My Life (The Game song)
Encyclopedia
"My Life" is the third single from The Game
's third studio album, LAX which was released on August 22, 2008. The song, produced by Cool & Dre
, features Lil Wayne
.
The Game spoke on his working with Lil Wayne stating:
. However, later on his website, Game denied this, and apologized to anyone who might have misunderstood what he had intended to say:
The exact lines which many understood as a diss were:
On the version used in the music video, the lyrics have been changed to:
's track Stan
of the album Marshall Mathers LP. Also at the beginning of the second verse, The Game samples a twice used Lil Wayne line from the remix of "Party Like a Rockstar
", and "Phone Home", from Tha Carter III
:
Although multiple samples were used for the song, the album credits only list the sample of "So Tired".
.
, and premiered on FNMTV
on August 15, 2008. The setting takes place mostly within a graveyard and other areas in and around Compton
and features Lil Wayne, with appearances by Birdman, Cool & Dre, and Young Buck
, with references to the deceased Sean Bell
. The video also makes references to the gang the Bloods
Also in the video is a reference to the "Beats by Dr. Dre
" headphones made by Monster
. In the video The Game also wears a shirt that reads "Hip Hop Broke My Heart", which, in an interview with website HipHopDX.com, he stated, among other things,
released a behind-the-scenes video on his official "SkeeTV" YouTube
account. The video has many people speaking to the camera including director Bryan Barber
speaking on different subjects within the video. Young Buck is seen speaking about his label, Cashville Records, and artists signed to the label such as the Outlawz
, and C-Bo
. Also on "SkeeTV", a trailer was released to promote the video, on August 14, the day before the video was officially released.
making it The Game's highest debut on the chart. It also debuted at #32 on the Pop 100
which was also based on downloads. In Canada it debuted #42 on the Canadian Hot 100
chart the same week also based on downloads as well. On the UK Singles Chart
it peaked at #34.
on their 2010
album jj no. 3
.
There's a remix with French rapper La Fouine
singing Lil Wayne
's bits.
The Game (rapper)
Jayceon Terrell Taylor , better known by his stage name Game, formerly The Game, is an American rapper and actor. As a member of G-Unit, he rose to fame in 2005 with the success of his debut album, The Documentary, which earned him two Grammy Award nominations...
's third studio album, LAX which was released on August 22, 2008. The song, produced by Cool & Dre
Cool & Dre
Cool & Dre are a team of hip hop producers from Miami, Florida, consisting of Marcello "Cool" Valenzano and Andre "Dre" Christopher Lyon.-Epidemic Records:...
, features Lil Wayne
Lil Wayne
Dwayne Michael Carter, Jr. , better known by his stage name Lil Wayne, is an American rapper. At the age of nine, Lil Wayne joined Cash Money Records as the youngest member of the label, and half of the duo, The B.G.'z, with B.G.. In 1997, Lil Wayne joined the group Hot Boys, which also included...
.
Recording
Producers Cool & Dre have released a video documenting how they created the beat.The Game spoke on his working with Lil Wayne stating:
Controversy
When the song first leaked, many believed The Game was "dissing" EminemEminem
Marshall Bruce Mathers III , better known by his stage name Eminem or his alter ego Slim Shady, is an American rapper, record producer, songwriter and actor. Eminem's popularity brought his group project, D12, to mainstream recognition...
. However, later on his website, Game denied this, and apologized to anyone who might have misunderstood what he had intended to say:
The exact lines which many understood as a diss were:
- You see them 24's spinning? I earned 'em
- And all the pictures of me and Em, I burned 'em
- So there ain't no proof that I ever walked through 8 Mile
- And since there ain't no ProofProof (rapper)DeShaun Dupree Holton better known as Proof his stage name, was an American rapper from Detroit, Michigan. During his career, he was a member of the groups Goon Squad, 5 Elementz, Promatic, and most notably D12...
, I'll never walk through 8 Mile
On the version used in the music video, the lyrics have been changed to:
- You see them 24's spinnin'? I earned 'em
- And I ain't no preacher, but here's my Erick SermonErick SermonErick Sermon , in Bay Shore, New York is an American rapper, musician, and producer.Sermon is best known as half of late-1980s/1990s hip hop group EPMD and for production work. He currently resides in Islandia, New York.- Career :...
