"My Life" | ||||
---|---|---|---|---|
Single by J. Cole, 21 Savage and Morray | ||||
from the album The Off-Season | ||||
Released | May 25, 2021 | |||
Length | 3:38 | |||
Label | ||||
Songwriter(s) | ||||
Producer(s) |
| |||
J. Cole singles chronology | ||||
| ||||
21 Savage singles chronology | ||||
| ||||
Morray singles chronology | ||||
| ||||
Audio video | ||||
"My Life" on YouTube |
"My Life" (stylized as "m y . l i f e") is a song by American rapper J. Cole,British-American rapper 21 Savage and fellow American rapper Morray. It is the third track from Cole's sixth studio album, The Off-Season ,released on May 14,2021. [1] The song features the hook of "The Life" (2002) by American rapper Styles P,as interpolated by Morray. [2] The song was sent to rhythmic contemporary radio in the United States on May 25,2021,as the album's first single. [3] The single debuted at number two on the Billboard Hot 100 chart,becoming Cole's highest charting single in the country (tying "All My Life" with Lil Durk),surpassing the number four peak of "Middle Child". [4] It is also Morray’s highest-charting song,surpassing his single "Quicksand" which peaked at number 65 and 21 Savage's highest-charting song as a lead artist (tying "Rich Flex" with Drake),overall behind his features on Post Malone's number-one hit "Rockstar" and Drake's number-one hit "Jimmy Cooks".
The song received two nominations at the 64th Annual Grammy Awards for Best Rap Song and Best Rap Performance.
The song marks the second time Cole and Savage collaborated on a song,first time being "A Lot" (2019). Savage also appears in Cole's documentary Applying Pressure:The Off-Season. [5] Cole and Morray were first linked in 2020,when Cole praised Morray's song "Quicksand",which led to speculations about a possible remix of the song. [6]
"My Life" features a notable switch-up in Cole's delivery,which starts "with a chilled out,melancholy feel" and changes to a "harder,razor-sharp tone". [7] The lyrics see Cole and Savage exploring "how tragedy and hardship led them to develop strong characters",while "Morray's hook ties together the track with an homage to Styles P and Pharaohe Monch". [8] Furthermore,Cole reflects his way of attaining financial success and wealth. [9] In the context of the album,the song,along with "Applying Pressure",were seen as "playful statements of Cole's separation from other rappers". [10] Cole name-drops American basketball player Ja Morant on the song. [11]
Carl Lammare of Billboard highlighted the contrast between Cole's and Savage's "styles and personalities",though both "prove how formidable they can be as a unit and that together,they can wreak havoc on any given track". [6] Varun Krishan of The Indian Express praised the song,noting the "great lyrics,impeccable flow and excellent delivery" combined with a "smooth and soothing" hook,as well as a beat with a "vocal melody infused to it which enhances the sound to match the vibe the creators are trying to produce". [7] Matthew Strauss at Pitchfork thought that neither Cole or 21 Savage had to adapt each other's style in order to fit on the song,instead the collaboration shows "that Cole wants to be seen as a connective tissue instead of some sort of anti-hype iconoclast". [12] In comparison to the duo's first collaboration,Frazier Tharpe of GQ called the song "a banging companion". [13]
Year | Organization | Award | Result | Ref. |
---|---|---|---|---|
2022 | Grammy Awards | Best Rap Performance | Nominated | |
Best Rap Song |
Weekly charts
| Year-end charts
|
Region | Certification | Certified units/sales |
---|---|---|
Australia (ARIA) [33] | Platinum | 70,000‡ |
United Kingdom (BPI) [34] | Silver | 200,000‡ |
United States (RIAA) [35] | 2×Platinum | 2,000,000‡ |
‡ Sales+streaming figures based on certification alone. |
Jermaine Lamarr Cole is an American rapper and record producer. Born on a military base in Germany and raised in Fayetteville,North Carolina,Cole initially gained attention as a rapper following the release of his debut mixtape,The Come Up,in early 2007. Intent on further pursuing a musical career,he signed with Jay-Z's Roc Nation in 2009 to release two additional mixtapes:The Warm Up (2009) and Friday Night Lights (2010) to further critical acclaim as he garnered a wider following.
American rapper J. Cole has released six studio albums,one live album,four compilation albums,three extended plays,three mixtapes,58 singles,two promotional singles and twenty one music videos. J. Cole first took up rapping in his teens,collaborating with the local Fayetteville hip hop duo Bomm Sheltuh. The Come Up,his debut mixtape,was released on May 4,2007,to positive reception. Following the release of The Come Up,J. Cole was contacted by American rapper Jay Z and subsequently signed to his record label Roc Nation. Cole released his second mixtape The Warm Up on June 15,2009. "Lights Please",the first single from The Warm Up,peaked at number nine on the United States Billboard Bubbling Under R&B/Hip-Hop Singles chart and became Cole's first entry on a national record chart. He was later featured on "All I Want Is You",a 2010 single by American R&B singer Miguel –it peaked at number 58 on the US Billboard Hot 100. J. Cole's third mixtape Friday Night Lights was released on November 12,2010.
Shéyaa Bin Abraham-Joseph,known professionally as 21 Savage,is a British-American rapper. Born in London and raised in Atlanta,Georgia,he began his recording career in 2013 and released three independent mixtapes to regional acclaim. His breakout project—the collaborative extended play (EP) with record producer Metro Boomin titled Savage Mode (2016)—peaked at number 23 on the Billboard 200. Its lead singles,"X" and "No Heart" peaked within the top 40 of the Billboard Hot 100. Later that year,he reached further recognition for his guest appearance on Drake's single "Sneakin'". He then signed a recording contract with Epic Records in January 2017.
