| "H.A.M." | ||||
|---|---|---|---|---|
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| Single byJay-Z andKanye West | ||||
| from the albumWatch the Throne (Deluxe) | ||||
| Released | January 11, 2011 (2011-01-11) | |||
| Recorded | 2010–2011 | |||
| Studio |
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| Genre | ||||
| Length | 4:38 | |||
| Label | ||||
| Songwriters |
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| Producer | Lex Luger | |||
| Jay-Z singles chronology | ||||
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| Kanye West singles chronology | ||||
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"H.A.M." (an acronym for "Hard As a Motherfucker") is a song by American rappersJay-Z andKanye West from the deluxe edition of their collaborative studio album,Watch the Throne (2011). The song features additional vocals from Aude Cardona and Jacob Lewis Smith. It was produced byLex Luger and co-produced by West, with additional production fromMike Dean, and the three of them served as co-writers with Jay-Z. The song's beat was first provided to West by Lex Luger during the recording sessions for the rapper's fifth studio album,My Beautiful Dark Twisted Fantasy (2010). West then added his production work up until the release and would not preview it to Lex Luger, who considered this was due to his perfectionist approach. The song was released fordigital download in the United States as thelead single for the album on January 11, 2011, throughRoc-A-Fella Records andDef Jam Recordings.
Ahip-hop,electro, andorchestral number withtechno elements, the song includes drums and an electro-operacoda. In the lyrics of the song, Jay-Z presents himself as above his critics and West sexualizes white girls. Jay-Z also addressesBirdman's previous comments that he is not a better rapper nor richer thanLil Wayne, who responded to him in "It's Good". "H.A.M." received mixed reviews from music critics, who were divided towards Jay-Z and West's performance styles. Some highlighted their innovation and others considered the music to be unsuitable for the two, while a few critics praised its elaborate production.
In the US, the song charted at number 23 on theBillboard Hot 100 and number 24 on theHot R&B/Hip-Hop Songs chart. It also attained top-50 positions in Canada, Denmark, Ireland, Scotland, and the United Kingdom. The song wascertified gold in the US by theRecording Industry Association of America. Jay-Z and West performed the song forVevo'sSouth by Southwest show in March 2011, two months before performing it at theMuseum of Modern Art's annual party. West used it as his introductory song at festivals during 2011, includingCoachella,Splendour in the Grass, andThe Big Chill. In early 2011,Busta Rhymes shared a remix of "H.A.M." andLupe Fiasco delivered a freestyle over the song. The song was used in theteen comedy filmProject X (2012).
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Jay-Z andKanye West are both American rappers who have collaborated on several tracks together, such as singles like "Swagga Like Us" (2008), "Run This Town" (2009), and "Monster" (2010).[1][2] In 2010, the two began production and recording together for a collaborative record titledWatch the Throne.[2] One of the album's tracks, "H.A.M." includes additional vocals fromopera singer Aude Cardona, who also sings on "Illest Motherfucker Alive".[3] Cardona explained that she once woke up to a message asking if she was an opera singer and did not initially realize it was from West's manager, who was recruiting her for the album. The team knew of Cardona because a friend fromJive Records recommended her to the owner ofElectric Lady Studios and she was surprised to record at the location ofThe Mercer Hotel inSoHo, Manhattan, only meeting West there and thought he was very nice.[4] Cardona found that despite West being clear in his vision, he was willing to listen to other ideas and allowed the singer to improvise for much of her solo parts. She appreciated the song for mixing hip-hop with opera and spent seven hours recording her vocals, delivering many takes in highC notes as she aimed for West's desired combination ofgospel andR&B to offer a modern sound.[4]
On January 10, 2011, "H.A.M."leaked viaFacebook at midnight and was played over 43,000 times within nine hours, being shared online as anMP3 too.[5][6] West subsequentlytweeted that the song "crashed facebook", attaching the link to a screenshot of an error on the leak's page.[7] From the position of aWatch the Throne contributor,Swizz Beatz said he felt highly positive about Jay-Z and West collaborating "on such a high caliber level" for the song and felt the music industry would be better if more acts did this.[8] In an August 2011 interview with99 Jamz, Jay-Z described "H.A.M." as a "super intense" song that is difficult to listen to on its own, yet can be experienced differently in the context ofWatch the Throne.[9] He called the song a "massive hit record", intending for it to be played at concerts rather than inside homes.[9]
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In January 2011, record producerLex Luger disclosed that Jay-Z and West had recruited him for production on the album. He was not fully certain about this position initially, despite appreciating the opportunity of collaborating with the two.[10] Lex Luger sent them the track for "H.A.M." during recording sessions for West's fifth albumMy Beautiful Dark Twisted Fantasy in November 2010, standing as one of the two beats the rapper requested to use. He originally provided around eight beats to West when recording in New York, where they worked on the album track "See Me Now". Lex Luger predicted "H.A.M." would be "aggressive and hard", continuing the style of his previous production work in rap fromRick Ross's "B.M.F. (Blowin' Money Fast)" (2010) andWaka Flocka Flame's "Hard in da Paint" (2009).[11][12] After receiving the track, West added his production work that included a choir and did not allow Lex Luger to listen until it was finalized for the premiere in January 2011.[11][13] The producer attributed this to West's perfectionist approach, feeling he required his material to be "10 times greater than everything".[11] Sections of the song were kept from recording sessions atReal World Studios inBox, Wiltshire that started in November 2010, after much of Jay-Z and West's material from these sessions had been scrapped.[14] Lex Luger was the lead producer of "H.A.M." and West served as a co-producer, whileMike Dean contributed additional production and three of them wrote it alongside Jay-Z.[3]
Musically, "H.A.M." is a hip-hop,[15]electro,[6] andorchestral song,[5] with elements oftechno.[13] It has an aggressiveelectronic beat,[5][16] which incorporates adouble-timebounce.[15][17] The song features an icy, risingsynth line that containsstaccato stabs,[5][18] combined with Lex Luger's fastsnare drums.[13][16][19] It also includeshi-hats andcello;[16] the latter was contributed by Christopher "Hitchcock" Chorney.[3] West contributes a verse first and Jay-Z later delivers one, while they perform thechorus once each.[20] Crashing drums appear on the blaring chorus,[21] which features a wailing choir.[15][18] The song breaks down into an electro-operacoda at around three minutes in,[6][21] featuring a full-stringsymphony orchestra,[17][22]military drums,[20] and the choir singing in analto-soprano vocal range.[23] Cardona sings over a gospel piano progression,[5] being accompanied by additional vocalist Jacob Lewis Smith at points.[4] The song builds up towards the end, featuring an extended outro.[16] Jay-Z and West both rap in double-time, with the former appearing on adownbeat and semi-singing many of his lines.[16][24]
West begins his verse on "H.A.M." with a boast that everything was good until a week ago, then "Watch the Throne drops/they kill themselves".[15] He sexualizes white girls in the verse,[21] depicting them as making up for having "asses flat as shit" by giving himhead.[16][20] West emphasizes on the chorus that he is going to go HAM, serving as anacronym for "hard as a motherfucker".[5][17] Jay-Z addresses critics by presenting himself as above them and discusses upbringing in his verse,[15][20] referencing family such as his deceased father and nephew.[16] He addresses fellow rapper and label executiveBirdman's 2009 comments of his colleagueLil Wayne being a better rapper and richer than him, rapping that he has half a billion and "niggas ain't got my lady money".[25][26]
On January 7, 2011, West tweeted the song'sblack-and-white cover art, which was created byRiccardo Tisci ofGivenchy and shows crowns alongside a vicious barking dog.[7][27] He also announced "H.A.M." would be released as a single on January 11.[28] It was released fordigital download in the United States as the album'slead single on the scheduled date, through Jay-Z and West's labelsRoc-A-Fella andDef Jam.[15][29] Def Jam issued the song tocontemporary hit and alternative radio stations in Australia on January 17, 2011.[30] Eight days later, it was released to USurban contemporary radio stations in the US by Def Jam andUniversal.[31] On August 23, 2011, Def Jam,Roc Nation, and Roc-A-Fella released the deluxe edition of Jay-Z and West's albumWatch the Throne, including "H.A.M." as the 14th track.[32]
