4 Tha Hard Way is West Coast hip hop artist Rappin' 4-Tay's fourth album, released by Virgin Records in 1997. The album features production from Bay Area producer Ant Banks, as well as guest appearances from the likes of Tupac Shakur, Rick James, E-40 and Master P. Allmusic noted the album's "positive and congenial tone" and tendency towards "melodic, R&B-flavored tracks", concluding that it was "decent, but not remarkable".