{{Infobox song | name = Hard in da Paint | cover = Hard in da Paint.jpg | alt = | type = single | artist = Waka Flocka Flame | album = Flockaveli | released = {{Start date|2009|08|24}} (Mixtape Track) *May 13, 2010 (Single) | recorded = 2009 | studio = | venue = | genre = {{hlist|Southern hip hop|gangsta rap|trap|crunk<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.spin.com/2012/05/waka-flocka-flame-goes-boom/ |title=Waka Flocka Flame Goes Boom |publisher=Spin |date=May 1, 2012 |accessdate=May 1, 2016}}</ref>}} | length = 4:03 | label = {{hlist|1017 Brick Squad|Warner Bros.|Asylum}} | writer = {{hlist|Juaquin Malphurs|Lexus Arnel Lewis}} | producer = Lex Luger | chronology = Waka Flocka Flame | prev_title = Bingo | prev_year = 2010 | next_title = No Hands | next_year = 2010 }}
"'''Hard in da Paint'''" is the second single from American rapper Waka Flocka Flame's debut studio album ''Flockaveli''.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://itunes.apple.com/us/album/hard-in-da-paint-single/id375645963 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20100719104211/http://itunes.apple.com/us/album/hard-in-da-paint-single/id375645963 |url-status=dead |archive-date=July 19, 2010 |title=iTunes Store |publisher=iTunes |date= |access-date=February 20, 2012}}</ref>
== Background == Waka Flocka's "Hard in da Paint", like his previous hit "O Let's Do It", was originally a mixtape track.<ref name="mtv"/> It first appeared as 'Go Hard' on his third mixtape titled ''Salute Me Or Shoot Me 2'', released on August 24, 2009.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.livemixtapes.com/mixtapes/10641/lebron_flocka_james.html |title=''Waka Flocka Flame - LeBron Flocka James'' |website=livemixtapes.com |date=October 19, 2010 |accessdate=April 26, 2016}}</ref> An early remix featuring French Montana was released on April 19, 2010,<ref name="frenchmremix">{{cite web |url=http://nahright.com/2010/04/19/french-montana-feat-waka-flocka-hard-in-the-paint/ |title=French Montana feat. Waka Flocka – Hard In The Paint |publisher=NahRight.com |date=April 19, 2010 |access-date=April 26, 2016 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160513001731/http://nahright.com/2010/04/19/french-montana-feat-waka-flocka-hard-in-the-paint/ |archive-date=May 13, 2016 |url-status=dead |df=mdy-all }}</ref> and appeared in the latter's ninth mixtape titled ''Mac & Cheese 2'', released on May 6. The track was produced by up-and-coming producer Lex Luger,<ref name="hottest">{{cite web|url=http://www.mtv.com/news/articles/1643600/20100713/waka_flocka_flame.jhtml|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20100717035745/http://www.mtv.com/news/articles/1643600/20100713/waka_flocka_flame.jhtml|url-status=dead|archive-date=July 17, 2010|title=Waka Flocka Flame Got Crunk And Earned A 'Hottest Breakthrough MCs Of 2010' Nod|website=MTV|date=14 July 2010|accessdate=30 July 2010|location=MTV.comuydjyt}}</ref> and went on to become an underground hit before being released as a commercial single on May 13.
