Work Hard Play Hard

Album: O.N.I.F.C. (2012)
Charted: 17
Play Video

Songfacts®:

  • Wiz Khalifa's first single from his sophomore album, O.N.I.F.C., is a club track, in which the Pittsburgh spitter advises, "Go hard. Make sure you do whatever it is that you gotta do. That's your job," over a military march-inspired beat.
  • The Norwegian production team Stargate and American hitmaker Benny Blanco produced the song. Stargate oversaw the beats for three tracks on Wiz's debut album, including his breakthrough hit, "Black and Yellow," whilst Blanco collaborated with the Pittsburgh MC on his third single, "No Sleep." Blanco was red hot, also charting around this time with productions for Britney Spears, Gym Class Heroes, Katy Perry, and Flo Rida.
  • Wiz is well known for his trademark multiple tattoos, tank tops, camouflaged shorts and rolled marijuana joints. He references the way others have adopted his garb, when he raps: "If I'm in the club, I get a 100 stacks, I'm always rollin' up, so I get love for that. Them n---as stole my swag, but I don't want it back."
  • The Pittsburgh rapper flaunts his cash earned through hard work on the chorus. "The bigger the bill, the harder you ball," he rhymes. "Well, I'm throwin' mine, 'cause my money long. The quicker you here, the faster you go. That's why where I come from the only thing we know is work hard, play hard."
  • Wiz explained to MTV News correspondent Sway Calloway on Sway in the Morning that the album title is an acronym for "Only N---a in First Class," inspired by the name of Mobb Deep rapper Prodigy's H.N.I.C. record.
  • The Bill Paladino-directed video was filmed in Khalifa's hometown of Pittsburgh. There are various images of factory folk, construction workers, a soccer player, and a ballerina, working hard so they can party later. The Taylor Gang rapper appears later in the visual clad in hippie garb, channeling the late Jimi Hendrix.

Comments

Be the first to comment...

Editor's Picks

Alice Cooper

Alice CooperFact or Fiction

How well do you know this shock-rock harbinger who's been publicly executed hundreds of times?

Thomas Dolby

Thomas DolbySongwriter Interviews

He wrote "She Blinded Me With Science" so he could direct a video about a home for deranged scientists.

Little Richard

Little RichardFact or Fiction

Was Long Tall Sally a cross-dresser? Did he really set his piano on fire? See if you know the real stories about one of rock's greatest innovators.

John Doe of X

John Doe of XSongwriter Interviews

With his X-wife Exene, John fronts the band X and writes their songs.

Van Dyke Parks

Van Dyke ParksSongwriter Interviews

U2, Carly Simon, Joanna Newsom, Brian Wilson and Fiona Apple have all gone to Van Dyke Parks to make their songs exceptional.

Maria Muldaur

Maria MuldaurSongwriter Interviews

The "Midnight At The Oasis" singer is an Old Time gal. She talks about her jug band beginnings and shares a Dylan story.