The discography of British-American rapper 21 Savage consists of three studio albums,three collaborative albums,two mixtapes,three extended plays,and 31 singles.
American rapper Offset has released two studio albums,one collaborative album,two compilation albums,two extended plays and twenty-five singles. In 2017,he released Without Warning,in collaboration with fellow Atlanta-based rapper 21 Savage and American record producer Metro Boomin. The album entered at number four on the US Billboard 200. The album spawned the single "Ric Flair Drip",which has been certified six-times platinum by the RIAA.
"A Lot" is a song by British-American rapper 21 Savage. The audio of the song was released on December 20,2018 via the rapper's YouTube account. It was sent to rhythmic and urban contemporary radio on January 8,2019 as the lead single from his second studio album I Am >I Was.
Quantavious Tavario Thomas,known professionally as Young Nudy,is an American rapper. Based in Atlanta,Georgia,he is best known for his collaborations with his cousin and fellow rapper 21 Savage,as well as record producer Pi'erre Bourne. Thomas signed with RCA Records to release his debut studio album Anyways (2020),which was followed up with Dr. Ev4l (2021),Rich Shooter (2021),and Gumbo (2023). The latter spawned the hit single "Peaches and Eggplants",which peaked within the top 40 of the Billboard Hot 100.
"The London" is a song by American rapper Young Thug,featuring rappers J. Cole and Travis Scott. It was released on May 23,2019 by Atlantic Records and 300 Entertainment as the lead single and from Young Thug's debut studio album So Much Fun on May 23,2019. Written alongside Babyface and producer T-Minus,it was nominated for Best Rap/Sung Performance at the 62nd Grammy Awards.
"The Climb Back" is a song by American rapper J. Cole. It was released on July 22,2020,together with another song,"Lion King on Ice",under the title Lewis Street. "The Climb Back",which was written and produced solely by J. Cole,sees him rapping about various topics,including life-changing moments,the effects of those moments,and his rediscovered love of rap music. The song received universal acclaim from critics.
"Runnin" is a song by British-American rapper 21 Savage and American record producer Metro Boomin. It was released on October 2,2020,as the opening track from their collaborative album Savage Mode II. The "haunting" song samples Diana Ross' 1976 song "I Thought It Took a Little Time",with 21 Savage delivering lethal threats to his enemies in a casual fashion. The official video sees 21 take a victory lap through the streets of his hometown,celebrating his Grammy award for "A Lot". It was serviced to US rhythmic radio on October 13,2020,together with "Mr. Right Now" as the dual lead singles from the album. Debuting and peaking at number nine on the Billboard Hot 100,it was both artists' highest-charting song as lead artists,until the releases of "My Life" by J. Cole,21 Savage,and Morray,which debuted and peaked at number two. and "Creepin'" by Metro Boomin,The Weeknd,and 21 Savage peaked at number three
The Off-Season is the sixth studio album by American rapper J. Cole. It was released on May 14,2021,by Dreamville Records,Roc Nation and Interscope Records. The album was executive produced by Cole,Ibrahim Hamad,and T-Minus. It also features guest vocals from Morray,21 Savage,Lil Baby,Bas,and 6lack. It became Cole's first album since 2013's Born Sinner to contain guest features. Production was handled by multiple producers,including Cole himself,T-Minus,Timbaland,Boi-1da,Frank Dukes,DJ Dahi,Tae Beast,and Jake One,among others.
Morae Ebony Ruffin,known professionally as Morray,is an American rapper and singer-songwriter from Fayetteville,North Carolina. He received widespread recognition with his 2020 debut single "Quicksand" and released his debut mixtape,Street Sermons (2021) the following year. The song peaked at number 65 on the Billboard Hot 100,while his 2021 single "My Life" reached number two on the chart and received platinum certification by the Recording Industry Association of America (RIAA).
Street Sermons is the debut commercial mixtape by American rapper and singer Morray. It was released on April 28,2021,by Pick Six Records and Interscope Records. The tape peaked at number 41 on the Billboard 200.
"Interlude" is a song by American rapper J. Cole,released on May 7,2021,as a promotional single from his sixth studio album,The Off-Season. A brief track,it consists of a single verse as J. Cole reflects on his come-up and status in the rap game. "Interlude" marked the first time Cole released a single prior to a studio album since 2013's "Power Trip" off Born Sinner.
"Amari" is a song by American rapper J. Cole. It was released on May 14,2021 on Cole's sixth studio album,The Off-Season.
"Pride Is the Devil" is a song written and performed by American rappers J. Cole and Lil Baby. Produced by T-Minus,it was released on May 14,2021,as part of the former's sixth studio album,The Off-Season.
"95 South" is a song written and performed by American rapper J. Cole. It is the opening track of his sixth studio album,The Off-Season,released on May 14,2021. The song features vocals by American rappers Cam'ron and Lil Jon,the former of which provides narration throughout the song. It was produced by Coleman and Boi-1da.
The Off-Season Tour was a co-headlining concert tour by American rapper J. Cole and Atlanta-based rapper 21 Savage,in support of Cole's sixth studio album The Off-Season (2021). The tour began on September 24,2021,in Miami at the FTX Arena,and concluded on April 3,2022,in Raleigh at his second Dreamville Festival.
"Knife Talk" is a song by Canadian-American rapper Drake featuring British-American rapper 21 Savage and American rapper Project Pat. It was released on November 16,2021,as the third single from Drake's sixth studio album Certified Lover Boy. The song was produced by Metro Boomin and Peter Lee Johnson.
"The Life" is a song by American rapper Styles featuring American rapper Pharoahe Monch. It is the second single from the former's debut studio album A Gangster and a Gentleman (2002) and previously appeared on Rawkus Records' compilation album Soundbombing III (2002). The song was produced by Ayatollah.