- My Life (The Game song)
-
"My Life" Single by The Game featuring Lil Wayne from the album LAX Released July 22, 2008 (U.S.)
August 5, 2008 (iTunes)Format CD single
Digital DownloadRecorded 2008 Genre Hip hop, conscious hip hop Length 5:20 (album version)[1]
4:35 (extended radio edit)[1]
3:38 (main radio edit)[1]Label Geffen Writer(s) Jayceon Taylor
Dwayne Carter, Jr.Producer Cool & Dre The Game singles chronology "Dope Boys"
(2008)"My Life"
(2008)"Camera Phone"
(2008)Lil Wayne chronology "Ya Heard Me"
(2008)"My Life"
(2008)"Can't Believe It"
(2008)"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.
Contents
Background
Recording
Producers Cool & Dre have released a video documenting how they created the beat.[citation needed]
The Game spoke on his working with Lil Wayne stating:
When you're in the studio with Wayne, you could pretty much chill, man, because everything is so easy. He's so melody-driven. Once he hits you with an idea, or I come up with an idea, we're straightforward, man. The process is easy. I think me and him could do an album probably in, like, seven days. A classic album! He keeps it 100, I keep it 100. We're both talented MCs. I appreciate him in hip-hop.[2]Controversy
When the song first leaked, many believed The Game was "dissing" Eminem. However, later on his website, Game denied this, and apologized to anyone who might have misunderstood what he had intended to say:[3]
When I originally wrote the song "My Life" I was trying to think back on events that affected my life and how they changed me. When I first got signed to Aftermath and G-Unit I was exposed to so many different people from Dre to Em to 50 to Proof. I always identified with Proof. We were always cool and he would reach out to me when ever I was going through something. I remember when Proof died vividly and now every time I think about going to Detroit I get depressed. That is what I was trying to say in that verse and the more I looked at I realized that people would take it the wrong way…the way they are taking it now that it leaked. So I decided to change it so that this bullshit wouldn’t happen and now it’s happened anyway. For the record, this is not the version on my album, this is not the version that radio will get and this is not the version that I just shot the video to. Furthermore, I apologize to anyone who took this the wrong way as that was never my intention.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 Proof, I'll never walk through 8 Mile[4]
On the version used in the music video,[5] 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 Sermon
- So eat this black music, and tell me how it taste, now
- And fuck Jesse Jackson 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 Eminem's track Stan of the album Marshall Mathers LP.[6][7] 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".[10]
Release
The song started to receive airplay on July 22, 2008, but was leaked in early July.[11] As of early August 2008 the song was released for download on iTunes.[12]
Music video
The video which was filmed on July 23, 2008,[13] was directed by Bryan Barber, and premiered on FNMTV on August 15, 2008.[5] 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.[5] The video also makes references to the gang the Bloods[14][15] Also in the video is a reference to the "Beats by Dr. Dre" headphones[16] made by Monster.[17] 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,
“ [When] Hip Hop evolved and changed and got thrown in a bucket of Kool-Aid, somebody threw too much sugar in it. Now it tastes a little funny. That's why I say Hip Hop broke my heart.[2] ” Build up
In addition to the controversy surrounding the supposed "diss" to Eminem and deceased rapper Proof, on August 1, 2008, DJ Skee 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.[18] Also on "SkeeTV", a trailer was released to promote the video, on August 14, the day before the video was officially released.[19]
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 100 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.
Cover versions
This song was covered by the Swedish band jj on their 2010 album jj no. 3. There's a remix with French rapper La Fouine singing Lil Wayne's bits.
Charts
Chart (2008–09) Peak
positionCanada (Canadian Hot 100)[20] 42 Ireland (IRMA)[21] 36 Switzerland (Schweizer Hitparade)[22] 49 UK Singles (The Official Charts Company)[23] 34 US Billboard Hot 100[24] 21 US Digital Songs (Billboard)[25] 6 US Hot R&B/Hip-Hop Songs (Billboard)[26] 15 US Rap Songs (Billboard)[27] 4 Year-end charts
Chart (2008) Position US Billboard Hot 100[28] 88 References
- ^ a b c According to single cover.
- ^ a b Andres Tardio (August 18, 2008) Why Did Game Say "Hip Hop Broke My Heart?" HipHopDX. Accessed August 21, 2008.
- ^ The Game Clears Up Eminem “Diss”
- ^ Archie Fucque (July 25, 2008) Pulse Report: The Game Explains Alleged Eminem Diss... SOHH. Accessed August 16, 2008.
- ^ a b c The Game - "My Life" on FNMTV MTV. Accessed August 16, 2008.
- ^ Birdman featuring Lil' Wayne - "So Tired"
- ^ The Game feat. Lil' Wayne - My Life > The Hype Factor Accessed August 23, 2008.
- ^ Da Shop Boyz feat. Jim Jones, Lil Wayne, & Chamillionaire - Party Like a Rock Star (rmx) DefSounds. Accessed August 23, 2008.
- ^ (June 10, 2008) LIL' WAYNE 'THA CARTER III' REVIEW Accessed August 23, 2008.
- ^ (2008) Album notes for LAX by The Game feat. Lil Wayne. Geffen/Interscope (001146502).
- ^ World Video Premiere: The Game's "My Life" Featuring Lil Wayne Accessed August 18, 2008.
- ^ (August 6, 2008) The Game: News: "My Life" feat Lil Wayne available on iTunes Interscope. Accessed August 18, 2008.
