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 albumMarshall 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".
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 iTunes.
Music video
The video which was filmed on July 23, 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 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 , 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. 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 United States, it debuted at #21 on the BillboardHot 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: The exact lines which many understood as a diss were: On the version used in the music video, the lyrics have been changed to:
