Can't Truss It

"Can't Truss It"
Single by Public Enemy
from the album Apocalypse 91... The Enemy Strikes Black
ReleasedSeptember 18, 1991 (1991-09-18)
StudioThe Music Palace (New York, NY)
GenreHip hop
Length5:21
Label
Songwriter(s)
Producer(s)The Imperial Grand Ministers Of Funk
Public Enemy singles chronology
"Can't Do Nuttin' for Ya Man"
(1990) 		"Can't Truss It"
(1991) 		"Shut 'Em Down"
(1991)
Music video
"Can't Truss It" on YouTube
Professional ratings
Review scores
SourceRating
AllMusic[1]

"Can't Truss It" is a song by American hip hop group Public Enemy. It was released on September 18, 1991 through Def Jam Recordings as the lead single from the group's fourth studio album Apocalypse 91... The Enemy Strikes Black. Recording sessions took place at The Music Palace in Long Island. Production was handled by the Imperial Grand Ministers of Funk, with The Bomb Squad serving as executive producers. An accompanying music video was directed by Eric Meza.

In the United States, the song reached number 50 on the Billboard Hot 100, number 9 on both the Hot R&B/Hip-Hop Songs and Dance Singles Sales, and number-one on the Hot Rap Songs. It was certified Gold by the Recording Industry Association of America on December 3, 1991 for selling 500,000 copies in the US. It also made it to number 22 on the UK singles chart and number 24 in New Zealand.

In 2007, the song was used in the Ridley Scott-directed biographical crime film American Gangster and was included in its original motion picture soundtrack.

Track listing

No.TitleLength
1."Can't Truss It" (Almighty Raw 125th Street Bootleg Mix) 
2."Can't Truss It" (Goree Island Conga Radio Mix) 
3."Can't Truss It" (Instrumental) 
4."Move!" (Censored Radio Version) 

Personnel

  • Carlton "Chuck D" Ridenhour — songwriter
  • Stuart Robertz — songwriter, producer
  • Gary "G-Wiz" Rinaldo — songwriter, producer, mixing (track 1)
  • Cerwin "C-Dawg" Depper — songwriter, producer
  • "The JBL" — producer
  • Bob Fudjinski — recording, mixing (tracks: 1, 3, 4)
  • Mike Bona — mixing (track 2)
  • Vlado Meller — mastering
  • The Bomb Squad — executive producers

Charts

Chart (1991) Peak
position
New Zealand (Recorded Music NZ)[2] 24
UK Singles (OCC)[3] 22
US Billboard Hot 100[4] 50
US Hot R&B/Hip-Hop Songs (Billboard)[5] 9
US Hot Rap Songs (Billboard)[6] 1

Certifications

Region Certification Certified units/sales
United States (RIAA)[7] Gold 500,000^

^ Shipments figures based on certification alone.

References

  1. ^ "Can't Truss It/Move [Clean] - Public Enemy". AllMusic. Retrieved April 29, 2024.
  2. ^ "Public Enemy – Can't Truss It". Top 40 Singles. Retrieved April 29, 2024.
  3. ^ "Official Singles Chart Top 100". Official Charts Company. Retrieved April 29, 2024.
  4. ^ "Public Enemy Chart History (Hot 100)". Billboard. Retrieved April 29, 2024.
  5. ^ "Public Enemy Chart History (Hot R&B/Hip-Hop Songs)". Billboard. Retrieved April 29, 2024.
  6. ^ "Public Enemy Chart History (Hot Rap Songs)". Billboard. Retrieved April 29, 2024.
  7. ^ "American single certifications – Public Enemy – Truss It". Recording Industry Association of America. Retrieved April 29, 2024.