In addition to the release of Trial & Error, 2003 and 2004 were busy and evolutionary years for Classified. With the continuous support of VideoFACT, he was able to release two additional music videos for the singles "Just the Way It Is" and "Unexpected". Classified also continued to master his production skills and joined forces with some of Canada's most prominent emcees, including Choclair and Maestro Fresh Wes. He also teamed up with Shady Records recording artist, Royce Da 5'9" and opened for Ludacris, Snoop dogg, Busta Rhymes, The Game, Nelly, MC Grizzly, Captain Capota, Nas, The Black Eyed Peas and Black Moon.
Classified's tenth album, Boy-Cott-In the Industry, was a high point in his career. The album includes guest appearances by Choclair, Royce Da 5'9", Jay Bizzy, J-Bru, A-Wall, Spesh K, and Mic Boyd (Classified's younger brother and fellow MC). He has said he enjoys doing music with other people: "It keeps things exciting and there are tons of talented people in Halifax so you make connections 'cause it's not a huge scene." The album reached #46 on SoundScan's Canadian R&B/Hip-Hop albums chart. The singles "The Maritimes", "5th Element", "No Mistakes", and "Find Out", which is the lead single of his 11th studio album, Hitch Hikin' Music, were all Top 20 hits on MuchMusic and MTV Canada that year. The music video for "No Mistakes" won him an MMVA for MuchVibe Best Rap Video. Boy-Cott-In the Industry also earned Classified a Juno Award nomination for Rap Recording of the Year in 2006.
Riding high off of Boy-Cott-In the Industry, Classified released his eleventh album Hitch Hikin' Music. Produced like previous albums by Classified himself, it is arguably some of Classified's finest work. On "Fall From Paradise", Classified reflects on the difficulty of staying fresh and on top. In the hip-hop meets classic rock song "All About U", featuring singer Chad Hatcher, Classified shows the extent of his growth from his early releases. In "Hip Hop Star", he eschews the current bling-bling culture of popular hip hop to remind people that life is not about trying to impress others. The rest of the album includes guest appearances by Jay Bizzy, Mic Boyd, Jordan Croucher, Preacher K, White Mic and more. Four singles have been released off the album: "Find Out" (which won the 2007 East Coast Music Award for Best Rap/Hip-Hop Single), "Feelin' Fine Remix", "All About U", and "Hard to Be Hip Hop". Hitch Hikin' Music also received a Juno Award nomination for Rap Recording of the Year in 2007.
Classified enlisted the help of fellow Nova Scotia native Joel Roy to beatbox during some of his songs. The actual singles that Roy beatboxed for are unknown but it is believed that he can be heard in the single "The Maritimes".
In early 2009, the hit single "Anybody Listening" brought Classified to mainstream success as it peaked at #52 on the Canadian Hot 100 and the music video received heavy rotation on MuchMusic. Classified's thirteenth studio album, Self Explanatory received highly positive reviews from the critics and debuted on the Canadian Albums Chart at #25 making it Classified's first album on that chart. At the 2009 MuchMusic Video Awards on May 21, 2009, Classified won the MuchVibe "Best Hip-Hop Video of the Year" award for "Anybody Listening" directed by Harv Glazer and produced by Robert Wilson of TwoThreeFiveFilms. Off Self Explanatory, Classified would enjoy more mainstream success in early 2010 with another hit single, "Oh...Canada" peaking at #14 on the Canadian Hot 100 and was certified platinum in digital downloads by the CRIA. Also in early 2010, Classified received three Juno Award nominations, which was for Rap Recording of the Year, Single of the Year, and Video of the Year. In early 2011, "Oh...Canada" received a Juno nomination for "Single of the Year".
On March 22, 2011, Classified released his fourteenth album, though it was only his second major studio album, Handshakes and Middle Fingers. The first single off the album, "That Ain't Classy" reached #45 on the Canadian Hot 100. The album debuted at #7 on the Canadian Albums Chart, making it his highest charting album to date.
