The Life (Styles P song)

"The Life" (also known as "My Life") is a song by American rapper Styles featuring American rapper Pharoahe Monch. It is the second single from the former's debut studio album A Gangster and a Gentleman (2002) and previously appeared on Rawkus Records' compilation album Soundbombing III (2002). The song was produced by Ayatollah.

"The Life"
Single by Styles featuring Pharoahe Monch
from the album A Gangster and a Gentleman and Soundbombing III
Released	2002
Genre	Hip hop
Length	3:09
Label	Rawkus
Songwriter(s)	David Styles Troy Jamerson
Producer(s)	Ayatollah
Styles singles chronology
"Good Times" (2002) "The Life" (2002) "Jenny from the Block" (2002)
Pharoahe Monch singles chronology
"Oh No" (2000) "The Life" (2002) "Agent Orange" (2003)
Music video
"The Life" on YouTube

"The Life" was interpolated in the song "My Life" (2021) by rappers J. Cole, 21 Savage and Morray.

Composition

M.F. DiBella of AllMusic described the song as a "soulful memoir".^[1] The production contains a vocal sample.^[2] The chorus is performed by Pharoahe Monch.^[3]

Critical reception

The song was well received by music critics. Steve 'Flash' Juon of RapReviews called it a "welcome inclusion" to A Gangster and a Gentleman.^[4] Brett Berliner of Stylus Magazine wrote, "Easily the best track overall album, Ayatollah's soulful beat, laced with a mesmerizing vocal sample similar to that on his earlier work, Ms. Fat Booty, brings out the best in Styles, and has the hook of the year. The song is also backed with deep rhymes like 'My life is a blunt to the head, a prayer for the dead / Run around hustlin', scared of the feds / They said death is eternal sleep, but the only thing is you ain't really sure if you prepared for the bed', which is infinitely more than could be expected out of Styles even a year ago."^[2] Uproxx ranked it as Styles P's best song.^[5]

Legacy

The song was interpolated in the song "My Life" by J. Cole, 21 Savage and Morray, released in May 2021; Morray performed a rendition of the hook in the song. Both Styles P and Pharoahe Monch reacted favorably to it on social media.^[3]

Charts

Chart (2002)	Peak position
UK Singles (OCC)[6]	50
US Hot R&B/Hip-Hop Songs (Billboard)[7]	66

References

1. "A Gangster and a Gentleman - Styles P | Songs, Reviews, Credits, Awards". AllMusic. June 25, 2002. Retrieved June 14, 2015.
2. "Styles P - A Gangsta and a Gentleman - Review". Stylus Magazine. Archived from the original on September 24, 2015. Retrieved June 14, 2015.
3. Findlay, Mitch (May 19, 2021). "Styles P & Pharoahe Monch React To J. Cole's "My Life"". HotNewHipHop. Retrieved 4 August 2023.
4. "Feature for July 9, 2002 - Styles' "A Gangster and a Gentleman"". Rapreviews.com. July 9, 2002. Retrieved June 14, 2015.
5. Williams, Aaron (November 10, 2022). "The Best Styles P Songs, Ranked". Uproxx. Retrieved 4 August 2023.
6. "Official Singles Chart Top 100". Official Charts Company. Retrieved August 4, 2023.
7. "Styles P Chart History (Hot R&B/Hip-Hop Songs)". Billboard. Retrieved August 4, 2023.