This is the 9th compilation album from Boston, Massachusetts underground record label Leedz Edutainment. Since the early 2010s, they’ve already dropped a handful of comps under their belt already with the Mass Movementz duology as well as the Write Off tetralogy & Eastern Standard. It’s already been a few years since A Worker Among Workers came out & Hard to Learn arrives 49 months later to get significantly vulnerable in comparison to it’s predecessors.
The title track by the Barrel Brothers & REKS produced by The Arcitype after the “Acceptance” intro begins with an uplifting boom bap opener talking about waiting for your turn whereas “The Friends of Eddie Leedz” by Big Shug, Ed O.G. & Mann Terror finds the trio repping their city. “The Darkside” by Lex the Hex Master, Ruste Juxx & XL the Beast explores a horrorcore vibe talking about darkness following them while “Walk Among What Remains” by Ill Bill, Q-Unique, Rite Hook & Wildcard tastefully blends hardcore hip hop & rap rock.
“No Surprise” by Blueprint, MURS & Sareem Poems after the “Diversion” skit & Lenny Lashley’s Gang of 1’s cover of “Downbound Train” by Bruce Springsteen returns to the boom bap talking about jumping through hoops to stay alive while “Bear the Burden” by Akrobatik, M-Dot & Reef the Lost Cauze precedes the “Lyrical Shit” skit hopping over a DC the Midi Alien beat discusses the good feeling of overcoming obstacles to come back stronger than ever.
Bonnie Stone, Freddie Black, Lateb, Napoleon da Legend, Raw Deff & Weapon E.S.P. all join forces for the 5 minute posse cut “Battle Tested” where Napoleon & Weapon E.S.P. each drop the strongest verses just before “Animal” by Rite Hook, STL GLD & XL the Beast prior to the “Show’s Over” skit reaches the 1st leg of Hard to Learn talking about the quartet feeling like a pack of angry wolves coming across a herd of sheep.
After Godforbid hits us with a cover of “Those Damned Blue-Collar Tweekers” by Primus that isn’t much better or worse than the Bruce Springsteen one, we have The Dunnas making an appearance for “The Working Man (Turn & Burn)” celebrating those types of people specifically while “Fictional Fantasies” by Awon, Emskee & Sadat X after the “Be a Man” skit talks about not being able to progressive if you’ve never experienced any hardships in your life.
“History iz Watching” by Blak Madeen & Daddy-O calls the world to choose between right or wrong while “Living With a Ghost” by Ea$y Money, STL GLD & XL the Beast after the “Father’s Day” skit talks about fathers who weren’t around much. “Learn to Suffer” by Block McCloud & Problemattik speaks of staying true to yourself & after the “Gratitude” skit, “Penniless Kings” by XL the Beast ahead of the “See You on the Next One” outro realizing that’s exactly what everyone is.
Wasn’t really sure if Leedz Edutainment would be able to top A Worker Among Workers, but Hard to Learn already dethrones it by putting the listener inside the shoes of a person who’s carried more than they thought they could. The Arcitype returns behind the boards with the exception of 2 tracks retaining a hardcore hip hop/boom bap sound other than a couple rock covers I could’ve done without confronting issues ranging from divorce to addiction, grief, anxiety, working-class struggles, faith, redemption & the long road toward acceptance.
Score: 7/10