Following its release, the song was held off the top spot of theiTunes chart by singerBritney Spears's "Hold It Against Me". West tweeted to her "I'm really happy for you and I'mma let you be #1", but insisted "H.A.M." was one of the best songs of all time with "LOL" at the end; this was a reference to hisincident with singerTaylor Swift at the2009 MTV Video Music Awards.[33] The rapper subsequently responded to criticism of his tweet and called outMSNBC for apparently saying he "tried to start a twitter war" with Spears, further tweeting that the media lies about him daily and he was surprised at the song having been able to even reach number two.[33] During a private listening event at The Mercer Hotel on July 7, 2011, Jay-Z said that the song was reflective of the album having been scaled back from its earlier iterations that were more dramatic and intricately planned. Jay-Z and West were reluctant to release the song; the former felt the first single should have featured the two rapping back and forth for three minutes with no hook.[34]
After West played "H.A.M." to Lil Wayne in March 2011, the rapper declared that from his wit and personality he "would probably play off of" Jay-Z's lyrics alluding to him.[25][26] Lil Wayne strayed away from competing with Jay-Z on the subject to not "box with the god", while refraining from asking West about these lyrics since they were not his.[25][26] He later rapped a response to Jay-Z on the single "It's Good" in the summer of 2011, telling him he does have his "baby money".[35] Lil Wayne threatened to kidnap his wifeBeyonce as he rapped, "Get that 'how much you love your lady?' money."[35]
| Review scores | |
|---|---|
| Source | Rating |
| Beats Per Minute | 3/10[18] |
| Rolling Stone |   [22] |
"H.A.M." was met with mixed reviews from music critics, with split assessments of the performance styles of Jay-Z and West. In a highly positive review atThe Village Voice, Rob Harvilla commented that West focuses on white girls and Jay-Z "plays chicken with a Mack truck", further lauding the chorus' loudness and the ensuing "electro-opera breakdown".[21] Kevin O'Donnell ofSpin commended the song's elaborate orchestral production that lives up to the rappers' "outsized baller status" and features a "brash, electronic beat"; he felt West's ambitions continue fromMy Beautiful Dark Twisted Fantasy on the "weirdest sounding opera ever" from Cardona.[5]The Guardian's Michael Cragg saw it as "an audacious, OTT banger" where echoing drums and icy synths accompany "frantic raps", succeeded by a coda from opera singers with a string section as it seems like "a kitchen sink [is] strummed for good measure".[19] Similarly, Martin Caballero from theBoston Herald expressed that the song meets the expectations set by positive comments from Jay-Z about his work and highlighted the "sense of grandiose decadence" from its beat, which sees West letting his ego go astray "over the Southern-esque double-time bounce" and also appreciated Jay-Z's verse.[15] Caballero observed that the backing switches "to a symphony of crashing drums" and a choir on the chorus, finalizing the song is "dark, weird, bombastic and unapologetically indulgent" like West's album.[15]
Some reviewers considered the music to be unsuitable for Jay-Z and West, a few of whom wrote off the latter's verse. Providing a lukewarm review forToday, Josh Grossberg said "H.A.M." consists of "a robotic backing beat and heavy anthem" that demonstrates the two "virtuoso rapping".[36] He expressed that some of their hardcore fans may laugh at it however, questioning the "scattershot operatic chorus and over-the-top orchestration".[36] Katie Hasty fromUproxx praised the efforts of the rappers in making a "raucous and urgency" song, highlighting the choir and their energy echoing "Monster".[17] She offered West sounds silly on the chorus over instrumentation with a "mechanized drama" invoking the franchiseTransformers and Jay-Z seems to enjoy himself more, concluding that the song is too explicit and lacking in content to reach theTop 40, yet indicates a positive outlook forWatch the Throne.[17]Rolling Stone journalistJody Rosen stated the song has a grand beginning of rising synths that are succeeded by "spooky opera ululating" and it becomes bigger from the choir's singing over the symphony orchestra, setting the expectations for the likes of God orGandalf.[22] He was disappointed in the attempts to prove greatness from West telling "life itself to suck his dick" and Jay-Z rapping in a slow cadence about his wealth, seeing the two as "kings determined to prove that their thrones aren't easy chairs".[22] ForVulture, Amos Barshad described the song as Jay-Z and West's "brand-new tack" at Waka Flocka Flame's style of music over Lex Luger's production as the two rap about "the brashest shit" that they could have thought of.[20] He said West delivers an "amuse-bouche" of a verse as he discusses white girls "compensating for their flat behinds" and appreciated Jay-Z's verse that "scatters bullets in every direction"; he concluded the song lacks a radio hook and instead shows the two "rapping so intently you can almost see their neck veins bulging".[20]
