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My Life (The Game song)
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Wikipedia article
"'My Life'" is the third single from The Game's third studio album, 'LAX' which was released on July 22, 2008. The song, produced by Cool & Dre, features Lil Wayne.
Background
Recording
Producers Cool & Dre have released a video documenting how they created the beat.The Game spoke on his working with Lil Wayne stating:
Samples
Lil Wayne re-sings sections of "So Tired", a song by Birdman in which Wayne is featured. Game tried to make this song have the same instruments of Eminem's song "Stan" of the album 'Marshall Mathers LP' (2000).[http://www.defsounds.com/singles/Birdman_feat_lil_wayne_so_tired Birdman featuring Lil' Wayne - "So Tired"] [http://www.thehypefactor.com/the-game-feat-lil-wayne-my-life/ The Game feat. Lil' Wayne - My Life > The Hype Factor] Accessed August 23, 2008. 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' (2008)::'We are not the same, I am a Martian'[http://www.defsounds.com/singles/Da_shop_boyz_feat_jim_jones_lil_wayne_chamillionaire_party_like_a_rock_star_rmx Da Shop Boyz feat. Jim Jones, Lil Wayne, & Chamillionaire - Party Like a Rock Star (rmx)] DefSounds. Accessed August 23, 2008.(June 10, 2008) [http://www.chicagotribune.com/entertainment/chi-lil-wayne-tha-carter-iii-review-080610-ht,0,2139754.story LIL' WAYNE 'THA CARTER III' REVIEW] Accessed August 23, 2008.
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.[http://snarkfood.com/world-video-premiere-the-games-my-life-featuring-lil-wayne/ World Video Premiere: The Game's "My Life" Featuring Lil Wayne] Accessed August 18, 2008. As of early August 2008 the song was released for download on iTunes.(August 6, 2008) [http://www.interscope.com/artist/news/default.aspx/nid/15957/aid/418 The Game: News: "My Life" feat Lil Wayne available on iTunes] Interscope. Accessed August 18, 2008.Music video
The video which was filmed on July 23, 2008,(July 25, 2008) [http://www.therealbws.com/blog/2008/young-buck-at-the-game-my-life-video-shoot/07/25/ Young Buck at The Game - My Life Video Shoot] Accessed August 16, 2008. was directed by Bryan Barber, 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 Xzibit, Birdman, Cool & Dre, and Young Buck, with references to the deceased Sean Bell. The video also makes references to the gang the Bloods[https://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2005/05/09/AR2005050901357.html The Game Fizzles and Snoop Dogg Sizzles] Washington Post. Accessed August 20, 2008.[http://www.mtv.com/music/artist/game_the/artist.jhtml#/music/artist/game_the/bio.jhtml The Game's biography on MTV] MTV Accessed August 20, 2008 Also in the video is a reference to the "Beats by Dr. Dre" headphonesUniversal Music Group [https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=uDEhd3W4oSw The Game - My Life: Pre-Roll, closed Captioned] YouTube. Accessed August 20, 2008. made by Monster.[http://www.monstercable.com/beats/ "Beats by Dr. Dre" Official website] Accessed August 20, 2008.The video has over 200 Million views on The Game's YouTube channel. In the video The Game also wears a shirt that reads [http://therealbws.com/store/hip-hop-broke-my-heart-tee.html "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 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.DJ Skee (August 1, 2008) [https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=iCFtFySNqAA The Game ft. Lil Wayne "My Life" Music Video OFFICIAL BTS Skee.TV **LAX] YouTube. Accessed August 21, 2008. Also on "SkeeTV", a trailer was released to promote the video, on August 14, the day before the video was officially released.DJ Skee (August 14, 2008) [https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=rq3pU_IAXOQ The Game ft. Lil Wayne "My Life" Music Video TRAILER PREVIEW from SkeeTV] YouTube. Accessed August 17, 2008.Chart positions
"My Life" was released was first released on iTunes in North America for digital downloads. In the United States, 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 British 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. Lupe Fiasco's Audubon Ballroom features a slightly uptempo sample of My Life.
Charts
Weekly charts
Year-end charts
Controversy
When "My Life" was first leaked, many believed The Game was insulting Eminem. However, later on his website, Game denied these allegations, and apologized to anyone who might have misinterpreted what he had intended to say:[http://hurricane-game.net/2008/07/24/the-game-clears-up-eminem-diss/ The Game Clears Up Eminem Diss]
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'Archie Fucque (July 25, 2008) [http://www.sohh.com/2008/07/pulse-report-3.html Pulse Report: The Game Explains Alleged Eminem Diss...] SOHH. Accessed August 16, 2008.
On the version used in the music video,[http://www.mtv.com/overdrive/?id=1592651&vid=265714 The Game - "My Life" on FNMTV] MTV. Accessed August 16, 2008. 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'
References
Buy My Life (The Game song) now from Amazon
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