I Can (Nas song)

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"I Can"
Nasir Jones
  • Salaam Remi
  • Ludwig van Beethoven
  • Roy Charles Hammond
    • Producer(s)Salaam Remi
    Nas singles chronology
    "Thugz Mansion"
    (2002)     		"I Can"
    (2003)     		"Get Down"
    (2003)

    "I Can" is a single by American rapper Nas from his sixth album, God's Son. It was released internationally February 11, 2003. Unlike the rest of the album, this does not have the Parental Advisory (or Explicit and other labeling on digital stores) label on the song, as it is aimed at children. The song peaked at #12 on the Billboard Hot 100.

    Composition

    Boasting production from

    the Honey Drippers' "Impeach the President".[1]

    The lyrics are positive encouraging kids to stay drug-free and to pursue their dreams, pointing to examples of powerful icons in the African-American community like Oprah Winfrey. Conversely, Nas raps about a friend who was moving up in the music scene, only to fall victim to a debilitating drug addiction that took her career and her looks.

    Music video

    The music video, directed by

    break dancing
    and famous Egyptian structures.

    Reception

    The single received positive reviews. Christian Hoard of Rolling Stone magazine labels "I Can" as "a silly stay-in-school ad attached to a Beethoven sample."[2] This comment may be attributed to the "singsongy" call and response chorus featuring the voices of young children.[3] Other reviewers appreciated "I Can" more: Jon Robinson of IGN.com claims that on his second single, "Nas delivers some of his most inspiring lyrics to date."[4]

    "I Can" charted in 2003 at #12 in

    Hot Rap Tracks and #58 on the Billboard Year-End Hot 100 singles of 2003.[5]
    This is Nas's highest charting single as a lead artist to date.

    Media usage

    In 2019, the song was used by French life insurance company

    AXA which dedicates to all people who want to be when they can pursue their dreams. Tennis player Serena Williams is featured in this advert.[citation needed
    ]

    Track listing

    1. "I Can" (Clean Version) (4:13)
    2. "I Can" (Instrumental) (4:14)
    3. "I Can" (Acappella) (4:03)

    Charts

    Weekly charts

    Chart (2003) Peak
    position
    Australia (ARIA)[6] 43
    Australian Urban (ARIA)[7] 11
    Denmark (Tracklisten)[8] 15
    France (
    SNEP)[9]
    		 72
    Germany (Official German Charts)[10] 53
    Ireland (IRMA)[11] 41
    Netherlands (Dutch Top 40 Tipparade)[12] 2
    Netherlands (Single Top 100)[13] 46
    Scotland (OCC)[14]
    		 28
    Switzerland (Schweizer Hitparade)[15] 43
    UK Hip Hop/R&B (OCC)[16]
    		 6
    UK Singles (OCC)[17]
    		 19
    US Billboard Hot 100[18] 12
    US Hot R&B/Hip-Hop Songs (Billboard)[19] 8
    US
    R&B/Hip-Hop Airplay (Billboard)[20]
    		 6
    US Hot Rap Songs (Billboard)[21] 6
    US
    Mainstream Top 40 (Billboard)[22]
    		 27
    US Rhythmic (Billboard)[23] 7

    Year-end charts

    Chart (2003) Position
    US Billboard Hot 100[24] 58

    References

    1. ^ SamplesDB - Nas's Tracks
    2. ^ Hoard, Christian. Review: God's Son Archived 2017-12-06 at the Wayback Machine. Rolling Stone. Retrieved on 2012-02-14.
    3. ^ Kim, Serena. "Review: God's Son". Vibe: 135–136. February 2003.
    4. ^ Robinson, Jon. "God's Son review at IGN". Archived from the original on October 15, 2007. Retrieved February 3, 2007.
    5. ^ "Nas' Billboard singles chart positions at Allmusic". Retrieved January 17, 2007.
    6. ^ "Nasir Jones – I Can". ARIA Top 50 Singles. Retrieved May 28, 2022.
    7. ^ "Issue 697" ARIA Top 40 Urban Singles. National Library of Australia. Retrieved February 27, 2022.
    8. ^ "Nasir Jones – I Can". Tracklisten. Retrieved May 28, 2022.
    9. Les classement single
      . Retrieved May 28, 2022.
    10. ^ "Nasir Jones – I Can" (in German). GfK Entertainment charts. Retrieved May 28, 2022.
    11. ^ "Irish-charts.com – Discography Nasir Jones". Irish Singles Chart. Retrieved May 28, 2022.
    12. ^ "Tipparade-lijst van week 17, 2003" (in Dutch). Dutch Top 40. Retrieved March 18, 2023.
    13. ^ "Nasir Jones – I Can" (in Dutch). Single Top 100. Retrieved May 28, 2022.
    14. ^ "Official Scottish Singles Sales Chart Top 100". Official Charts Company. Retrieved May 28, 2022.
    15. ^ "Nasir Jones – I Can". Swiss Singles Chart. Retrieved May 28, 2022.
    16. ^ "Official Hip Hop and R&B Singles Chart Top 40". Official Charts Company. Retrieved May 28, 2022.
    17. ^ "Official Singles Chart Top 100". Official Charts Company. Retrieved May 28, 2022.
    18. ^ "Nas Chart History (Hot 100)". Billboard. Retrieved May 28, 2022.
    19. ^ "Nas Chart History (Hot R&B/Hip-Hop Songs)". Billboard. Retrieved May 28, 2022.
    20. ^ "Nas Chart History (Hot R&B/Hip-Hop Airplay)". Billboard. Retrieved February 22, 2024.
    21. ^ "Nas Chart History (Hot Rap Songs)". Billboard. Retrieved May 28, 2022.
    22. ^ "Nas Chart History (Pop Songs)". Billboard. Retrieved May 28, 2022.
    23. ^ "Nas Chart History (Rhythmic)". Billboard. Retrieved May 28, 2022.
    24. ^ "2003 Year End Charts – The Billboard Hot 100 Singles & Tracks". Billboard. Prometheus Global Media. Retrieved January 3, 2012.
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