A few reviewers expressed further disappointment. Although Jessica fromStereogum appreciated Lex Luger's production, she did not consider its style suitable for the performers.[37] Brent Koepp ofBeats Per Minute viewed the song as "show-boating" from West afterMy Beautiful Dark Twisted Fantasy, finding the music to reach a standard below his unique skillset.[18] Koepp felt Jay-Z and West force in elements like the synth and choir to give the song an epicness; he concluded that the rappers focus "way too much" on its theme with their disappointing verses.[18]
"H.A.M." debuted at number 23 on the USBillboard Hot 100 with 125,000 digital units, entering theDigital Songs chart at number 10.[38] The song lasted for seven weeks on the Hot 100.[39] At the same time as its peak on the Hot 100, the song entered the USBillboardHot R&B/Hip-Hop Songs chart at number 94. It jumped 46 places for the chart issue dated January 29, 2011,[40] a week before climbing to number 37.[41] The song eventually peaked at number 24 on the chart for March 5.[42] On March 31, 2014, "H.A.M." received agold certification from theRecording Industry Association of America for amassing 500,000 certified units in the US.[43]
Elsewhere in North America, the track charted at number 47 on theCanadian Hot 100.[44] The track reached number 30 on theUK Singles Chart, while peaking at number 32 on its componentScottish Singles Chart.[45][46] In Denmark, it debuted at number 35 on the DanishTracklisten Top 40.[47] The track further reached number 40 on theIrish Singles Chart.[48] It peaked within the top 100 of Austria, the Netherlands, and Australia.[49][50][51]
In February 2011, West delivered a solo rendition of the song during the premiere party forNike'sThe Black Mamba.[52] On March 19, Jay-Z and West performed it duringVevo'sGOOD Music show forSouth by Southwest (SXSW) at an abandoned power plant in Austin, Texas.[53] The performers entered the stage as fireworks went off in the sky above and West rapped along with Jay-Z during his verse, looking him directly in the face.[54][55] A few months after the performance, it was uploaded toYouTube by VEVO in July 2011.[54] On May 10, West brought out Jay-Z to perform the song towards the end of his benefit concert for the annual party of theMuseum of Modern Art inManhattan, New York.[56]
At festivals such asMawazine,Splendour in the Grass, andThe Big Chill from the spring to summer of 2011, West used "H.A.M." as the introduction to his set lists. He emerged on a white podium with the accompaniment of phoenix dancers on stage during the festivals, backed by a classical portrait ofAthena andNike fightingAlcyoneus.[14] For the introduction to his headlining set atCoachella, West used a string remix of the song that consisted of violin from music programmerLaura Escudé.[57][58] During Jay-Z and West'sWatch the Throne Tour that ran from 2011 until 2012, they performed the song as the opening number.[59] The rappers performed it forSamsung Galaxy's SXSW concert at the Austin Music Hall on March 12, 2014, accompanied by a 12-foot video cube at the center of the stage.[60]
On January 18, 2011, rapperBusta Rhymes shared a remix of "H.A.M." that added a verse from him.[61] Eight days later,XV released his track over the beat for "H.A.M." The version added "Heroes Amongst Men" to the title and in contrast to the original, XV raps on the operatic outro.[62] On February 17, 2011,Lupe Fiasco freestyled over the song onTim Westwood's radio show in the lead up to the release of his third albumLasers.[63] In March 2012, "H.A.M." was used for theteen comedy filmProject X.[64] During an appearance forPeter Rosenberg onHot 97 in July,Odd Future membersTyler, The Creator,Earl Sweatshirt, andDomo Genesis each delivered sandwich-themed freestyles over the song.[65]
Credits are adapted from the album's liner notes.[3]
Recording
Personnel
| Chart (2011) | Peak position |
|---|---|
| Australia (ARIA)[51] | 78 |
| Austria (Ö3 Austria Top 40)[49] | 56 |
| Canada (Canadian Hot 100)[44] | 47 |
| Denmark (Tracklisten)[47] | 35 |
| Ireland (IRMA)[48] | 40 |
| Mexico Ingles Airplay (Billboard)[66] | 34 |
| Netherlands (Mega Single Top 100)[50] | 53 |
| Scotland Singles (OCC)[46] | 32 |
| UK Singles (OCC)[67] | 30 |
| USBillboard Hot 100[39] | 23 |
| USHot R&B/Hip-Hop Songs (Billboard)[42] | 24 |
| USHot Rap Songs (Billboard)[68] | 14 |
| Chart (2011) | Position |
|---|---|
| US Hot R&B/Hip-Hop Songs (Billboard)[69] | 96 |
| Region | Certification | Certified units/sales |
|---|---|---|
| United States (RIAA)[43] | Gold | 500,000‡ |
‡ Sales+streaming figures based on certification alone. | ||
| Country | Date | Format | Label(s) | Ref. |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| United States | January 11, 2011 | Digital download | [29] | |
| Ukraine | January 12, 2011 | [70] | ||
| Australia | January 17, 2011 | Contemporary hit radio |
| [30] |
| Alternative radio | ||||
| United States | January 25, 2011 | Urban contemporary radio | Def Jam | [31] |
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