Released: 2023 • Features: J. Cole
The Grammy award winning rap performance, “All My Life” by Lil Durk featuring J. Cole is a track that cuts deep into the reality of struggle and triumph. Through their verses, both artists reflect on overcoming oppression, systemic barriers, and personal demons, ultimately finding success against the odds. It’s a tale of resilience and defying expectations set by society.
Lil Durk opens the song acknowledging his positive mindset during dark times, signaling growth and change. He talks about his come-up, referencing his ability to make money—fittingly tagging himself a “lil’ mathematician” as he counts his cash, but also hinting perhaps at the mental calculations required to navigate the streets and the game. He touches on police harassment and his disdain for corrupt authority, using the loaded term “bitch with a badge” to express his contempt for power abuse. The hook is all about resilience—despite the attempts to hold him back, Durk prevails. They couldn’t break or take him, signaling a victory against those who doubted him or tried to keep him down.
He then shifts to describe his efforts to change his image, engaging with politicians and the media who’ve pegged him unfairly as a menace—an insight into the stigma that follows many from the streets even as they seek to evolve. Durk highlights the stark realities of individuals in his community, touching on the struggle to obtain rights like the Firearms Owners Identification (FOID), the challenges of navigating the child support system, and coping with the stigma of incarceration. He critiques those who dismiss the importance of economic support like the stimulus checks, revealing a disconnection between the privileged and the lived experiences of the less fortunate. His references to kids harming themselves and the misuse of drugs is a call to action for mental health awareness, fostering a narrative of self-improvement and personal accountability.
J. Cole enters the scene with his signature introspective style, calling himself “First generation, ghetto nigga” which spotlights his personal achievement as one who broke the cycle of poverty. He compares his mental dexterity to Jordan Peele’s film “Get Out,” suggesting he’s similarly escaping a grim fate through creative acuity. Cole’s verse is packed with reflections on his standing in the rap game, his near-retirement thoughts, the senseless premature deaths of young rappers, and his distaste for the media’s exploitation of their passings. His “new rule” about posthumous recognition is a frank commentary on the culture of clout-chasing that follows a rapper’s death, advocating for genuine respect over opportunistic online mourning.
Both verses are unified in their message of perseverance; Lil Durk and J. Cole share their stories of navigating harsh realities to emerge successful. Their lyrics speak to broader issues like systemic adversity, the journey of self-improvement, and the fragility of life in the context of fame and street dynamics. “All My Life” is not just their individual anthems, but a call to recognize and respect the grind and the ghosts of those who couldn’t make it out—those who became victims to the environment and narrative they both managed to survive and surpass.
