3 The Hard Way's first release was the massive 'Hip Hop Holiday', which was released in 1994. An instant street smash that crossed over to radio, 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 crew 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, peeking at #5. The song featured an element of 'Dreadlock Holiday' by 10CC, who heard the 3 The Hard Way song after it went big in Australia.
3 The Hard Way first debuted in the Radioscope NZ Music Airplay Top 10 on 21 September 2003 with the song It's On (Move To This). There are two entries by 3 The Hard Way in the charts with one reaching Number One.