Throwback Thursday 'Hard Knock Life (Ghetto Anthem)' by Jay-Z (19

Annie Live is going to be on NBC tonight (December 2, 2021). Newcomer Celina Smith is Annie, Harry Connick Jr. is Daddy Warbucks, and Taraji P. Henson is Miss Hannigan.

It's been a little bit since we've since a live musical on TV and I am so excited. I can't wait!

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Even though some of the past musicals haven't all been that great, I still look forward to it every time!

So, it seemed only right that Throwback Thursday this week should be "Hard Knock Life (Ghetto Anthem)" by Jay-Z!

"Hard Knock Life (Ghetto Anthem)" was released in 1998 and was on Jay-Z's third album, Vol. 2... Hard Knock Life.

It uses a sample from an unlikely place, the musical Annie. "Hard Knock Life" uses the sample from the 1977 version of "It's The Hard Knock Life" from Annie.

The song was a critical and commercial success. It was one of the first of Jay-Z's songs to chart well outside of North America. According to Wikipedia, " ...'Hard Knock Life' saw its biggest success, entering and peaking at number two on the UK Singles Chart in December 1998, stalling behind Britain's biggest-selling single of 1998, "Believe" by Cher..."

I mean, coming in behind Cher is nothing to sneeze at.

"Hard Knock Life" also charted well in America, it peaked at #15 on Billboard Hot 100 and #2 on Hot Rap Singles chart. The song was also nominated for the Best Rap Solo Performance Grammy in 1999.

VH1 also put the song at #11 on their countdown of 100 Greatest Songs of Hip-Hop.

From Frybread to Pheasants - Here are South Dakota's Official State Things

Every state in our nation has chosen things that represent the state in one way or another to be official state things. Like a flower, or animal. South Dakota is no different.

The Mount Rushmore has a state flower. But did you know we also have a state tree and a state fish? Yes, we even have a state code.

Here is what we have so far in Wyoming. Thanks to the South Dakota Secretary of State's Office for the info: