The single All My Life by Lil Durk and J. Cole, which appears on his May 2023 album Almost Healed, is a timely piece of music for fans. The two American rappers share personal stories and their current opinions about the rap culture while also making some pointed statements about how society and the media operate. Let’s discuss the song’s meaning together. The full lyrics are included at the conclusion.
You can watch the official video for Lil Durk’s All My Life below.
All My Life: the lyrics & their meaning
In All My Life, Lil Durk and J. Cole reflect on the current state of their lives, the music scene, and their success. Growing up in one of the most difficult ghettos in the United States, Lil Durk reflects on his early years and acknowledges that no one ever believed he could succeed. But he did, and he now sings about it alongside another legendary rap artist.
It’s a celebration of himself for working so hard to get to where he is. He informs everyone in the chorus that he overcome his past and is now sober, well-known, and realized.
All my life
They been tryin’ to keep me down
All this time
Never thought I would make it out
They couldn’t break me, they couldn’t break me
They couldn’t take me, thеy couldn’t take me
All my life
They been tryin’ to keep me down
He is fully aware of his origins. People are still aware of some of his past issues with justice. However, he put a lot of effort into improving himself. Now that he’s a well-known and prosperous rapper, he can teach his audience two important lessons: don’t use drugs, and never give up. Any issue can be overcome if you really want to.
You can’t blame my past no more, I come from the trenches
Some said I’d never be a superstar, but I know I’m different (No, no, no)
I’m The Voice, but the system ain’t give me a choice
…
Went to jail, they was chainin’ me up
And you know that I’m famous as f–k
…
Stop tryna take drugs, I refer to myself
Tryna better myself, tryna better my health but
J. Cole expresses a similar viewpoint in his verse. He remembers leaving the ghetto “with his head on straight” while they were still firing behind him. The rapper uses his literary skills to draw comparisons between that scene and the plot of Jordan Peele’s film Get Out, in which a black guy must flee a perilous area of society. But now that he’s a rapper, he can consistently put out top-ten hits, demonstrating that he’s in a totally different category.
Made it out the city with my head on straight
N–as keep shootin’ up the lead out
Young Jordan Peele, gotta get out
But the s–t that I spit out
Is a cheat code like I’m facin’ a RICO and how a n–a put a hit out
And another one, and, and another one
I got like a hundred of ’em
J. Cole considers the sad reality of contemporary hip hop in the final line of the song All My Life: there is a lot of amazing music out there, but people only learn about it after the creator passes away. It’s a bothersome dilemma caused by the flawed way social media covers music, which gives many up-and-coming artists little exposure. J. Cole invents a fictional rapper, “Lil Buddy,” who serves as a metaphor for a late musician in his rhymes. When someone passes away, he searches for information about them on Google, finds their music, and begins to appreciate them. But in reality, that fictitious rapper should have achieved fame while still living because his songs merited it.
These days seein’ rappers be dyin’, way before they even gettin’ they shine
I never even heard of lil’ buddy
‘Til somebody murdered lil’ buddy
Now I’m on the phone, searchin’ lil’ buddy name
Got ’em playin’ his tunes, all day in my room
Thinkin’, “Damn, this shit is wicked, to get they name buzzin’ some n–as just gotta go lay in a tomb”
And media thirsty for clicks
I got a new rule
If you ain’t never posted a rapper when he was alive
You can’t post about him after he get hit
It’s simple, it’s the principle
In response to your inquiries, Lil Buddy is a metaphor for all deceased rappers who gain popularity only after their passing. He is not real. Lil Durk and J. Cole are present, showcasing their talent while they are still alive as evidence of their achievement, and the words of All My Life wish to remind everyone of this clear significance. Fortunately, their troubled pasts are behind them today. Fans can also take pleasure in the results of their labor.
The complete lyrics
Below you can find the complete lyrics of All My Life.
Durkio told me he been on some positive s–t, yeah, yeah
Lately, I just wanna show up and body some s–t, yeah, yeah
Always been a lil’ mathematician, lately it’s cash I’m gettin’
Got me losin’ count of these bags, I’ve been movin’ too fast
Hard times don’t last, ‘member when cops harrassed
Talkin’ out my ass, boy, you ain’t s–t but a b- -h with a badge
All my life (All my life)
They been tryin’ to keep me down (They been tryin’ to keep me down)
All this time (All this time)
Never thought I would make it out (Never thought I’d make it out)
They couldn’t break me, they couldn’t break mе (No, no)
They couldn’t take me, thеy couldn’t take me (No)
All my life (All my life)
They been tryin’ to keep me down (They been tryin’ to keep me down)
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
Some said I’d never be a superstar, but I know I’m different (No, no, no)
I’m The Voice, but the system ain’t give me a choice
Know some people that’s still undeployed
I know a felon who tryna get FOID
Child support your only support
For a visit, I’m goin’ through courts
Went to jail, they was chainin’ me up
And you know that I’m famous as f–k
See how you gon’ joke about stimulus?
But they really had came in the clutch
I know some kids wanna hurt theyself
Stop tryna take drugs, I refer to myself
Tryna better myself, tryna better my health but
All my life (All my life)
They been tryin’ to keep me down (They been tryin’ to keep me down)
All this time (All this time)
Never thought I would make it out (Never thought I’d make it out)
They couldn’t break me, they couldn’t break me (No, no)
They couldn’t take me, they couldn’t take me (No)
All my life (All my life)
They been tryin’ to keep me down (They been tryin’ to keep me down, yeah)
First generation ghetto n–a
Cole world, hello n–as
Made it out the city with my head on straight
n–as keep shootin’ up the lead out
Young Jordan Peele, gotta get out
But the s–t that I spit out
Is a cheat code like I’m facin’ a RICO and how a n–a put a hit out
And another one, and, and another one
I got like a hundred of ’em
‘Bout to lap n–as so they think they ahead of me, but I’m really in front of them
Now some of them fumblin’ they bags
f–kin’ up the little crumbs that they had
A reminder to humble yourself, this s–t could be gone in an instant
Me, I’m runnin’ long distance
All pistons firin’
I be stuck between maybe retirin’ and feelin’ like I’m just not hittin’ my prime
These days seein’ rappers be dyin’, way before they even gettin’ they shine
I never even heard of lil’ buddy
‘Til somebody murdered lil’ buddy
Now I’m on the phone, searchin’ lil’ buddy name
Got ’em playin’ his tunes, all day in my room
Thinkin’, “Damn, this s–t is wicked, to get they name buzzin’ some n–as just gotta go lay in a tomb”
And media thirsty for clicks
I got a new rule
If you ain’t never posted a rapper when he was alive
You can’t post about him after he get hit
It’s simple, it’s the principle
On any tempo, I’m invincible
Don’t even rap, I just vent to you
I rather that than an interview
Most days
f–k ’em all like I’m goin’ through a ho phase
Young n–a shoot out the whip like road rage
I pray all of my dawgs stay so paid
And the only thing that kill ’em is old age
All my life (All my life)
They been tryin’ to keep me down (They been tryin’ to keep me down)
All this time (All this time)
Never thought I would make it out (Never thought I’d make it out)
They couldn’t break me, they couldn’t break me (No, no)
They couldn’t take me, they couldn’t take me (No)
All my life (All my life)
They been tryin’ to keep me down (They been tryin’ to keep me down)