Can I Get A...

1998 single by Jay-Z

"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

Released

August 22, 1998 (1998-08-22)

Recorded

1998

Genre

Hip hop
electro-disco^[1]

Length

5:11

Label

Def Jam
PolyGram

Songwriter(s)

Shawn Carter
Jeffrey Atkins
Irving Lorenzo
Robin Mays

Producer(s)

Irv Gotti
Lil' Rob

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

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

Vinyl

A-side

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

B-side

"Can I Get A..." (TV track)
"Bitch Betta Have My Money" (TV track)
"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

References

^ 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.
^ "Jay-Z's Can I Get A meaning". Songfacts. Retrieved 3 September 2016.
^ "Jay-Z Chart History (Canadian Hot 100)". Billboard. Retrieved June 29, 2017.
^ "Jay-Z feat. Amil & Ja Rule – Can I Get A..." (in German). GfK Entertainment charts. Retrieved October 14, 2018.
^ "Nederlandse Top 40 – Jay-Z" (in Dutch). Dutch Top 40. Retrieved June 29, 2017.
^ "Official Scottish Singles Sales Chart Top 100". Official Charts Company. Retrieved June 18, 2022.
^ "Jay-Z – Can I Get A...". Swiss Singles Chart. Retrieved June 29, 2017.
^ "Official Hip Hop and R&B Singles Chart Top 40". Official Charts Company. Retrieved June 18, 2022.
^ "Official Singles Chart Top 100". Official Charts Company. Retrieved June 29, 2017.
^ "Jay-Z Chart History (Hot 100)". Billboard. Retrieved June 18, 2022.
^ "Jay-Z Chart History (Hot R&B/Hip-Hop Songs)". Billboard. Retrieved June 18, 2022.
^ "Jay-Z Chart History (Hot Rap Songs)". Billboard. Retrieved June 18, 2022.
^ "Jay-Z Chart History (Pop Songs)". Billboard. Retrieved June 18, 2022.
^ "Jay-Z Chart History (Rhythmic)". Billboard. Retrieved June 18, 2022.
^ "Top 100 Single-Jahrescharts" (in German). GfK Entertainment. Retrieved April 21, 2018.

Rush Hour

Films

Rush Hour (1998)
Rush Hour 2 (2001)
Rush Hour 3 (2007)

Television

Rush Hour (2016)

Soundtracks

Def Jam's Rush Hour Soundtrack
- "Can I Get A..."
- "How Deep Is Your Love"
Def Jam's Rush Hour 2 Soundtrack
- "Area Codes"
Rush Hour 3 Soundtrack
- "Less Than an Hour"

Category

Jay-Z songs

Reasonable Doubt

"Can't Knock the Hustle"
"Dead Presidents"
"Feelin' It"
"Ain't No Nigga"

In My Lifetime, Vol. 1

"The City Is Mine"
"(Always Be My) Sunshine"
"Wishing on a Star"

Vol. 2... Hard Knock Life

"Hard Knock Life (Ghetto Anthem)"
"Nigga What, Nigga Who (Originator 99)"
"Money, Cash, Hoes"
"Can I Get A..."

Vol. 3...
Life and Times of S. Carter

"Do It Again (Put Ya Hands Up)"
"Things That U Do"
"Big Pimpin'"
"Jigga My Nigga"
"Girl's Best Friend"

The Dynasty: Roc La Familia

"Change the Game"
"I Just Wanna Love U (Give It 2 Me)"
"Guilty Until Proven Innocent"

The Blueprint

"Takeover"
"Izzo (H.O.V.A.)"
"Girls, Girls, Girls"
"Jigga That Nigga"
"Song Cry"
"Renegade"

The Blueprint 2:
The Gift & The Curse

The Black Album

"What More Can I Say"
"Encore"
"Change Clothes"
"Dirt off Your Shoulder"
"99 Problems"
"Public Service Announcement"
"My 1st Song"

Unfinished Business
(with R. Kelly)

"Big Chips"
"Don't Let Me Die"

Kingdom Come

"Show Me What You Got"
"Lost One"
"Hollywood"

American Gangster

"Roc Boys (And the Winner Is)..."
"I Know"
"Blue Magic"

The Blueprint 3

"D.O.A. (Death of Auto-Tune)"
"Run This Town"
"Empire State of Mind"
"On to the Next One"
"A Star Is Born"
"Young Forever"

Watch the Throne
(with Kanye West)

"No Church in the Wild"
"Lift Off"
"Niggas in Paris"
"Otis"
"Gotta Have It"
"Welcome to the Jungle"
"Who Gon Stop Me"
"Murder to Excellence"
"Made in America"
"Why I Love You"

Deluxe	"Illest Motherfucker Alive" "H•A•M"

