Can I Kick It?
"Can I Kick It?" | ||||
---|---|---|---|---|
Single by A Tribe Called Quest | ||||
from the album People's Instinctive Travels and the Paths of Rhythm | ||||
B-side | "If the Papes Come" | |||
Released | October 29, 1990 | |||
Recorded | 1989 | |||
Length | 4:12 (album version) 4:24 (The Anthology version) 6:39 (boilerhouse mix) | |||
Label | Jive | |||
Songwriter(s) | Lewis Reed, Kamaal Fareed, Ali Muhammad | |||
Producer(s) | A Tribe Called Quest | |||
A Tribe Called Quest singles chronology | ||||
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Music video | ||||
"Can I Kick It?" on YouTube |
"Can I Kick It?" is a song by American hip hop group A Tribe Called Quest, released in October 1990 as the third single from their debut album, People's Instinctive Travels and the Paths of Rhythm (1990).[1] The song, which has a call and response chorus, was recorded in 1989, when the group members were aged 18-19.[2]
The song contains samples of "
"Can I Kick It?", considered one of the group's
Critical reception
Larry Flick from Billboard felt that "inspired use of samples from Lou Reed's 'Walk on the Wild Side' nicely complements Tribe's relaxed and confident rhyming."[5] Everett True from Melody Maker wrote, "A natural, laidback and funking. There's a little Ian Dury in here, some Dvorak, maybe, and a whole bunch of scratching. And there's that sumptuous four-note bass line from Lou Reed's "Walk on the Wild Side", which could have been written for this. "Mmm, how do you say?" a girl asks. "A Tribe Called Quest", the dudes cut back in. "Can I Kick It?" the man asks hesitatingly, while the chorus joyously answers him in the affirmative. Neat kickback echo on the drum beat. Smooth. A natural. Lovin' it."[6] A reviewer from Music & Media found that the New York rap crew "proves their music can be 'double -streetwise'", describing the song as "two-dimensional rap".[7]
Simon Williams from
Music video
The accompanying music video for "Can I Kick It?" was directed by American music video director and video editor Jim Swaffield. It features A Tribe Called Quest and various others, including members of De La Soul, literally kicking the word "it" while rapping on a film set, a park (located under the Williamsburg Bridge in New York’s Lower East Side), and a construction site. On the film set, they are seen playing with the tittle of the "i" in "it". In the park, they are walking around and are flipping on top of the "it". The video also features the participants throwing drumsticks around and landing them on drums. A "flying record player" is featured, to play the Lou Reed sample. Additionally, the "Can I Kick It? (Spirit Mix)", which uses a different beat, plays throughout the video.
Impact and legacy
In 2012, NME listed "Can I Kick It?" at number 90 in their ranking of the "100 Best Songs of the 1990s", calling it a "laidback chant-a-long".[4] In 2021, Rolling Stone included it in their list of "The 500 Greatest Songs of All Time" at No. 292.[11]
In 2022, Pitchfork ranked it at number 25 in their list of "The 250 Best Songs of the 1990s".[12]
The song was featured on the soundtrack to
In the second verse, Phife Dawg refers to former New York City mayor David Dinkins, the city's first African-American mayor: "Mr. Dinkins, would you please be my mayor?" The song was recorded before Dinkins' was elected to office.[15]
Track listing
No. | Title | Length |
---|---|---|
1. | "Can I Kick It?" (Spirit Mix) | 4:11 |
2. | "Can I Kick It?" (Radio Edit) | 3:23 |
3. | "Can I Kick It?" (Phase 5 Mix) | 4:33 |
4. | "Can I Kick It?" (Spirits) | 2:02 |
5. | "If the Papes Come" | 5:46 |
6. | "If the Papes Come" (Remix) | 4:14 |
7. | "Can I Kick It?" (LP Version) | 4:11 |
No. | Title | Length |
---|---|---|
1. | "Can I Kick It?" (Extended Boilerhouse Mix) | 6:40 |
2. | "Can I Kick It?" (Phase 5 Mix) | 4:33 |
3. | "Can I Kick It?" (LP Version) | 4:11 |
