I Can

Lore & Background

The music video for "I Can," directed by Chris Robinson, was shot in Los Angeles. It contains footage of Nas rapping while children stand around him. The video starts out with the music from the introduction of "Get Down," but it soon transitions into "I Can." As the video starts, a young girl plays Beethoven on a piano in a vacant lot. Later in the video, children are jumping on a mattress in the same lot. The video also contains footage of break dancing and famous Egyptian structures. 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." This comment may be attributed to the "singsongy" call and response chorus featuring the voices of young children. 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."

In Their Own Story

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. The track listing includes a Clean Version (4:13), an Instrumental (4:14), and an Acappella (4:03). "I Can" charted in 2003 at #12 in Billboard Hot 100, #7 on the Hot R&B/Hip-Hop Singles & Tracks, #6 on the Hot Rap Tracks and #58 on the Billboard Year-End Hot 100 singles of 2003. This is Nas's highest charting single as a lead artist to date.

Reader's Guide

The song "I Can" boasts production from Salaam Remi. It samples Ludwig van Beethoven's "Für Elise" and the drum break from the Honey Drippers' "Impeach the President." 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. The chorus features a "singsongy" call and response with the voices of young children. The music video, directed by Chris Robinson, was shot in Los Angeles, and contains footage of Nas rapping while children stand around him. The video starts out with the music from the introduction of "Get Down," but it soon transitions into "I Can." As the video starts, a young girl plays Beethoven on a piano in a vacant lot. Later in the video, children are jumping on a mattress in the same lot. The video also contains footage of break dancing and famous Egyptian structures.

Did You Know?

• "I Can" samples Ludwig van Beethoven's "Für Elise" and the drum break from the Honey Drippers' "Impeach the President."
• The music video was directed by Chris Robinson and shot in Los Angeles, featuring a young girl playing Beethoven on a piano in a vacant lot.
• The song peaked at #12 on the Billboard Hot 100 and is Nas's highest charting single as a lead artist to date.
• In 2019, the song was used by French life insurance company AXA in an advert featuring tennis player Serena Williams.
• Christian Hoard of Rolling Stone magazine called the song "a silly stay-in-school ad attached to a Beethoven sample."