History
''3 The Hard Way
's first release was
Hip Hop Holiday
, which was released in 1994. The song spent five weeks at the top of the New Zealand charts, selling in excess of thirty thousand copies, and became a Kiwi anthem. Backed by the success of the record and the top three status of its follow up,
Many Rivers
, the group released their debut album later that year,
Old School Prankstas'', which went platinum in 1995.
Hip Hop Holiday
spent three weeks at #1 and also charted across the Tasman, peaking at #5. 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.
By the end of 1995 the boys decided to take a break. That break lasted longer than anyone anticipated, and, despite a number of demos freshly recorded, it wasn’t until a chance meeting with Alan Jansson in 2001 that
3 The Hard Way
found themselves back in the studio, signing a deal with
Joy label through
Sony Music.
3 The Hard Way
released their second album
Eyes On The Prize
in 2003. The first single released from this album,
It's On!(Move To This)
, which featured ex-pat R&B singer
Clement Karauti, went #1 after 4 weeks in the chart's and made New Zealand music history by being the first NZ artist/s to take the #1 spot from another NZ artist,
Scribe whose single
Not Many
spent 10 weeks at the top of the NZ charts. Third member
Lance 'DJ Damage' Manuel did not rejoin the band when they reformed, and the band have been quiet since.
Band Members
- Chris "Mighty Boy C"
Maiai
- Mike "DJ Mike Mixx"
Paton
former
Discography
Date
| Title
| Label
| Charted
| Certification
| Catalog Number
|
1995
| Old School Prankstas
DeepGrooves Entertainment
| -
| -
| -
|
2003
| Eyes On The Prize
| Joy Records
| 14
| Gold
| JOY 105
|
Singles
Year
| Single
| Album
| NZ Singles Chart
| Certification
|
1994
| "Hip Hop Holiday"
| Old School
Prankstas''
| #1 (NZ)
| Triple Platinum
|
"Many Rivers"
| #10 (NZ)
| -
|
"All Around"
| #22 (NZ)
| -
|
2003
| "It's On (Move to This)"
|
| #1 (NZ)
| Gold
|