If I Can't

"If I Can't" is a song recorded by American rapper 50 Cent for his debut studio album Get Rich or Die Tryin' (2003). It is one of the album's four tracks produced by Dr. Dre, with co-production from frequent collaborator Mike Elizondo. Lyrically, the song describes how 50 Cent believes that "if I [he] can't do it [referring to anything], it can't be done". It was released as the fourth and final single from Get Rich or Die Tryin' on September 16, 2003, by Interscope Records, Shady Records and Aftermath Entertainment.

"If I Can't" failed to match the commercial success of its predecessors, peaking only at number 76 on the US Billboard Hot 100. However, it peaked at number ten in the United Kingdom, after being released as a double A-side single with G-Unit's song "Poppin' Them Thangs".

Background

 * ""Before my album Get Rich or Die Tryin' came out, there was a big debate about what the first single should be. Jimmy Iovine thought it should be the one that Dr. Dre produced, 'If I Can't'. But Em wanted 'In da Club'. In the end they were deadlocked, so they asked me and I told them, real quiet, 'In da Club'." – 50 Cent"

Released in 2003, it reached No. 76 in the US, becoming 50 Cent's sixth Hot 100 entry, but nonetheless his weakest charting single at that time. It also peaked at No. 10 in the UK as a double A-side with "Poppin' Them Thangs" (G-Unit). The song was written by 50 Cent, Dr. Dre, and Mike Elizondo, with production by Dr. Dre, and Mike Elizondo.

Music video
At the start there is a white man introducing 50 Cent; it then consists of video footage of 50 Cent in different concerts and documentaries. All of the members of G-Unit are seen in the video. It is very similar to the music video to Eminem's 2003 single "Sing for the Moment".

Track listing

 * UK CD single
 * 1) "If I Can't" - 3:16
 * 2) "Poppin' Them Thangs" (with G-Unit) - 3:45
 * 3) "In da Club" (Live in New York) - 4:52
 * 4) "If I Can't" (Music Video) - 3:24
 * 5) "Poppin' Them Things" (Music Video) - 3:48


 * German CD single
 * 1) "If I Can't" - 3:16
 * 2) "Poppin' Them Things" (with G-Unit) - 3:45


 * Australian CD single
 * 1) "If I Can't" - 3:16
 * 2) "In da Club" (Live in New York) - 4:52
 * 3) "What Up Gangsta" (Live in New York) - 4:08
 * 4) "If I Can't" (Instrumental) - 3:08