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3 the Hard Way
Origin New Zealand
Genres hip hop
Years active1994–present
Past members
  • Mighty Boy C
  • DJ Mike Mixx
  • DJ Damage

3 The Hard Way are a New Zealand hip hop group formed in 1994. They are best known for their two New Zealand number one singles, " Hip Hop Holiday" from 1994, and " It's On (Move to This)" from 2003. [1]

History

3 The Hard Way's first release was "Hip Hop Holiday", released on Deepgrooves Entertainment in 1994. The song spent three weeks at the top of the New Zealand singles chart, [2] selling in excess of 7,500 copies.[ citation needed] Following the success of the record and the top-ten status of its follow-up, "Many Rivers", [1] the group released their debut album later that year, Old School Prankstas.

"Hip Hop Holiday" also charted in Australia, peaking at No. 17 on the ARIA singles chart, [3] and becoming the 93rd highest-selling single of 1994 in Australia. [4] The song featured an element of " Dreadlock Holiday" by 10cc. Due to a mix up with the clearance rights, all of this song's royalties now go to 10cc members Graham Gouldman and Eric Stewart.[ citation needed]

At the end of 1995, after a dispute with Deepgrooves, the group decided to take a break. That break became a lengthy hiatus, and, despite recording a number of demos, it was not until a chance meeting with producer Alan Jansson in 2001 that the group signed a deal with Jansson and Simon Grigg's Joy label through Sony Music.

3 The Hard Way released their second album Eyes on the Prize in November 2003. It peaked at number 14 in New Zealand. [1] The first single released from this album, " It's On (Move to This)", which featured R&B singer Clement Karauti, went to No. 1 after 4 weeks on the New Zealand charts, [5] and made further New Zealand music history when 3 The Hard Way became the only NZ artist/s to take the No. 1 spot from another NZ artist twice.[ citation needed] This time, their single replaced Scribe's " Stand Up", which went on to spend a total of 12 weeks at the top of the NZ charts. [6]

Former member Lance 'DJ Damage' Manuel did not rejoin the band when they reformed.[ citation needed] The band have been quiet since.

Old School Prankstas was reissued by Joy Records in 2012.

Original Band members

  • Chris 'Mighty Boy C' Maiai
  • Mike 'DJ Mike Mixx' Paton
  • Lance 'DJ Damage' Manuel

Discography

Albums

Date Title Label Chart position Certification Catalog number
NZ
[1]
1994 Old School Prankstas Deepgrooves Entertainment 50 DG037
2003 Eyes on the Prize Joy Records 14 JOY 105

Singles

Year Single Peak chart positions Certification Album
NZ
[1]
AUS
[3]
1994 " Hip Hop Holiday" 1 17 Old School Prankstas
"Many Rivers" 10 88
"All Around" 22
2003 " It's On (Move to This)" 1 Eyes on the Prize

References

  1. ^ a b c d e "charts.nz > 3 the Hard Way in New Zealand Charts". Hung Medien. Retrieved 10 March 2016.
  2. ^ "charts.nz > 3 the Hard Way – Hip Hop Holiday (song)". Hung Medien. Retrieved 10 March 2016.
  3. ^ a b Australian ( ARIA Chart) peaks:
  4. ^ "The ARIA Australian Top 100 Singles 1994". Australian Record Industry Association Ltd. Archived from the original on 25 October 2015. Retrieved 10 March 2016.
  5. ^ "charts.nz > 3 the Hard Way – It's On (song)". Hung Medien. Retrieved 10 March 2016.
  6. ^ "charts.nz > Scribe – Stand Up / Not Many (song)". Hung Medien. Retrieved 10 March 2016.