All My Life (Lil Durk song)

"All My Life"
Remixes cover
Single by Lil Durk featuring J. Cole
from the album Almost Healed
ReleasedMay 12, 2023 (2023-05-12)
GenrePolitical hip hop, trap
Length3:45
Label
Songwriter(s)
Producer(s)Dr. Luke
Lil Durk singles chronology
"Shoot Who"
(2023) 		"All My Life"
(2023) 		"Pelle Coat"
(2023)
J. Cole singles chronology
"On the Street"
(2023) 		"All My Life"
(2023) 		"Passport Boys"
(2023)
Music video
"All My Life" on YouTube

"All My Life" is a song by American rapper Lil Durk featuring fellow American rapper J. Cole. It was released through Only the Family, Alamo Records, and Sony Music as the lead single from the former's eighth studio album, Almost Healed, on May 12, 2023. it was written alongside Rocco Did It Again!, Ryan Ogren, LunchMoney Lewis, Theron Thomas of R. City, and producer Dr. Luke. It features uncredited vocals from the young choir.

On October 13, 2023, two remixes of the song were released, respectively with Burna Boy and Stray Kids; the latter omits J. Cole.[1] The song won Best Melodic Rap Performance at the 66th Annual Grammy Awards, making it Durk's first Grammy and J. Cole's second.

Background

On April 20, 2023, in an interview with XXL, Durk talked about the song and his collaboration with Cole on it:

Definitely got J. Cole on "All My Life." It's just a rap that's just showing you what I been going through. What I been doing lately. Trying to change how I am. Dr. Luke produced it. We were just trying to figure out like what's the right person to put on it. 'Cause it's one of those songs where if it's not the right person to do the second verse... I feel like Cole can bring the energy that I'm looking for to it. So, if it wasn't J. Cole, it'd be [Kanye], but Ye, he tucked away somewhere.[2]

On the same day that the song was released, Durk was interviewed live by Complex, in which he talked about working with Cole, in which he felt that "he smoked my ass on that one, for one — barely" and added that "that barely happens".[3] Exactly ten days before its release, Durk posted a video that Cole took of them while shooting its music video, in which they were accompanied by children singing the chorus, which is what it is on the official version.[4]

Composition and lyrics

"All My Life" sees Durk trade his usual energetic drill style for more introspective production, which was considered a departure from his regular style of music, and contains the vocals of a young choir as he raps about the criticism that he has faced: "I decided I had to finish, but the media called me a menace / I done sat with the mayor and politicians, I'm tryna change the image / You can't blame my past no more, I come from the trenches".[5] He raps about social and community changes as he touches on abusing drugs, paying child support, and children wanting to cause self-harm, speaking on what he has lately been trying to do to help the world change for the better.[6] Cole raps about young rappers dying before they reach a big level of fame in his verse.[7]

Music video

The official music video for "All My Life", directed by Steve Cannon, was released alongside the song on May 12, 2023.[8] It sees Durk and Cole with a choir of children singing the chorus of the song.[9] The two artists stand on a porch and dance in a yard, as well as play catch with some of the children.[10]

Track listing

Digital download and streaming

No.TitleLength
1."All My Life" (featuring J. Cole)3:43

Digital download and streaming – remixes EP

No.TitleLength
1."All My Life" (with J. Cole featuring Burna Boy)4:24
2."All My Life" (featuring Stray Kids)3:37
3."All My Life" (featuring J. Cole)3:43
Total length:11:44

Charts

Certifications

Certifications for "All My Life"
Region Certification Certified units/sales
Australia (ARIA)[43] Platinum 70,000‡
Brazil (Pro-Música Brasil)[44] Gold 20,000‡
Canada (Music Canada)[45] 2× Platinum 160,000‡
United Kingdom (BPI)[46] Silver 200,000‡
United States (RIAA)[47] 2× Platinum 2,000,000‡

‡ Sales+streaming figures based on certification alone.

Release history

"All My Life" release history
Region Date Format(s) Version Label(s) Ref.
Various May 12, 2023
Original
[5]
United States May 30, 2023 Contemporary hit radio Alamo [48]
Various October 13, 2023
  • Digital download
  • streaming
 Remixes
  • Only the Family
  • Alamo
  • Sony
 [49]