== Music video == The music video was released on July 19, 2010. During the music video the production was shut down by gang activity and police presence due to the Black P. Stones Bloods gang injunction.<ref name="mtv">{{cite web|url=http://www.mtv.com/news/1643990/waka-flocka-flame-hard-in-da-paint-video-premieres/|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140813192300/http://www.mtv.com/news/1643990/waka-flocka-flame-hard-in-da-paint-video-premieres/|url-status=dead|archive-date=August 13, 2014|title=Waka Flocka Flame 'Hard In Da Paint' Video Premieres|last=Rodriguez|first=Jayson|website=MTV|date=19 July 2010|accessdate=30 July 2010|location=MTV.com}}</ref> The music video was directed by Benny Boom.<ref name="mtv"/> It was shot on Palmwood Drive in Baldwin Village, Los Angeles, often referred to as "the Jungles", a neighborhood made infamous courtesy of the Denzel Washington movie ''Training Day''.<ref name="mtv"/>
==Reception== In August 2014, ''Pitchfork'' listed the track at number 41 on their "The 200 Best Tracks of the Decade So Far (2010-2014)."<ref>{{cite web|url=https://pitchfork.com/features/lists-and-guides/9466-the-200-best-tracks-of-the-decade-so-far-2010-2014/ |title=The 200 Best Tracks of the Decade So Far (2010-2014) |publisher=Pitchfork |date=August 17, 2014 |accessdate=April 27, 2016}}</ref>
== Remixes == An official remix featuring French Montana was released on April 19,<ref name="frenchmremix"/> while a second remix featuring Gucci Mane was released on June 22.<ref name="guccimremix">{{cite web|url=https://www.hotnewhiphop.com/523618-waka-flocka-hard-in-the-paint-feat-gucci-mane-remix-new-song |title=Waka Flocka - Hard In The Paint (Remix) Feat. Gucci Mane |publisher=HotNewHipHop |date=June 22, 2010 |access-date=April 27, 2016}}</ref><ref name="hottest"/>
R&B singer Ciara released her own remix of the song on June 2, 2010. Rappers 2 Chainz, Young Jeezy and Pusha T released a version of the song titled "Hard in the Kitchen" on February 11, 2011.<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.hiphopdx.com/index/singles/id.13831/title.tity-boi-f-young-jeezy-pusha-t-hard-in-the-kitchen-rmx |title=Tity Boi f. Young Jeezy & Pusha T - Hard In the Kitchen Rmx |publisher=HipHopDX |date=February 11, 2011 |accessdate=February 20, 2011 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140328230344/http://www.hiphopdx.com/index/singles/id.13831/title.tity-boi-f-young-jeezy-pusha-t-hard-in-the-kitchen-rmx |archive-date=March 28, 2014 |url-status=dead }}</ref>
== Parodies == A popular video parody of "Hard in da Paint" was posted on YouTube, with Barack Obama (played by comedian James Davis) as the subject of the song.<ref>{{cite news|url=https://www.nytimes.com/2010/10/26/arts/music/26baracka.html?_r=0|title='Head of the State': Baracka Flacka Flames's Obama Parody - The New York Times|work=The New York Times|date=October 25, 2010|accessdate=December 10, 2012}}</ref> The "Baracka Flacka Flames: Head of the State" video has gained over 16 million views as of 2025.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=zQ-hPNrKdZI|title=Baracka Flacka Flames - Head of The State|website=YouTube|date=November 21, 2010|accessdate=November 12, 2015|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20151210021524/https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=zQ-hPNrKdZI|archive-date=December 10, 2015|url-status=dead|df=mdy-all}}<br></ref>
==Charts==
===Weekly charts=== {| class="wikitable sortable" |- !Chart (2010) !Peak<br>position |- {{singlechart|Billboardbubbling100|10|artist=Waka Flocka Flame|accessdate=May 6, 2020}} |- {{singlechart|Billboardrandbhiphop|28|artist=Waka Flocka Flame|accessdate=May 6, 2020}} |}
===Year-end charts=== {| class="wikitable" |- !Chart (2010) !Position |- |US Hot R&B/Hip-Hop Songs (''Billboard'')<ref>{{cite magazine|url=https://www.billboard.com/charts/year-end/2010/hot-r-and-and-b-hip-hop-songs|title=Hot R&B/Hip-Hop Songs – Year-End 2010|magazine=Billboard|accessdate=May 6, 2020}}</ref> | style="text-align:center;"|94 |}
==References== {{Reflist}}
{{Waka Flocka Flame}}
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Category:2008 songs Category:2010 singles Category:Music videos directed by Benny Boom Category:Song recordings produced by Lex Luger (musician) Category:Songs written by Lex Luger (musician) Category:Songs written by Waka Flocka Flame Category:Waka Flocka Flame songs Category:Crunk songs Category:1017 Records singles