“I Can” is the second single from the Nas album, God’s Son.

Boasting production from Salaam Remi, the song samples Ludwig van Beethoven‘s “Für Elise” and The Honey Drippers‘ “Impeach the President”.

Its lyrics are positive, encouraging the youth to stay drug-free, and pursue their dreams. The lyrics also detail various events in African history.

The music video, directed by Chris Robinson, was shot in Philadelphia, 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 starts off by playing the piano in a vacant lot, and later one can see children jumping on a mattress in the same lot. The video also contains footage of breakdancing and famous Egyptian structures.