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"Can't Knock the Hustle"
Single by Jay-Z featuring Mary J. Blige
from the album Reasonable Doubt
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(s)	Shawn Carter; Jerome Foster; Marcus Miller
Producer	Knobody; Nomad (co-producer); Dahoud Darian (co-producer); Sean C (co-producer)
Jay-Z singles chronology
Mary J. Blige singles chronology

"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.^[1] 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 song's beat has been heavily sampled by UK soul singer Lemar in his song 50/50

[edit] 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."^[2] Juon also considers the Hype Williams-directed music video for "Cant Knock the Hustle" to be "movie quality."^[3]

[edit] Single track list

[edit] 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)"

[edit] Vinyl

[edit] A-Side

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

[edit] B-Side

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

[edit] References

^ "The Making of Reasonable Doubt Told U So". XXL Magazine. June 23, 2006. Retrieved June 20, 2007.
^ Juon, Steve. "Reasonable Doubt Review at RapReviews.com". http://www.rapreviews.com/archive/BTTL_reasonabledoubt.html. Retrieved July 9, 2007.
^ Juon, Steve. "In My Lifetime, Vol. 1 Review at RapReviews.com". http://www.rapreviews.com/archive/BTTL_lifetimevol1.html. Retrieved July 9, 2007.

[edit] See also

List of Jay-Z songs

[xxl-0] "The Making of Reasonable Doubt Told U So". XXL Magazine. June 23, 2006. Retrieved June 20, 2007.

[rapreviews-1] Juon, Steve. "Reasonable Doubt Review at RapReviews.com". http://www.rapreviews.com/archive/BTTL_reasonabledoubt.html. Retrieved July 9, 2007.

[rapreviews2-2] Juon, Steve. "In My Lifetime, Vol. 1 Review at RapReviews.com". http://www.rapreviews.com/archive/BTTL_lifetimevol1.html. Retrieved July 9, 2007.

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