Can't Knock the Hustle

Infobox Single
Name = Can't Knock the Hustle


Artist = Jay-Z featuring Mary J. Blige & Pain in da Ass
from Album = Reasonable Doubt
B-side =
Released = August 27, 1996
Format = 12-inch single, Cassette, CD, Vinyl
Recorded = D&D Studios; New York City, New York
Genre = East Coast hip hop
Length = 5:17
Label = Roc-A-Fella Records
Writer = Shawn Carter
Jerome Foster
Marcus Miller
Producer = Knobody
Nomad (co-producer)
Dahoud Darian (co-producer)
Sean C (co-producer)
Chart position =
*#73 (The Billboard Hot 100)
*#35 (Hot R&B/Hip-Hop Singles & Tracks)
*#7 (Hot Rap Singles)
*#4 (Hot Dance Music/Maxi-Singles Sales)
*#30 (UK Singles Chart)
Misc = Extra chronology
Artist = Jay-Z
Type = singles
Last single = "Ain't No Nigga"
(1996)
This single = "Can't Knock the Hustle"
(1996)
Next single = "Feelin' It"
(1997)Extra chronology
Artist = Mary J. Blige
Type = singles
Last single = "Not Gon' Cry"
(1996)
This single = "Can't Knock the Hustle"
(1996)
Next single = "Love Is All We Need"
(1997)

"Can't Knock the Hustle" is the third single from rapper Jay-Z's debut album "Reasonable Doubt". The song features a beat produced by Knobody, co-produced by Sean C and Dahoud Darien, as well as a chorus sung by Mary J. Blige. Its beat contains samples from "Much Too Much" by Marcus Miller and "Fool's Paradise" by Meli'sa Morgan. Before the song begins, Pain in da Ass delivers a monologue from the 1983 gangster film "Scarface". Jay-Z then proceeds to deliver mafioso lyrics about drug dealing and street life.

The song was originally supposed to have Latin singer Veronica sing the hook, but the more popular Mary J. Blige replaced her. [http://xxlmag.com/online/?p=2477 "The Making of Reasonable Doubt Told U So"] . "XXL Magazine". June 23, 2006. Retrieved June 20, 2007.] A live version of "Can't Knock the Hustle" found on the bonus disc of "Kingdom Come" features Beyoncé singing the song's hook. The songs beat has been heavily sampled by UK soul singer Lemar in his song 50/50

Acclaim

Aside from reaching #73 on The Billboard Hot 100 and #30 on the UK Singles Chart, "Can't Knock the Hustle" also garnered much critical acclaim. As Steve Juon of RapReviews.com states: "Knobody put together an incredibly smooth opening track for Jay that became the mantra of his career [...] With a bouncy beat and Mary J. Blige on the hook, the song was infinitely danceable, but the lyrics he spit were far from just the average shit."cite web | last = Juon | first = Steve | url = http://www.rapreviews.com/archive/BTTL_reasonabledoubt.html | title = Reasonable Doubt Review at RapReviews.com | format = | work = | publisher = | accessdate = July 9 | accessyear = 2007] Juon also considers the Hype Williams-directed music video for "Cant Knock the Hustle" to be "movie quality."cite web | last = Juon | first = Steve | url = http://www.rapreviews.com/archive/BTTL_lifetimevol1.html | title = In My Lifetime, Vol. 1 Review at RapReviews.com | format = | work = | publisher = | accessdate = July 9 | accessyear = 2007]

ingle track list

CD

# "Can't Knock the Hustle (Original Mix)"
# "Can't Knock the Hustle (Instrumental)"
# "Can't Knock the Hustle (Acapella)"
# "Can't Knock the Hustle (Hani Remix)"

Vinyl

A-Side

# "Can't Knock the Hustle (Original Mix)"
# "Can't Knock the Hustle (Instrumental)"
# "Can't Knock the Hustle (Acapella)"

B-Side

# "Can't Knock the Hustle (Hani Remix)"

References

ee also

*List of Jay-Z songs