References

  1. ^ Blistein, Jon (October 18, 2023). "Lil Durk Takes 'All Bobux' Around the World With Burna Boy, Stray Kids Remixes". Rolling Stone. Retrieved October 18, 2023.
  2. ^ Cline, Georgette (April 20, 2023). "Lil Durk Reveals All About New Album, Wild Moment with Jay-Z, the Real Deal on India Royale Relationship and More". XXL. Retrieved May 12, 2023.
  3. ^ Cummings-Grady, Mackenzie (May 12, 2023). "Lil Durk Admits J. Cole 'Smoked' Him on 'All My Life' Collab: 'That Barely Happens'". HipHopDX. Retrieved May 12, 2023.
  4. ^ Price, Joe; Dionne, Zach (May 12, 2023). "Lil Durk Taps J. Cole for New Single and Video "All My Life," Delays 'Almost Healed' Album Release". Complex. Retrieved May 12, 2023.
  5. ^ a b Pointer, Flisadam (May 12, 2023). "Lil Durk And J. Cole's 'All My Life' Video Is A Ray Of Light For The Youth Looking To Find Their Voice". Uproxx. Retrieved May 12, 2023.
  6. ^ Grant, Noah (May 12, 2023). "Lil Durk Releases J. Cole Collab, "All My Life"". HotNewHipHop. Retrieved May 12, 2023.
  7. ^ "Lil Durk, J. Cole 'All My Life' - Listen and Watch New Video". XXL. May 12, 2023. Retrieved May 12, 2023.
  8. ^ Deville, Chris (May 12, 2023). "Lil Durk – "All My Life" (Feat. J. Cole)". Stereogum. Retrieved May 12, 2023.
  9. ^ Zemler, Emily (May 12, 2023). "Lil Durk, J. Cole Team Up on Inspirational New Single 'All My Life'". Rolling Stone. Retrieved May 12, 2023.
  10. ^ Griffin, Marc (May 12, 2023). "Lil Durk, J. Cole Inspire Change In "All My Life" Music Video". Vibe. Retrieved May 12, 2023.
  11. ^ "Lil Durk feat. J. Cole – All My Life". ARIA Top 50 Singles. Retrieved May 26, 2023.
  12. ^ "ARIA Top 40 Hip Hop/R&B Singles Chart". Australian Recording Industry Association. May 29, 2023. Retrieved May 26, 2023.
  13. ^ "Lil Durk Chart History (Canadian Hot 100)". Billboard. Retrieved June 6, 2023.
  14. ^ "Lil Durk feat. J. Cole – All My Life" (in German). GfK Entertainment charts. Retrieved May 26, 2023.
  15. ^ "Lil Durk Chart History (Global 200)". Billboard. Retrieved May 23, 2023.
  16. ^ "Official Irish Singles Chart Top 50". Official Charts Company. Retrieved May 26, 2023.
  17. ^ "Billboard Japan Hot Overseas – Week of June 7, 2023". Billboard Japan (in Japanese). Retrieved June 7, 2023.
  18. ^ "2023 22-os savaitės klausomiausi (Top 100)" (in Lithuanian). AGATA. June 2, 2023. Retrieved June 2, 2023.
  19. ^ "Lil Durk feat. J. Cole – All My Life" (in Dutch). Single Top 100. Retrieved May 27, 2023.
  20. ^ "Lil Durk feat. J. Cole – All My Life". Top 40 Singles. Retrieved June 10, 2023.
  21. ^ "TurnTable Charts Official Nigeria Top 100". TurnTable. Retrieved 30 May 2023.
  22. ^ "TurnTable Charts Top Hip-Hop/Rap Songs". TurnTable. Retrieved 30 May 2023.
  23. ^ "Lil Durk feat. J. Cole – All My Life". AFP Top 100 Singles. Retrieved May 25, 2023.
  24. ^ "Russia Airplay Chart for 2023-09-29." TopHit. Retrieved October 6, 2023.
  25. ^ "Local & International Streaming Chart Top 10 Week 20-2023". The Official South African Charts. Retrieved May 27, 2024.
  26. ^ "Lil Durk feat. J. Cole – All My Life". Singles Top 100. Retrieved June 3, 2023.
  27. ^ "Lil Durk feat. J. Cole – All My Life". Swiss Singles Chart. Retrieved May 28, 2023.
  28. ^ "Official Singles Chart Top 100". Official Charts Company. Retrieved June 2, 2023.
  29. ^ "Official Hip Hop and R&B Singles Chart Top 40". Official Charts Company. Retrieved June 2, 2023.
  30. ^ "Lil Durk Chart History (Hot 100)". Billboard. Retrieved May 22, 2023.
  31. ^ "Lil Durk Chart History (Adult Pop Songs)". Billboard. Retrieved September 12, 2023.
  32. ^ "Lil Durk Chart History (Hot R&B/Hip-Hop Songs)". Billboard. Retrieved May 23, 2023.
  33. ^ "Lil Durk Chart History (Pop Songs)". Billboard. Retrieved September 10, 2023.
  34. ^ "Lil Durk Chart History (Rhythmic)". Billboard. Retrieved June 25, 2023.
  35. ^ "Top Radio Hits Russia Monthly Chart July 2023". TopHit. Retrieved August 4, 2023.
  36. ^ "Canadian Hot 100 – Year-End 2023". Billboard. Retrieved November 22, 2023.
  37. ^ "Billboard Global 200 – Year-End 2023". Billboard. Retrieved November 22, 2023.
  38. ^ "Top Radio Hits Russia Chart 2023". TopHit. Retrieved December 31, 2023.
  39. ^ "Hot 100 Songs – Year-End 2023". Billboard. Retrieved November 22, 2023.
  40. ^ "Hot R&B/Hip-Hop Songs – Year-End 2023". Billboard. Retrieved November 23, 2023.
  41. ^ "Pop Airplay Songs – Year-End 2023". Billboard. Retrieved November 22, 2023.
  42. ^ "Rhythmic Songs – Year-End 2023". Billboard. Retrieved November 23, 2023.
  43. ^ "ARIA Charts – Accreditations – 2023 Singles" (PDF). Australian Recording Industry Association. Retrieved November 30, 2023.
  44. ^ "Brazilian single certifications – Lil Durk feat. J. Cole – All My Life" (in Portuguese). Pro-Música Brasil. Retrieved 2 January 2024.
  45. ^ "Canadian single certifications – Lil Durk – All My Life ft. J. Cole". Music Canada. Retrieved October 25, 2023.
  46. ^ "British single certifications – Lil Durk ft J Cole – All My Life". British Phonographic Industry. Retrieved September 2, 2023.
  47. ^ "American single certifications – Lil Durk – All My Life (feat. J Cole)". Recording Industry Association of America. Retrieved November 17, 2023.
  48. ^ "Top 40/Mainstream Future Releases". All Access Music Group. Archived from the original on May 26, 2023. Retrieved May 29, 2023.
  49. ^ "All My Life (Remixes) - Single". Apple Music (NZ). October 13, 2023. Retrieved October 12, 2023.