- So eat this black music, and tell me how it taste, now
- And fuck Jesse JacksonJesse JacksonJesse Louis Jackson, Sr. is an African-American civil rights activist and Baptist minister. He was a candidate for the Democratic presidential nomination in 1984 and 1988 and served as shadow senator for the District of Columbia from 1991 to 1997. He was the founder of both entities that merged to...
cause it ain't about race, now
Samples
Lil Wayne re-sings sections of "So Tired", a song by Birdman in which Wayne is featured. Also Game tried to make this song have the same instruments for EminemEminem
Marshall Bruce Mathers III , better known by his stage name Eminem or his alter ego Slim Shady, is an American rapper, record producer, songwriter and actor. Eminem's popularity brought his group project, D12, to mainstream recognition...
's track Stan
Stan (song)
"Stan" is the third single from The Marshall Mathers LP, by rapper Eminem featuring Dido. It peaked at number one in the United Kingdom and Australia. It is also included on Curtain Call: The Hits, performed with Eminem and Dido as well track 17 on Curtain Call: The Hits as a live Performance from...
of the album Marshall Mathers LP. Also at the beginning of the second verse, The Game samples a twice used Lil Wayne line from the remix of "Party Like a Rockstar
Party Like a Rockstar
"Party Like a Rockstar" is a rap song recorded by Shop Boyz. It was released as the first single from their debut album Rockstar Mentality . It reached high success during summer 2007 and was successful in the United States, peaking in the top five on the Billboard Hot R&B/Hip-Hop Songs, Hot Rap...
", and "Phone Home", from Tha Carter III
Tha Carter III
Tha Carter III is the sixth studio album by American rapper Lil Wayne, released June 10, 2008 on Cash Money Records. It follows a long string of mixtape releases and guest appearances on other hip hop and R&B artists records, helping to increase his exposure in the mainstream...
:
- We are not the same, I am a Martian
Although multiple samples were used for the song, the album credits only list the sample of "So Tired".
Release
The song started to receive airplay on July 22, 2008, but was leaked in early July. As of early August 2008 the song was released for download on iTunesITunes
iTunes is a media player computer program, used for playing, downloading, and organizing digital music and video files on desktop computers. It can also manage contents on iPod, iPhone, iPod Touch and iPad....
.
Music video
The video which was filmed on July 23, 2008, was directed by Bryan BarberBryan Barber
Bryan Barber is a music video and motion picture director. He has directed many music videos for popular artists.-Personal:Barber graduated from Sacramento, CA Hiram Johnson High School in 1988...
, and premiered on FNMTV
FNMTV
FNMTV is a music video program on MTV focused on premiering new music videos and airing viewers' instantaneous feedback from its website...
on August 15, 2008. The setting takes place mostly within a graveyard and other areas in and around Compton
Compton, California
Compton is a city in southern Los Angeles County, California, United States, southeast of downtown Los Angeles. The city of Compton is one of the oldest cities in the county and on May 11, 1888, was the eighth city to incorporate. The city is considered part of the South side by residents of Los...
and features Lil Wayne, with appearances by Birdman, Cool & Dre, and Young Buck
Young Buck
David Darnell Brown , also known as Young Buck, is an American Southern rapper. Buck is a former member of the New York City Hip-Hop group G-Unit, also a former artist of G-Unit Records as of Nov 26, 2011...
, with references to the deceased Sean Bell
Sean Bell shooting incident
The Sean Bell shooting incident took place in the New York City borough of Queens, New York, United States on November 25, 2006, when three men were shot a total of fifty times by a team of both plainclothes and undercover NYPD officers, killing one of the men, Sean Bell, on the morning before his...
. The video also makes references to the gang the Bloods
Bloods
The Bloods are a street gang founded in Los Angeles, California. The gang is widely known for its rivalry with the Crips. They are identified by the red color worn by their members and by particular gang symbols, including distinctive hand signs...
Also in the video is a reference to the "Beats by Dr. Dre
Dr. Dre
Andre Romelle Young , primarily known by his stage name Dr. Dre, is an American record producer, rapper, record executive, entrepreneur, and occasional actor. He is the founder and current CEO of Aftermath Entertainment and a former co-owner and artist of Death Row Records...
" headphones made by Monster
Monster Cable Products
Monster Cable Products Inc. owns the Monster Cable brand of consumer audio and video cable, which is primarily used to connect audio and video components...