Magna Carta Holy Grail

"Holy Grail"
"Picasso Baby"
"Tom Ford"
"FuckWithMeYouKnowIGotIt"
"Oceans"
"Heaven"
"Part II (On the Run)"

4:44

"The Story of O.J."
"4:44"
"Family Feud"
"Bam"

Other songs

"In My Lifetime"
"Who You Wit"
"It's Alright"
"Anything"
"Honey"
"La-La-La"
"Numb/Encore"
"Swagga Like Us"
"Jockin' Jay-Z (Dopeboy Fresh)"
"Brooklyn Go Hard"
"Lost!"
"Stranded (Haiti Mon Amour)"
"Glory"
"Clique"
"All the Way Up" (Remix)
"Apeshit"
"What It Feels Like"

Featured songs

"Can I Get Open"
"Show & Prove"
"I'll Be"
"Be Alone No More" (Remix)
"Money Ain't a Thang"
"Ha" (Remix)
"Heartbreaker"
"Best of Me Part II"
"My Mind Right" (Remix)
"Is That Your Chick (The Lost Verses)"
"Do My..."
"Fiesta" (Remix)
"Welcome to New York City"
"Guess Who's Back"
"What We Do"
"Beware of the Boys (Mundian To Bach Ke)"
"Back in the Day"
"Crazy in Love"
"Frontin'"
"Get By" (Remix)
"Never Let Me Down"
"Dear Summer"
"Diamonds from Sierra Leone" (Remix)
"Shake It Off" (Remix)
"Go Crazy"
"Get Throwed"
"Déjà Vu"
"Upgrade U"
"Umbrella"
"I Get Money (Forbes 1-2-3 Billion Dollar Remix)"
"Rehab" (Remix)
"Bye Bye" (Remix)
"Mr. Carter"
"Put On" (Remix)
"Go Hard" (Remix)
"My President (DC Mix)"
"I Wanna Rock (The Kings' G-Mix)"
"Hot Tottie"
"XXXO" (Remix)
"Power" (Remix)
"So Appalled"
"Monster"
"Shiny Suit Theory"
"I Do"
"Talk That Talk"
"Suit & Tie"
"Bitch, Don't Kill My Vibe" (Remix)
"Pound Cake"
"Know Bout Me"
"Drunk in Love"
"The Devil Is a Lie"
"They Don't Love You No More"
"Jungle" (Remix)
"Seen It All"
"Pop Style"
"Drug Dealers Anonymous"
"I Got the Keys"
"Shining"
"Biking"
"Top Off"
"Talk Up"
"Sorry Not Sorry"
"Jail"
"Love All"
"Neck & Wrist"
"God Did"

Category

v t e Ja Rule
Discography
Studio albums	Venni Vetti Vecci Rule 3:36 Pain Is Love The Last Temptation Blood in My Eye R.U.L.E. Pain Is Love 2
Compilation albums	Exodus Icon
Mixtapes	The Mirror
Singles	"Holla Holla" "Between Me and You" "Put It on Me" "I Cry" "Livin' It Up" "Always on Time" "Down Ass Bitch" "Down 4 U" "Thug Lovin'" "Mesmerize" "Reign" "Clap Back" "Wonderful" "New York" "Caught Up" "Uh-Ohhh!" "Body" "Real Life Fantasy"
Featured artist	"Can I Get A..." "Grand Finale" "Girlfriend/Boyfriend" "Damn (Should've Treated U Right)" "Get da Money" "I'm Real" (Murder Remix) "Ain't It Funny (Murder Remix)" "What's Going On" "Rainy Dayz" "What's Luv?" "Old Thing Back" "Helpless"
Tours	Summerbeatz
Related articles	Murder Inc. Records Murder Inc. Follow the Rules Growing Up Hip Hop: New York

v t e Amil
Albums	All Money Is Legal
Singles	"I Got That" "4 da Fam"
Featured singles	"Can I Get A..." "Nigga What, Nigga Who (Originator 99)" "Do It Again (Put Ya Hands Up)" "Hey Papi"
Related articles	Discography Roc-A-Fella Records Jay-Z

v t e MTV Video Music Award for Best Rap Video
"Parents Just Don't Understand" (1989) "U Can't Touch This" (1990) "Mama Said Knock You Out" (1991) "Tennessee" (1992) "People Everyday" (1993) "Doggy Dogg World" (1994) "Keep Their Heads Ringin'" (1995) "Gangsta's Paradise" (1996) "Hypnotize" (1997) "Gettin' Jiggy wit It" (1998) "Can I Get A..." (1999) "Forgot About Dre" (2000) "Ride wit Me" (2001) "Without Me" (2002) "In da Club" (2003) "99 Problems" (2004) "Number One Spot" (2005) "Ridin'" (2006)

MTV Video Music Award for Best Rap Video