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'. It is one of the album's four tracks produced by Dr. Dre, with co-production from Mike Elizondo. The song was released in Europe and Australia as the album's fourth and final single on September 16, 2003, through Interscope Records, Shady Records and Aftermath Entertainment.

"If I Can't"
Single by 50 Cent
from the album Get Rich or Die Tryin'
A-side	"Poppin' Them Thangs"
B-side	"In da Club" "What Up Gangsta"
Released	September 16, 2003
Genre	Hip hop gangsta rap
Length	3:16
Label	Interscope Shady Aftermath G-Unit
Songwriter(s)	Curtis Jackson Andre Young Mike Elizondo
Producer(s)	Dr. Dre Mike Elizondo
50 Cent singles chronology
"P.I.M.P." (2003) "If I Can't" (2003) "On Fire" (2004)

With no physical single released in the US, the song failed to match the commercial success of its predecessors, peaking at number 76 on the US Billboard Hot 100 through radio play alone. However, it peaked at number ten in the United Kingdom through physical purchases, with a limited edition version of the single being released as a double A-side along with G-Unit's "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^[1]

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^[2]

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^[3]

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

• Australian CD single^[4]

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

Charts

Weekly charts Weekly chart performance for "If I Can't" Chart (2003–2004) Peak position Australia (ARIA)[5] 22 Australian Urban (ARIA)[6] 10 Austria (Ö3 Austria Top 40)[7] 48 Belgium (Ultratop 50 Flanders)[8] 24 Belgium (Ultratip Bubbling Under Wallonia)[9] 5 Germany (GfK)[10] 34 Hungary (Dance Top 40)[11] 9 Hungary (Single Top 40)[12] 6 Ireland (IRMA)[13] with "Poppin' Them Thangs" 11 Italy (FIMI)[14] 17 Netherlands (Dutch Top 40)[15] 25 Netherlands (Single Top 100)[16] 14 New Zealand (Recorded Music NZ)[17] 26 Scotland (OCC)[18] with "Poppin' Them Thangs" 12 Switzerland (Schweizer Hitparade)[19] 18 UK Singles (OCC)[20] with "Poppin' Them Thangs" 10 UK Hip Hop/R&B (OCC)[21] with "Poppin' Them Thangs" 3 US Billboard Hot 100[22] 76 US Hot R&B/Hip-Hop Songs (Billboard)[23] 34 US Hot Rap Songs (Billboard)[24] 22 US Rhythmic (Billboard)[25] 16

Year-end charts 2003 year-end chart performance for "If I Can't" Chart (2003) Position US Hot R&B/Hip-Hop Songs (Billboard)[26] 93 2004 year-end chart performance for "If I Can't" Chart (2004) Position Switzerland (Schweizer Hitparade)[27] 100 UK Singles (OCC)[28] 165

Certifications

Certifications and sales for "If I Can't"

Region	Certification	Certified units/sales
Denmark (IFPI Danmark)[29]	Gold	45,000‡
Germany (BVMI)[30]	Gold	150,000‡
United Kingdom (BPI)[31] with "Poppin' Them Thangs"	Gold	400,000‡
United States (RIAA)[32]	Gold	500,000‡
‡ Sales+streaming figures based on certification alone.

Release history

Release dates and formats for "If I Can't"

Region	Date	Format(s)	Label(s)	Ref.
United States	September 16, 2003 (2003-09-16)	Digital download	Interscope Shady Aftermath	[32]
Australia	January 19, 2004	Maxi CD	Universal Music	[33]
United Kingdom[a]	February 23, 2004	12-inch vinyl maxi CD	Polydor	[34]
Germany[a]	March 15, 2004	Maxi CD	Universal Music	[10]

