21 Savage

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Lore & Background

21 Savage's collaboration with J. Cole on "My Life" represents their second joint effort, following their first collaboration on "A Lot" in 2019. On "My Life", Savage's verse explores "how tragedy and hardship led them to develop strong characters", according to the song's composition notes. The track features a notable switch-up in Cole's delivery, starting with a "chilled out, melancholy feel" and changing to a "harder, razor-sharp tone", while Savage's contribution maintains his characteristic deadpan style. Critical reception highlighted the contrast between Cole's and Savage's "styles and personalities", with Billboard's Carl Lammare noting that both "prove how formidable they can be as a unit and that together, they can wreak havoc on any given track". Matthew Strauss at Pitchfork observed that neither artist had to adapt each other's style to fit on the song, instead the collaboration shows "that Cole wants to be seen as a connective tissue instead of some sort of anti-hype iconoclast". The song debuted at number two on the Billboard Hot 100, becoming 21 Savage's highest-charting song as a lead artist (tying "Rich Flex" with Drake), overall behind his features on Post Malone's number-one hit "Rockstar" and Drake's number-one hit "Jimmy Cooks".

In Their Own Story

The studio lights were dim, the air thick with smoke and the hum of a beat looping. J. Cole leaned back in his chair, nodding as 21 Savage stepped up to the mic. 'I got a lot of enemies,' he muttered, the words cutting through the quiet. Cole watched, knowing this was the voice he needed—raw, unpolished, real. 21's delivery was a blade, sharp and unforgiving, carving out a truth that Cole's own verses could only circle. When the track finished, they exchanged a look—no words needed. This was the balance they struck: Cole's introspection meeting 21's confrontation, a perfect storm of hip-hop's dual souls.

Reader's Guide

21 Savage is a featured artist on J. Cole's song "My Life", which is the third track from Cole's sixth studio album *The Off-Season*, released on May 14, 2021. The song also features Morray and interpolates the hook of "The Life" (2002) by Styles P. This marks the second time Cole and Savage collaborated on a song, the first being "A Lot" (2019). Savage also appears in Cole's documentary *Applying Pressure: The Off-Season*. On "My Life", Savage's verse addresses how tragedy and hardship shaped his character, complementing Cole's reflections on financial success and wealth. The song was sent to rhythmic contemporary radio in the United States on May 25, 2021, as the album's first single. It debuted at number two on the Billboard Hot 100, becoming 21 Savage's highest-charting song as a lead artist (tying "Rich Flex" with Drake), overall behind his features on Post Malone's number-one hit "Rockstar" and Drake's number-one hit "Jimmy Cooks". The song received two nominations at the 64th Annual Grammy Awards for Best Rap Song and Best Rap Performance.

Did You Know?

• "My Life" is the second collaboration between J. Cole and 21 Savage, following "A Lot" (2019).
• 21 Savage appears in J. Cole's documentary *Applying Pressure: The Off-Season*.
• "My Life" debuted at number two on the Billboard Hot 100, becoming 21 Savage's highest-charting song as a lead artist (tying "Rich Flex" with Drake).
• The song received two nominations at the 64th Annual Grammy Awards for Best Rap Song and Best Rap Performance.
• 21 Savage's highest-charting songs overall are his features on Post Malone's "Rockstar" and Drake's "Jimmy Cooks", both of which reached number one.