Hip-hop royalty just met the beautiful game. Amazon Music is exclusively streaming a brand-new cover of A Tribe Called Quest’s iconic “Can I Kick It?”—produced by legendary hip-hop architect DJ Premier and performed by rising star Samara Cyn. The track dropped as part of Major League Soccer’s biggest marketing campaign in league history, and it hits exactly as hard as you’d expect.
What Makes This “Can I Kick It?” Cover So Special?
Covering a Tribe Called Quest record is no small task. The 1990 original is woven into the DNA of hip-hop culture—a classic that defined an era. DJ Premier, one of the most decorated producers in the genre’s history, didn’t take the responsibility lightly.
“To cover a timeless classic of A Tribe Called Quest’s record is an honor to be trusted to present it. I spoke with Q-Tip to let him know that—because the original is already a masterpiece,” Premier said.
That reverence shows in the final product. DJ Premier’s production brings a modern, high-energy edge while holding onto the soul of the original. Samara Cyn layers her singular lyricism and style over the beat, creating something that feels both familiar and completely fresh. The result bridges generations of hip-hop without losing an ounce of authenticity—a genuinely difficult balance to strike.
The track runs 3 minutes and 32 seconds and is released under Samara Cyn LLC, exclusively licensed to VANTA Music/VANTA Records.
The MLS Campaign Behind the Music
This Amazon Music Original wasn’t created in a vacuum. It serves as the sonic backbone of “Thanks World, We’ll Take It From Here”—the largest coordinated marketing campaign in MLS history.
The campaign is designed to capitalize on FIFA World Cup momentum and convert global soccer excitement into lasting MLS fandom as the regular season resumes July 16–17. And the lineup assembled for this campaign is nothing short of stacked.
Featured names include:
- Players: Lionel Messi, Son Heung-Min, and U.S. Men’s National Team captain Tim Ream
- Celebrity Owners: David Beckham, Matthew McConaughey, Magic Johnson, and Kevin Durant
The campaign spans national broadcast, streaming, digital, social media, and out-of-home advertising. It debuted during FOX’s FIFA World Cup semifinal and final coverage, with rollout continuing across Apple TV, TSN, and beyond.
Pairing DJ Premier and Samara Cyn’s reimagining of a hip-hop cornerstone with that kind of reach? That’s a statement. MLS isn’t just chasing the World Cup spotlight—it’s building its own cultural identity, and this track is central to that effort.
Why DJ Premier and Samara Cyn?
The casting here is deliberate. DJ Premier has been a cornerstone of hip-hop production for over three decades—his credits span Gang Starr, Nas, Jay-Z, and Kendrick Lamar. Bringing him in signals that MLS wanted something with real cultural weight, not just a polished commercial sound.
Samara Cyn represents the next wave. Her lyricism and presence give the track an urgency that matches the energy MLS is trying to project as the league steps into its biggest moment yet. Together, they deliver something that cuts through the noise—a collaboration that music heads and soccer fans alike can get behind.
DJ Premier also discussed the making of the Amazon Original with Billboard, offering further insight into the creative process behind the track.
Stream “Can I Kick It?” Now on Amazon Music
Whether you’ve been a hip-hop fan since the Tribe days or you’re just catching the MLS wave, this cover deserves your attention. Samara Cyn and DJ Premier took something sacred and made it new—and they did it with the kind of care and skill that the original demands.
Stream the full track exclusively on Amazon Music and see what all the noise is about.
