"Legend" is a three track single that was only released only in Europe and available in the United States as an import. It is not available on any of House of Pain's three albums. The lyrical content in the song "Legend" is probably the reason for the limited release. Fans of the late Kurt Cobain, lead singer of the grunge metal band Nirvana, will probably find the song offensive. It was released about six months after the release of House of Pain's second album "Same As It Ever Was" in 1994.

The song has a simple medium paced beat that compliments Everlast's (House of Pain's lead MC) rough voice and excellent lyrical skills. The chorus has a horn chord progression with the following lyrics over it: "A hero ain't nuthin' but a sandwich and a legend ain't nuthin' but a car, so shoot dope in your veins to get some fame and maybe one day you'll be a star/so go out blow out your brains to get some fame/so get locked up in chains to get some fame" (the first part of the second line of the chorus alternates) The second part of the final chorus goes, "so go blow out your brains like Kurt Cobain and maybe one day you'll be a star." The chorus is followed by a piano sample similar to that used in Public Enemy's "Black Steel In Hour of Chaos" and Dr. Dre and B-Real's "Puppet Master." On top of the piano sample, D.J. Lethal scratches the line "rock like Nirvana" from Funkdoobiest's song "The Funkiest." This piano and scratch combination fills out the final minute of the song. The song is about the tragedy that often comes along with fame and how people love to see celebrities fall from grace. It also talks about all the tragedy shown on television and suggests the idea that you're famous when you're dead.

The second track on the single is the LP version of "It Ain't A Crime" from House of Pain's album "Same As It Ever Was." The song is about a misguided youth who gets into trouble. It has a slow paced beat with a piano and guitar sample. The subject matter is similar to that of "Ends" off of Everlast's most recent solo album "Whitey Ford Sings The Blues."

The third track on the single is the Ghetto Lab remix of "Word Is Bond" which features Diamond D and Darkman. In my opinion this remix of the song is better than the version on the album. The remix makes the song better, but Darkman's presence on the track is negligible. He only raps a few lines at the end of the song. The song basically talks about critics of House Of Pain's music and M.C.'s that want to be down with House Of Pain and Diamond D, but haven't paid their dues.

All in all this single is a good one and worth getting if you are a House of Pain fan, but don't bother getting it if the only song you like by them is the over-commercialized "Jump Around." If you liked the album "Same As It Ever Was," you'll probably like "Legend" and the "Word Is Bond" remix. Also if you like the more hip-hop oriented tracks on Everlast's solo album, you'll probably enjoy the single.

End Note: This single is supposedly disc two of a two cd set that is sold separately, but I have never seen the other disc. If any members out there know anything about it, leave a message in the comments.

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