Point, Georgia, consisting of Atlanta native André "André 3000" Benjamin and Savannah, Georgia-born Antwan "Big Boi" Patton. They were originally known as Two Shades Deep but later changed the group's name to OutKast...
, Slimm Calhoun and Killer MikeKiller MikeMichael Render , better known by his stage name Killer Mike, is an American rapper, signed to Grind Time Official through the SMC/Fontana Distribution...
) - "Come and Get It"- 3:34 (Redman and Lady LuckLady Luck (rapper)Lady Luck is the stage name of rapper Shanel Jones.Luck signed a five-album record deal with Def Jam worth between half a million and a million dollars at the age of 17 on the strength of several freestyles that she did for New York radio station WQHT-FM...
) - "Hate Music"- 3:55 (Cam'ronCam'ronCameron Giles , better known by his stage name Cam'ron or "Killa Cam", is a Grammy-nominated American actor. He is the founder of the hip-hop group The Diplomats , and also of The U.N. group....
and Juelz SantanaJuelz SantanaLaRon Louis James , better known by his stage name Juelz Santana, is an American rapper, producer, and actor. He appeared on Cam'ron's 2002 singles, "Oh Boy" and "Hey Ma"...
) - "Gotta Be a Thug"- 4:15 (FabolousFabolousJohn David Jackson , better known by his stage name Fabolous, is an American rapper of African American and Dominican descent. He grew up in the Bedford-Stuyvesant neighborhood of Brooklyn, New York. Part of his early popularity arose from his hit single "Can't Deny It" in 2001, from his debut...
) - "Don't Want Beef"- 3:58 (Capone-N-NoreagaCapone-N-NoreagaCapone-N-Noreaga was an American hip hop duo that consisted of Capone and Noreaga.-History:In 1996 the duo signed with Penalty Records; it also appeared in The Source magazine's Unsigned Hype column...
) - "Crime Life"- 3:58 (Memphis Bleek, Lil' CeaseLil' CeaseJames Lloyd, is an American rapper and member of hip hop group Junior M.A.F.I.A..Cease's first album release was Conspiracy with the Junior M.A.F.I.A in 1995....
and Ja RuleJa RuleJeffrey Atkins , better known by his stage name Ja Rule, is an American rapper, singer, and actor.Born in Hollis, Queens, he began his career in the group Cash Money Click and debuted in 1999 with Venni Vetti Vecci and its single "Holla Holla"...
) - "Say What U Say"- 4:11 (Da Ranjahz and Ja Rule)
- "People's Court"- 3:28 (Jay-Z)
Charts
| Chart (2000) | Peak position |
|---|---|
| Billboard 200 | 6 |
| Billboard Top R&B/Hip-Hop Albums | 1 |