"Can't Tell Me Nothing" received universal acclaim from music critics, who mostly appreciated the lyrical content. Others praised the production, while some critics highlighted the song's inclusion on "Graduation". It was listed amongst the best tracks of 2007 by several publications, including "Consequence of Sound" and "Pitchfork". The song received a nomination for Best Rap Song at the 50th Annual Grammy Awards, ultimately losing to "Good Life". The former reached number 41 on the US "Billboard" Hot 100, alongside peaking at number 20 on the US Hot R&B/Hip-Hop Songs chart, and was certified triple platinum in the United States by the Recording Industry Association of America (RIAA). It has also been certified gold and silver in Australia and the United Kingdom by the Australian Recording Industry Association (ARIA) and British Phonographic Industry (BPI), respectively.