- ^ (July 25, 2008) Young Buck at The Game - My Life Video Shoot Accessed August 16, 2008.
- ^ The Game Fizzles and Snoop Dogg Sizzles Washington Post. Accessed August 20, 2008.
- ^ The Game's biography on MTV MTV Accessed August 20, 2008
- ^ Universal Music Group The Game - My Life: Pre-Roll, closed Captioned YouTube. Accessed August 20, 2008.
- ^ "Beats by Dr. Dre" Official website Accessed August 20, 2008.
- ^ DJ Skee (August 1, 2008) The Game ft. Lil Wayne "My Life" Music Video OFFICIAL BTS Skee.TV **LAX YouTube. Accessed August 21, 2008.
- ^ DJ Skee (August 14, 2008) The Game ft. Lil Wayne "My Life" Music Video TRAILER PREVIEW from SkeeTV YouTube. Accessed August 17, 2008.
- ^ "The Game Album & Song Chart History" Canadian Hot 100 for The Game. Prometheus Global Media. Retrieved 2011-04-14.
- ^ "Chart Track". Irish Singles Chart. Irish Recorded Music Association.
- ^ "The Game feat. Lil Wayne – My Life – swisscharts.com". Swiss Singles Chart. Hung Medien.
- ^ "Archive Chart" UK Singles Chart. The Official Charts Company. Retrieved April 14, 2011.
- ^ "The Game Album & Song Chart History" Billboard Hot 100 for The Game. Prometheus Global Media. Retrieved 2011-03-29.
- ^ "The Game Album & Song Chart History" Billboard Digital Songs for The Game. Prometheus Global Media.
- ^ "The Game feat. Lil Wayne Album & Song Chart History" Billboard R&B/Hip-Hop Songs for The Game feat. Lil Wayne. Prometheus Global Media.
- ^ "The Game feat. Lil Wayne Album & Song Chart History" Billboard Rap Songs for The Game feat. Lil Wayne. Prometheus Global Media.
- ^ "2008 Year End Charts: The Billboard Hot 100". Billboard. Prometheus Global Media. 2008. http://www.billboard.biz/bbbiz/charts/yearendcharts/2008/hot-100-songs. Retrieved 2011-04-14.
External links
Game Discography · Awards and nominations · Videography Studio albums Independent albums Mixtapes Singles The DocumentaryDoctor's AdvocateLAXThe R.E.D. Album"Red Nation" · "Pot of Gold"Featured singles "Certified Gangstas" (Remix) · "MJB da MVP" (Remix) · "Playa's Only" · "A Bay Bay" (The Ratchet Remix) · "Mercy" (Remix) · "Make the World Go Round" · "The Future" · "Trunk Music" · "Caillra For Life" · "Can a Drummer Get Some?" · "Welcome to My Hood" (Remix) · "I'm Not a Gangsta"Other songs Main artist"Higher"Guest artistRelated articles The Black Wall Street Records · G-Unit–Game feudLil Wayne singles discography Discography · Awards and nominations · Videography Tha Block Is Hot "Tha Block Is Hot"500 Degreez "Way of Life"Tha Carter "Go D.J."Tha Carter II The Leak "Gossip" · "I'm Me"Tha Carter III Rebirth "Prom Queen" · "On Fire" · "Drop the World"I Am Not a Human Being "Right Above It"Tha Carter IV Promotional singles Featured singles "Back That Thang Up" · "Bling Bling" · "#1 Stunna" · "Neva Get Enuf" · "Soldier" · "Don't Trip" · "Gimme That" (Remix) · "Holla at Me" · "You Know What" · "Where da Cash At" · "Make It Rain" · "Hollywood Divorce" · "You" · "We Takin' Over" · "Lock U Down" · "Pop Bottles" · "Speaker/9mm" · "Duffle Bag Boy" · "Uh-Ohhh!" · "Sweetest Girl (Dollar Bill)" · "100 Million" · "Push" · "Love in This Club Part II" · "Girls Around the World" · "I Run This" · "My Life" · "Can't Believe It" · "Let It Rock" · "Shawty Say" · "Official Girl" · "Swagga Like Us" · "Cuddy Buddy" · "I'm So Paid" · "All My Life (In the Ghetto)" · "Turnin Me On" · "Unstoppable" · "Always Strapped" · "Respect My Conglomerate" · "So Good" · "Maybach Music 2" · "Down" · "Successful" · "Money to Blow" · "Forever" · "Heard 'em All" · "I Can Transform Ya" · "Give It Up to Me" · "4 My Town (Play Ball)" · "Revolver" · "Women Lie, Men Lie" · "I Made It (Cash Money Heroes)" · "Miss Me" · "Loyalty" · "No Love" · "Fire Flame" · "Welcome to My Hood" · "Roman's Revenge" (Remix) · "Look at Me Now" · "Bow Chicka Wow Wow" · "Hit the Lights" · "Someone to Love Me (Naked)" · "This Is What Rock n' Roll Looks Like" · "Can a Drummer Get Some?" · "I'm Into You" · "Motivation" · "Hustle Hard" (Remix) · "Red Nation" · "Dirty Dancer" · "I'm On One" · "Love U Right" · "Dedication To My Ex (Miss That)" · "Y.U. Mad" · "Strange Clouds" · "Sweat"Other songs "I'm Goin' In" · "Martians vs. Goblins" · "Blunt Blowin"Categories:- 2008 singles
- Game (rapper) songs
- Lil Wayne songs
- Songs written by Lil Wayne
- Music videos directed by Bryan Barber
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