Can't Tell Me Nothing

Album: Graduation (2007)
Charted: 41
Play Video

Songfacts®:

  • This features vocal samples from Jeezy's 2006 album track "I Got Money."
  • Kanye West told Concrete Loop about what he feels is the wide appeal of this song: "I hear records that are super hot for two months, but the records won't last in people's minds. I set out not to just make records that could hop off the radio instantly, but stuff that will speak to people. People still bring up 'Spaceships' to me. And people compare 'Can't Tell Me Nothing' to 'Spaceships' saying that's a song that inspires them when they going to work. But the chords itself, is like a Led Zeppelin, rock melody. Yeah, you thinking it's made for the car and you thinking it's made for the club, and it works in the arena because DJ Toomp did the drums and all that, but the actual melody is made to rock 50,000 people."
  • Two music videos were made. The first was directed by Hype Williams and shows West rapping in the middle of the desert. The second was directed by Michael Blieden, and features comedian Zach Galifianakis and folk singer Will Oldham lip-syncing the tune at Galifianakis' North Carolina farm.

Comments: 2

  • Matt from Boston, MaThat line is also in the song "School of Hard Knocks" by P.O.D.
  • Mikey from San Jose, CaThe line "Your homies lookin' like "Why God?", when they reminisce over you, my God", is a reference to the song "They Reminisce Over You (T.R.O.Y.)" by Pete Rock and CL Smooth.
see more comments

Editor's Picks

Benny Mardones

Benny MardonesSongwriter Interviews

His song "Into The Night" is one of the most-played of all time. For Benny, it took him to hell and back.

Best Band Logos

Best Band LogosSong Writing

Queen, Phish and The Stones are among our picks for the best band logos. Here are their histories and a design analysis from an expert.

Dennis DeYoung

Dennis DeYoungSongwriter Interviews

Dennis DeYoung explains why "Mr. Roboto" is the defining Styx song, and what the "gathering of angels" represents in "Come Sail Away."

How "A Rolling Stone Gathers No Moss" Became Rock's Top Proverb

How "A Rolling Stone Gathers No Moss" Became Rock's Top ProverbSong Writing

How a country weeper and a blues number made "rolling stone" the most popular phrase in rock.

Director Mark Pellington ("Jeremy," "Best Of You")

Director Mark Pellington ("Jeremy," "Best Of You")Song Writing

Director Mark Pellington on Pearl Jam's "Jeremy," and music videos he made for U2, Jon Bon Jovi and Imagine Dragons.

Shaun Morgan of Seether

Shaun Morgan of SeetherSongwriter Interviews

Shaun breaks down the Seether songs, including the one about his brother, the one about Ozzy, and the one that may or may not be about his ex-girlfriend Amy Lee.