Can't Knock the Hustle

Album: Black Album (2019)
Play Video

Songfacts®:

  • This fusion of funk, rock and Latin music shares a title with an early Jay-Z song. Hova's 1996 cut was about him capitalizing on his hustling on the streets in order to become a fledging rapper; Weezer's song has a similar meaning about working hard.
  • The funky Latin track features a post chorus sung in Spanish:

    Hasta luego, hasta luego
    Hasta luego, adios.


    It translates as:

    See you later, see you later
    See you later, goodbye
  • This was released as the lead single from Weezer's The Black Album (which also shares a title with a Jay-Z longplayer). All the songs for the record were written on piano by frontman Rivers Cuomo for the first time in the band's history. Cuomo then sent his demos to his bandmates and Black Album producer TV on the Radio's Dave Sitek so they could add their own spin.
  • The song's music video features Fall Out Boy's Pete Wentz as a rideshare driver enduring a nightmare shift.

    The clip was originally filmed for a song called "Happy Hour," from Weezer's Pacific Daydream album, but they gave up on the single before it even came out. Then the band decided to re-cut the visual to accompany a single called "Cardigan Disaster" but when Weezer's cover of "Africa" started going crazy on the radio, they canned that release. Finally, when Weezer decided to release "Can't Knock the Hustle" as their first single from the Black Album, they re-cut the video again to accompany it.

    Cuomo told Billboard: "Each time we re-cut it, it seemed to fit the song even better."

Comments

Be the first to comment...

Editor's Picks

Marc Campbell - "88 Lines About 44 Women"

Marc Campbell - "88 Lines About 44 Women"They're Playing My Song

The Nails lead singer Marc Campbell talks about those 44 women he sings about over a stock Casio keyboard track. He's married to one of them now - you might be surprised which.

JJ Burnel of The Stranglers

JJ Burnel of The StranglersSongwriter Interviews

JJ talks about The Stranglers' signature sound - keyboard and bass - which isn't your typical strain of punk rock.

Colin Hay

Colin HaySongwriter Interviews

Established as a redoubtable singer-songwriter, the Men At Work frontman explains how religion, sobriety and Jack Nicholson play into his songwriting.

Guy Clark

Guy ClarkSongwriter Interviews

Vince Gill, Emmylou Harris and Lyle Lovett are just a few of the artists who have looked to Clark for insightful, intelligent songs.

Into The Great Wide Open: Made-up Musicians

Into The Great Wide Open: Made-up MusiciansSong Writing

Eddie (played by Johnny Depp in the video) found fame fleeting, but Chuck Berry's made-up musician fared better.

Danny Clinch: The Art of Rock Photography

Danny Clinch: The Art of Rock PhotographySong Writing

One of rock's top photographers talks about artistry in photography, raising funds for a documentary, and enjoying a County Fair with Tom Waits.