"Can I Get A... (Soundtrack Version)"
Sticker from shrink wrap of the U.S. 12-inch vinyl single
Single by Jay-Z featuring Jah and Amil
from the album Def Jam's Rush Hour Soundtrack and Vol. 2... Hard Knock Life
ReleasedAugust 22, 1998 (1998-08-22)
Recorded1998
Genre
Length5:11
Label
Songwriter(s)
Producer(s)
Jay-Z singles chronology
"Money Ain't a Thang"
(1998) 		"Can I Get A..."
(1998) 		"Hard Knock Life (Ghetto Anthem)"
(1998)
Jah singles chronology
"Can I Get A..."
(1998) 		"Grand Finale"
(1998)
Amil singles chronology
"Can I Get A..."
(1998) 		"Jigga What, Jigga Who (Originator 99)"
(1999)

"Can I Get A..." is a song recorded by American rapper Jay-Z, featuring Ja Rule and Amil. It was released on Def Jam's Rush Hour Soundtrack in promotion of the film Rush Hour, but also appears on Jay-Z's third album Vol. 2... Hard Knock Life as its first single. The song is produced by Irv Gotti and Lil' Rob. The song is notable for popularizing a young Amil and Ja Rule, as well as becoming one of Jay-Z's most commercially successful singles at the time, peaking at number 19 on the Billboard Hot 100.

The chorus of the original song starts with "Can I Get A 'Fuck You'?", but it was censored to "Can I Get A 'What What'?" and ".. whoop whoop" for radio airplay. The song deals with the question of whether Jay-Z's girlfriend would stick with him if he weren't wealthy.[2]

The vinyl "Can I Get A..." single was released in 1998 with two tracks that do not feature Jay-Z: Ja Rule's "Bitch Betta Have My Money" and Wu-Tang Clan's "And You Don't Stop". The CD single was released in 1999 with two different tracks that do not feature Jay-Z: Case and Joe's "Faded Pictures" as well as Dru Hill and Redman's "How Deep Is Your Love". All songs were included in the Rush Hour soundtrack.

Janet Jackson's 2004 song "Strawberry Bounce", from her album Damita Jo, samples "Can I Get A...".

VH1 ranked "Can I Get A..." at No. 57 in the network's 100 Greatest Songs of the 90s.

Chris Penn appears in the video as a bartender. Jermaine Dupri also makes a cameo.

Formats and track listings

CD

  1. "Can I Get A..." – 5:13
  2. "Faded Pictures" – 3:48
  3. "How Deep Is Your Love" – 3:58

Vinyl

A-side

  1. "Can I Get A..." (radio edit)
  2. "Bitch Betta Have My Money" (radio edit)
  3. "And You Don't Stop" (radio edit)

B-side

  1. "Can I Get A..." (TV track)
  2. "Bitch Betta Have My Money" (TV track)
  3. "And You Don't Stop" (TV track)

Charts

Chart (1998–1999) Peak
position
Canada (Canadian Hot 100)[3] 36
Germany (Official German Charts)[4] 12
Netherlands (Dutch Top 40)[5] 30
Scotland (OCC)[6] 55
Switzerland (Schweizer Hitparade)[7] 26
UK Hip Hop/R&B (OCC)[8] 5
UK Singles (OCC)[9] 24
US Billboard Hot 100[10] 19
US Hot R&B/Hip-Hop Songs (Billboard)[11] 6
US Hot Rap Songs (Billboard)[12] 22
US Mainstream Top 40 (Billboard)[13] 27
US Rhythmic (Billboard)[14] 2

Year-end charts

Chart (1999) Position
Germany (Official German Charts)[15] 80

See also

References

  1. ^ Sheffield, Rob (June 4, 2018). "The 98 Best Songs of 1998: Pop's Weirdest Year". Rolling Stone. Retrieved June 11, 2022. Bounce with me, bounce with me, Jay chants in his glossiest club track, an electro-disco gold-digger symposium with Amil speaking up for the ladies.
  2. ^ "Jay-Z's Can I Get A meaning". Songfacts. Retrieved 3 September 2016.
  3. ^ "Jay-Z Chart History (Canadian Hot 100)". Billboard. Retrieved June 29, 2017.
  4. ^ "Jay-Z feat. Amil & Ja Rule – Can I Get A..." (in German). GfK Entertainment charts. Retrieved October 14, 2018.
  5. ^ "Nederlandse Top 40 – Jay-Z" (in Dutch). Dutch Top 40. Retrieved June 29, 2017.
  6. ^ "Official Scottish Singles Sales Chart Top 100". Official Charts Company. Retrieved June 18, 2022.
  7. ^ "Jay-Z – Can I Get A...". Swiss Singles Chart. Retrieved June 29, 2017.
  8. ^ "Official Hip Hop and R&B Singles Chart Top 40". Official Charts Company. Retrieved June 18, 2022.
  9. ^ "Official Singles Chart Top 100". Official Charts Company. Retrieved June 29, 2017.
  10. ^ "Jay-Z Chart History (Hot 100)". Billboard. Retrieved June 18, 2022.
  11. ^ "Jay-Z Chart History (Hot R&B/Hip-Hop Songs)". Billboard. Retrieved June 18, 2022.
  12. ^ "Jay-Z Chart History (Hot Rap Songs)". Billboard. Retrieved June 18, 2022.
  13. ^ "Jay-Z Chart History (Pop Songs)". Billboard. Retrieved June 18, 2022.
  14. ^ "Jay-Z Chart History (Rhythmic)". Billboard. Retrieved June 18, 2022.
  15. ^ "Top 100 Single-Jahrescharts" (in German). GfK Entertainment. Retrieved April 21, 2018.
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