Can't Knock the Hustle

## Single by Jay-Z featuring Mary J. Blige

"**Can't Knock the Hustle**" is the third single and opening track from American rapper Jay-Z's debut album, *Reasonable Doubt* (1996). It was released through Roc-A-Fella and Priority Records on August 27, 1996.

## Lyrics

**Lyrics**
[Skit: Pain In Da Ass]

Ah shit, okay, okay, alright

Big man! You wanna make some big bucks, huh?

Let's see how tough you are

You know something about cocaine? Digame!

You kidding me or what man?

There's a bunch of Colombians coming in Friday - new guys

They said they got two keys for us, for openers

Pure cocaine, you tell 'em, capiche?

I want you to go over there

And if it is what they say it is, you buy it, you bring it back

You can do that you make five grand

Meet them at the Bodegas, noon Friday

You get the buy money then

Oh and chico, if anything happens to the buy money

Eh, pobrecito

JAY-Z's gonna stick your heads up your asses faster than a rabbit gets fucked

[Intro: Jay-Z]

Bounce.. bounce, bounce, Jay-Z huh?

Yeah, yeah, yeah, Roc-A-Fella y'all, ha ha

Bounce, bounce, bounce, Roc-A-Fella y'all

Check, check

[Verse 1: Jay-Z]

Yo, I'm making short term goals when the weather folds

Just put away the leathers, and put ice on the gold

Chilly with enough bail money to free a big Willie

High stakes, I got more at stake than Philly

Shopping sprees, cop in three

Deuce fever IS's fully loaded, ah, yes

Bouncing in the Lex Luger, tires smoke like Buddha

50 G's to the crap shooter, n\*\*\*as can't fade me

Chrome socks beaming

Through my peripheral I see you scheming

Stop dreaming, I leave your body steaming

N\*\*\*as is fiending, what's the meaning?

I'm leaning on any n\*\*\*a intervening

With the sound of my money machining (Brrrr)

My cup runneth over with hundreds

I'm one of the best n\*\*\*as that done it, six digits and running

Y'all n\*\*\*as don't want it!

I got the Godfather flow, the Don Juan DeMarco

Swear to God, don't get it fucked up!

[Chorus 1: Mary J. Blige, *Jay-Z*]

I'm taking out this time (*Yeah, yeah, what*)

To give you a piece of my mind

(*'Cause you can't knock the hustle*)

Who do you think you are?

Baby, one day you'll be a star

[Verse 2: Jay-Z]

Last seen out of state where I drop my sling

I'm deep in the South, kicking up top game

Bouncing on the highway, switching fo' lanes

Screaming through the sunroof, money ain't a thang

Your worst fear confirmed

Me and my fam roll tight like The Firm

Getting down for life, that's right, you better learn

Why play with fire? You burn

We get together like a choir, to acquire what we desire

We do dirt like worms, produce G's like sperm

'Til legs spread like germs

I got extensive hoes with expensive clothes

And I sip fine wines and spit vintage flows

What y'all don't know?

Yeah, yeah, yeah, yeah, 'cause you can't knock the hustle

[Chorus 2: Mary J. Blige, *Jay-Z*]

But until then lately, I'm the one who's crazy?

'Cause that's the way you're making me feel

(*'Cause you can't knock the hustle*)

The way you make me feel

I'm just trying to get mine, I don't have the time

To knock the hustle for real

[Verse 3: Jay-Z]

Yo, y'all n\*\*\*as lunching, punching the clock

My function is to make much and lay back munching

Sipping Remy on the rocks, my crew something to watch

Nothing to stop, un-stoppable

Scheme on the ice, I gotta hot your crew

I gotta, let you n\*\*\*as know the time like Movado

My motto, stack rocks like Colorado

Waddle off the champagne, Cristals by the bottle

It's a damn shame what you're not though, (Who?) me!

Slick like a gato, fucking Jay-Z

My pops knew exactly what he did when he made me

Tried to get a nut, and he got a nut, and.. what!?

Straight bananas; can a n\*\*\*a see me?

Got the US Open, advantage J\*\*\*a

Serve like Sampras, play fake rappers like a campus

Le Tigre, son, you're too eager

You ain't having it? Good! Me either

Let's get together and make this whole world believe us, huh?

At my arraignment, screaming

All us blacks got is sports and entertainment, until we even

Thieving, as long as I'm breathing

Can't knock the way a n\*\*\*a eating, fuck you even!

[Chorus: Mary J. Blige]

I'm taking out this time, to give you a piece of my mind

Who do you think you are?

Baby, one day you'll be a star

But until then lately, I'm the one who's crazy?

'Cause that's the way you're making me feel

I'm just trying to get mine, I don't have the time

To knock the hustle for real

Template:Reasonable Doubt