My Shot


"My Shot" is the third song from Act 1 of the musical Hamilton, based on the life of Alexander Hamilton, which premiered on Broadway in 2015. Lin-Manuel Miranda wrote both the music and lyrics to the song.

Synopsis

wows several other young revolutionaries with his verbal skills, speaking about his hopes for the future, his disillusionment with the British and his desire to be remembered, even if it means dying. "I am not throwin' away my shot" is used almost entirely throughout the song.
The other revolutionaries in the song, who rap about their own hopes for and reservations about the future, are:
The number contains interpolations of lyrics from the rap songs "Shook Ones " by Mobb Deep and "Going Back to Cali" by The Notorious B.I.G.. It also contains a lyric from You've Got to Be Carefully Taught, from South Pacific by Rodgers and Hammerstein. These sources are credited in the credits of the 2020 filmed version Hamilton.

Analysis

Vibe described the backing as "reminiscent of the '90s". The tune is reprised during the songs "Right Hand Man", "Yorktown", and "Non-Stop". The Los Angeles Times said the song had "Eminem combustion". Vulture said the song was reminiscent of Eminem's "Lose Yourself".
TapInto notes that this song becomes ironic by the end of the musical because Hamilton does, indeed, throw away his shot in the fatal duel with Aaron Burr. Deadline notes that "I am not throwing away my shot" becomes Hamilton's mantra.

Critical reception

TapInto deemed it a "ferocious song". The Huffington Post suggested the song would make a good opening number to the musical.

Popular culture

The song was one of many performed at the White House in March 2016.
A parody of the song was performed by Miranda as his opening monologue on the October 8, 2016, episode of Saturday Night Live.
The song was parodied and performed by The Roots during The Tonight Show Starring Jimmy Fallon's "Football Raps" segment on August 3, 2017.

Mixtape version

"My Shot " is a song recorded by The Roots featuring Busta Rhymes, Joell Ortiz, and Nate Ruess from The Hamilton Mixtape. The song peaked at number 16 on the R&B/Hip-Hop Digital Song Sales chart.