Notes

1. Across Europe, "If I Can't" was released as a double A-side single with "Poppin' Them Thangs".

References

1. Haynes, Gavin (October 1, 2015). "Soundtrack of my life". NME. p. 48.
2. "If I Can't / Poppin' Them Thangs". 23 February 2004 – via Amazon.
3. "If I Can't Poppin Them 2" – via Amazon.
4. "50 CENT IF I CAN'T CD SINGLE - eBay". eBay. Archived from the original on 2016-03-04. Retrieved 2013-01-25.
5. "50 Cent – If I Can't". ARIA Top 50 Singles. Retrieved February 14, 2020.
6. "Issue 727" ARIA Top 40 Urban Singles. National Library of Australia. Retrieved February 27, 2022.
7. "50 Cent – If I Can't" (in German). Ö3 Austria Top 40. Retrieved February 14, 2020.
8. "50 Cent – If I Can't" (in Dutch). Ultratop 50. Retrieved February 14, 2020.
9. "50 Cent – If I Can't" (in French). Ultratip. Retrieved February 14, 2020.
10. "50 Cent – If I Can't" (in German). GfK Entertainment charts. Retrieved February 14, 2020.
11. "Archívum – Slágerlisták – MAHASZ" (in Hungarian). Dance Top 40 lista. Magyar Hanglemezkiadók Szövetsége. Retrieved January 19, 2024.
12. "Archívum – Slágerlisták – MAHASZ" (in Hungarian). Single (track) Top 40 lista. Magyar Hanglemezkiadók Szövetsége. Retrieved January 19, 2024.
13. "The Irish Charts – Search Results – 50 Cent". Irish Singles Chart. Retrieved September 1, 2023.
14. "50 Cent – If I Can't". Top Digital Download. Retrieved February 14, 2020.
15. "Nederlandse Top 40 – week 18, 2004" (in Dutch). Dutch Top 40. Retrieved February 14, 2020.
16. "50 Cent – If I Can't" (in Dutch). Single Top 100. Retrieved February 14, 2020.
17. "50 Cent – If I Can't". Top 40 Singles. Retrieved February 14, 2020.
18. "Official Scottish Singles Sales Chart Top 100". Official Charts Company. Retrieved May 7, 2022.
19. "50 Cent – If I Can't". Swiss Singles Chart. Retrieved February 14, 2020.
20. "Official Singles Chart Top 100". Official Charts Company. Retrieved May 7, 2022.
21. "Official Hip Hop and R&B Singles Chart Top 40". Official Charts Company. Retrieved December 7, 2017.
22. "50 Cent Chart History (Hot 100)". Billboard. Retrieved February 14, 2020.
23. "50 Cent Chart History (Hot R&B/Hip-Hop Songs)". Billboard. Retrieved February 14, 2020.
24. "50 Cent Chart History (Hot Rap Songs)". Billboard. Retrieved February 14, 2020.
25. "50 Cent Chart History (Rhythmic)". Billboard. Retrieved February 14, 2020.
26. "Hot R&B/Hip-Hop Songs – Year-End 2003". Billboard. Retrieved March 6, 2021.
27. "Schweizer Jahreshitparade 2004". hitparade.ch. Retrieved February 14, 2020.
28. "UK Year-End Chart 2004" (PDF). Official Charts Company. Retrieved February 14, 2020.
29. "Danish single certifications – 50 Cent – If I Can't". IFPI Danmark. Retrieved January 29, 2023.
30. "Gold-/Platin-Datenbank (50 Cent; 'If I Can't')" (in German). Bundesverband Musikindustrie. Retrieved March 30, 2023.
31. "British single certifications – 50 Cent & G Unit – If I Can't/Them Thangs". British Phonographic Industry. Retrieved May 30, 2022.
32. "American single certifications – 50 Cent – If I Can't". Recording Industry Association of America. Retrieved January 20, 2023.
33. "New Releases Singles – Week Commencing 19th January 2004" (PDF). The ARIA Report (725). Australian Recording Industry Association: 25. January 19, 2004. Archived from the original (PDF) on February 7, 2004. Retrieved September 1, 2023 – via Pandora archive.
34. "New Releases: Singles" (PDF). Music Week. February 21, 2004. p. 33. Retrieved September 1, 2023 – via World Radio History.