4. | "If the Papes Come" (Remix) | 4:14 |
No. | Title | Length |
---|---|---|
1. | "Can I Kick It?" (Boilerhouse Mix) | 3:54 |
2. | "Can I Kick It?" (7" Radio Edit) | 3:26 |
No. | Title | Length |
---|---|---|
1. | "Can I Kick It?" (7" Radio Edit) | 3:26 |
2. | "Can I Kick It?" (Extended Boilerhouse Mix) | 6:40 |
3. | "Can I Kick It?" (Phase 5 Mix) | 4:33 |
4. | "If the Papes Come" (Remix) | 4:14 |
No. | Title | Length |
---|---|---|
1. | "Can I Kick It?" (Boilerhouse Mix) | 4:18 |
2. | "Can I Kick It?" (Extended Boilerhouse Mix) | 6:40 |
3. | "Can I Kick It?" (U.S. Spirit Mix) | 4:14 |
4. | "Can I Kick It?" (Album Version) | 4:14 |
5. | "Can I Kick It?" (Phase 5 Mix) | 4:21 |
6. | "Can I Kick It?" (U.S. Edit) | 3:23 |
No. | Title | Length |
---|---|---|
1. | "Can I Kick It?" (Extended Boilerhouse Mix) | 6:40 |
2. | "Can I Kick It?" (Phase 5 Mix) | 4:33 |
3. | "Hot Sex" (Album Version) | 2:45 |
4. | "Hot Sex" (Instrumental Version) | 2:45 |
No. | Title | Length |
---|---|---|
1. | "Can I Kick It?" (7" Radio Edit) | 3:26 |
2. | "Hot Sex" (Radio Version) | 2:48 |
3. | "Can I Kick It?" (Extended Boilerhouse Mix) | 6:40 |
4. | "Can I Kick It?" (Instrumental) | 4:11 |
Charts
Chart (1991) | Peak position |
---|---|
Netherlands (Dutch Top 40)[16] | 13 |
Netherlands (Single Top 100)[17] | 13 |
UK Singles (OCC)[18] | 15 |
UK Dance (Music Week)[19]
|
1 |
US Hot Rap Songs (Billboard)[20] | 8 |
Certifications
Region | Certification | Certified units/sales |
---|---|---|
United Kingdom (BPI)[21] | Gold | 400,000‡ |
‡ Sales+streaming figures based on certification alone. |
References
- ^ "Today in Hip Hop History: A Tribe Called Quest Releases Debut Album". The Source. April 17, 2015. Retrieved August 9, 2015.
- ^ Trendell, Andrew (July 3, 2015). "10 Brilliant Songs Written By Stars in Their Teens". Gigwise. Retrieved August 9, 2015.
- ^ a b "Lou Reed dead: Tribe Called Quest sampled late legend's 'Walk on the Wild Side'". The Grio. October 28, 2013. Retrieved August 9, 2015.
- ^ a b "100 Best Songs Of The 1990s". NME. May 8, 2012. Retrieved April 2, 2020.
- ^ Flick, Larry (November 3, 1990). "Single Reviews" (PDF). Billboard. p. 83. Retrieved February 16, 2020.
- ^ True, Everett (January 5, 1991). "Singles". Melody Maker. p. 27. Retrieved April 3, 2023.
- ^ "New Releases: Singles" (PDF). Music & Media. January 26, 1991. p. 16. Retrieved February 19, 2020.
- NME. p. 17. Retrieved April 3, 2023.
- ^ Crossing, Gary (January 5, 1991). "Singles". Record Mirror. p. 11. Retrieved August 10, 2021.
- ^ Sullivan, Caroline (January 9, 1991). "Review: Singles". Smash Hits. No. 316. p. 49. Retrieved March 8, 2020.
- ^ "500 Best Songs of All Time". Rolling Stone. September 15, 2021. Retrieved February 19, 2022.
- ^ "The 250 Best Songs of the 1990s". Pitchfork. September 27, 2022. Retrieved October 30, 2022.
- ^ "Movie Review: Tom and Jerry on HBO Max - Vulture". vulture.com. Retrieved 18 March 2021.
- ^ Trench, Mikael (2023-03-06). "What's The Song In The Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles: Mutant Mayhem Trailer?". Looper. Retrieved 2023-04-02.
- ^ "25 Years Later: A Tribe Called Quest's "People's Instinctive Travels and the Paths of Rhythm" Album Still Holds Weight". The Boombox. April 17, 2015. Retrieved August 9, 2015.
- ^ "Nederlandse Top 40 – A Tribe Called Quest" (in Dutch). Dutch Top 40. Retrieved September 26, 2020.
- ^ "A Tribe Called Quest – Can I Kick It?" (in Dutch). Single Top 100. Retrieved September 26, 2020.
- ^ "A TRIBE CALLED QUEST". Official Charts Company. Retrieved September 26, 2020.
- ^ "Top 60 Dance Singles" (PDF). Music Week. January 19, 1991. p. xii. Retrieved September 26, 2020.
- ^ "A Tribe Called Quest Chart History (Hot Rap Songs)". Billboard. Retrieved June 25, 2022.
- ^ "British single certifications – A Tribe Called Quest – Can I Kick It". British Phonographic Industry. Retrieved February 17, 2023.