. In the video The Game also wears a shirt that reads "Hip Hop Broke My Heart", which, in an interview with website HipHopDX.com, he stated, among other things,
Build up
In addition to the controversy surrounding the supposed "diss" to Eminem and deceased rapper Proof, on August 1, 2008, DJ SkeeDJ Skee
Scott Keeney , better known by his stage name DJ Skee, is a DJ and entrepreneur operating out of Los Angeles. Skee manages his own new media music, marketing, and production company, Skee.TV...
released a behind-the-scenes video on his official "SkeeTV" YouTube
YouTube
YouTube is a video-sharing website, created by three former PayPal employees in February 2005, on which users can upload, view and share videos....
account. The video has many people speaking to the camera including director Bryan Barber
Bryan Barber
Bryan Barber is a music video and motion picture director. He has directed many music videos for popular artists.-Personal:Barber graduated from Sacramento, CA Hiram Johnson High School in 1988...
speaking on different subjects within the video. Young Buck is seen speaking about his label, Cashville Records, and artists signed to the label such as the Outlawz
Outlawz
Outlawz, formally known as Outlaw Immortalz, is an American hip hop group founded by Tupac Shakur in late 1995 after Shakur's release from prison. Collectively, they are probably best known for appearing in the video "Hit 'Em Up", in a diss track aimed at Biggie Smalls and other New York...
, and C-Bo
C-Bo
Shawn Thomas, better known by his stage name C-Bo is an American rapper. He was born and raised in the south area of Sacramento, California. He has sold over 3.5 million albums independently since 1993...
. Also on "SkeeTV", a trailer was released to promote the video, on August 14, the day before the video was officially released.
Chart positions
"My Life" was released was first released on iTunes in North America for digital downloads. In the U.S. it debuted at #21 on the Billboard Hot 100Billboard Hot 100
The Billboard Hot 100 is the United States music industry standard singles popularity chart issued weekly by Billboard magazine. Chart rankings are based on radio play and sales; the tracking-week for sales begins on Monday and ends on Sunday, while the radio play tracking-week runs from Wednesday...
making it The Game's highest debut on the chart. It also debuted at #32 on the Pop 100
Pop 100
The Pop 100 was a songs chart that debuted in February 2005 and was released weekly by Billboard magazine in the United States until its discontinuation in 2009...
which was also based on downloads. In Canada it debuted #42 on the Canadian Hot 100
Canadian Hot 100
The Canadian Hot 100 is a music singles popularity chart issued weekly by Billboard magazine which ranks songs in Canada. The chart debuted in the Billboard issue dated June 16, 2007 and was made available for the first time via their online services on June 7, 2007...
chart the same week also based on downloads as well. On the UK Singles Chart
UK Singles Chart
The UK Singles Chart is compiled by The Official Charts Company on behalf of the British record-industry. The full chart contains the top selling 200 singles in the United Kingdom based upon combined record sales and download numbers, though some media outlets only list the Top 40 or the Top 75 ...
it peaked at #34.
Cover versions
This song was covered by the Swedish band jjJj (band)
jj are a band that release music through the Gothenburg-based independent label Sincerely Yours, which was founded by the Swedish pop group The Tough Alliance. The band consists of Joakim Benon and Elin Kastlander.-History:...
on their 2010
2010 in music
2010 in music may refer to:*2010 in American music*2010 in Australian music*2010 in British music*2010 in Canadian music*2010 in European music *2010 in Irish music*2010 in Japanese music*2010 in New Zealand music...
album jj no. 3
Jj no. 3
-Track listing:*Note: The vinyl edition features the bonus track “I Know".*Note: "My Life" is a cover of Game's "My Life".-Music video:A music video for the song "Let Go" was released on February 24, 2010 on Sincerely Yours website. The music video was directed by Marcus Söderlund and was shot in...
.
There's a remix with French rapper La Fouine
La Fouine
Laouni Mouhid, commonly known by his alias La Fouine or Fouiskin , is a French rapper of Moroccan origins from the city of Trappes, Yvelines in the Paris western suburbs. He is a growing figure of French rap. La Fouine signed with Sony Records in 2003 and released his debut album, Bourré au son,...
singing Lil Wayne
Lil Wayne
Dwayne Michael Carter, Jr. , better known by his stage name Lil Wayne, is an American rapper. At the age of nine, Lil Wayne joined Cash Money Records as the youngest member of the label, and half of the duo, The B.G.'z, with B.G.. In 1997, Lil Wayne joined the group Hot Boys, which also included...
's bits.
Charts
| Chart (2008–09) | Peak position |
|---|---|
Year-end charts
| Chart (2008) | Position |
|---|---|
| US Billboard Hot 100 Billboard Hot 100 The Billboard Hot 100 is the United States music industry standard singles popularity chart issued weekly by Billboard magazine. Chart rankings are based on radio play and sales; the tracking-week for sales begins on Monday and ends on Sunday, while the radio play tracking-week runs from Wednesday... |
88 |