"The Life" | ||||
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Single by Styles featuring Pharoahe Monch | ||||
from the album A Gangster and a Gentleman and Soundbombing III | ||||
Released | 2002 | |||
Genre | Hip hop | |||
Length | 3:09 | |||
Label | Rawkus | |||
Songwriter(s) | ||||
Producer(s) | Ayatollah | |||
Styles singles chronology | ||||
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Pharoahe Monch singles chronology | ||||
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Music video | ||||
"The Life" on YouTube |
"The Life" (also known as "My 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.
"The Life" was interpolated in the song "My Life" (2021) by rappers J. Cole,21 Savage and Morray.
M.F. DiBella of AllMusic described the song as a "soulful memoir". [1] The production contains a vocal sample. [2] The chorus is performed by Pharoahe Monch. [3]
The song was well received by music critics. Steve 'Flash' Juon of RapReviews called it a "welcome inclusion" to A Gangster and a Gentleman. [4] Brett Berliner of Stylus Magazine wrote,"Easily the best track overall album,Ayatollah's soulful beat,laced with a mesmerizing vocal sample similar to that on his earlier work,Ms. Fat Booty,brings out the best in Styles,and has the hook of the year. The song is also backed with deep rhymes like 'My life is a blunt to the head,a prayer for the dead / Run around hustlin',scared of the feds / They said death is eternal sleep,but the only thing is you ain't really sure if you prepared for the bed',which is infinitely more than could be expected out of Styles even a year ago." [2] Uproxx ranked it as Styles P's best song. [5]
The song was interpolated in the song "My Life" by J. Cole,21 Savage and Morray,released in May 2021;Morray performed a rendition of the hook in the song. Both Styles P and Pharoahe Monch reacted favorably to it on social media. [3]
Chart (2002) | Peak position |
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UK Singles (OCC) [6] | 50 |
US Hot R&B/Hip-Hop Songs ( Billboard ) [7] | 66 |
Organized Konfusion (OK) is an alternative hip hop duo from Queens,New York,composed of Prince Po and Pharoahe Monch.
My Life may refer to:
David R. Styles,better known by his stage name Styles P,is an American rapper,best known as a member of East Coast hip hop group the Lox. Formed with fellow rappers Sheek Louch and Jadakiss in 1994,the group was also part of the Ruff Ryders Entertainment collective.
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