Throwback Thursday ‘I Can’ by Nas (2003)

Once again, I am stepping away from the Pandemic inspired throwbacks.

"I Can" by Nas, I thought would work in two ways.

1. It is kind of a Graduation song, telling the youth of the world that they can be anything.

2. It also has a great moment that discusses the history of our country and speaks to racial injustices. In the third verse, Nas raps, "Africa was almost robbed naked
Slavery was money, so they began making slave ships
Egypt was the place that Alexander the Great went
He was so shocked at the mountains with black faces
Shot up they nose to impose what basically
Still goes on today, you see?"

"I Can" became one of Nas' best received and critically acclaimed songs. IGN.com's Jon Robinson, according to Wikipedia stated, "Nas delivers some of his most inspiring lyrics to date."

"I Can" by Nas was the second single off of his album, God's Son. Fun fact: "I Can" is one of the only songs by Nas that does not have a parental advisory on it.

"I Can" samples Ludwig van Beethoven's "Für Elise" and The Honey Drippers' "Impeach the President".

The music video was shot in Pittsburgh and directed by Chris Robinson.

According to Wikipedia, "'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.^[5] This is Nas's highest-charting single as a lead artist to date."

Nas is short for Nasir bin Olu Dara Jones. He is from Brooklyn, New York.

In 2019, "I Can" was used in a French life insurance commercial featuring tennis star, Serena Williams.