All About U
Classified Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
It’s not about the promises you make
It’s not about the friends you might of made or love that is gone
Life is what you give
It’s not about the stupid things you did
It’s not about the way things could have been it’s about moving on
[Chorus]
So every morning that you wake before the first step that you take
Just think it’s all what you make it and you’ll make it through
This life will leave you stressed out, left out, with your neck out
Ain't nothing changed
Real life, so we deal right, but it feels like,
It's something strange
Wondering, the dumbest things and let everything
Get under our skin
Trouble again, trying to impress, somebody else,
It's fucked in the head
So do you, you'll never make everyone happy, it just won't happen
At the end of the day, when all say is said
You better be ready to go back at em
I learned slow, my verse shows, my growth, my wisdom
If you positive or negative, don't - make – difference not when you living
Cause some of the most successful people on this planet
Will kill themselves, or somebody else
Life they really couldn't manage
Then we got bums, alcoholics, on the streets
With no stress, no where to rest, no where to dress
No where to sleep
And they said, fuck my morals. I'm drinking away my sorrows
I'm living life and I'm happy, I ain't thinking - about tomorrow
Do you
Chorus (twice)
It’s all about you
So every morning that you wake before the first step that you take
Just think it’s all what you make it and you’ll make it through
Life is what it brings
It’s not about cars and fancy things
Or hair salons or diamond rings girl so don’t you lose no sleep
Life is all about
The things you’ll never figure out
It’s all about the people you allow and, memories you keep
This here is life,
So tell me, who chooses what's wrong and what's right
Is it what we see, on TV, get a job, raise a family
That’s how I was raised, how I was brought up
Get a Wife, a Son and a Daughter
That's how I was taught to be proper
Never thought anyone could get caught up
Then slowly I grew up
And the fairy tale quickly vanished
Realized that life is a b____, and s___, you gotta be able to stand it
And you gotta be able to handle it, the stress or
The pressure, you channel it
And you learn to cope, at the end of your rope
Anyway that you can, with liquor or dope
Or work hard; raise your kids, strip clubs
What ever it is,
Smoke your weed, shoot hoops
What ever you find your happiness through
It's your life, just make sure you know what you want when you go to get it
Keep doing this s___ for you, and not your crew or the dude you trying to impress kid
Life is simple, life is hard, and yea life is fun
So enjoy the things around you
Before your life is done
And do you
Chorus (twice)
It’s all about you
So every morning that you wake before the first step that you take
Just think it’s all what you make it and you’ll make it through
In Classified's song "All About You," the singer reflects on the important things in life, stating that it's not about the material possessions or the mistakes that we have made, but rather what we give and how we move on. He emphasizes the importance of being true to yourself and your own desires instead of trying to impress others or live up to societal expectations. He goes on to explain that life can be difficult and stressful, but it's important to find your own happiness and cope with the challenges in your own way. Overall, the song encourages listeners to focus on their own lives and not get caught up in others' opinions or judgments.
Line by Line Meaning
Life’s not what you take
Life isn't about taking things, it's about giving back.
It’s not about the promises you make
Promises don't define your life, actions do.
It’s not about the friends you might of made or love that is gone
Your relationships with others do not determine the value of your life.
Life is what you give
Your life is measured by what you give back to the world.
It’s not about the stupid things you did
Your past mistakes do not define your entire life.
It’s not about the way things could have been it’s about moving on
Don't dwell on the past, focus on moving forward.
It’s all about you
Your life is all about you, not anyone else.
So every morning that you wake before the first step that you take
When you wake up, remember that your life is in your hands.
Just think it’s all what you make it and you’ll make it through
Believe that you have the power to shape your life and you will overcome challenges.
This life will leave you stressed out, left out, with your neck out
Life can be tough and leave you feeling overwhelmed and alone.
Ain't nothing changed
This is just the way life is.
Real life, so we deal right, but it feels like,
We deal with struggles in life, but it can feel overwhelming at times.
It's something strange
Life can be unpredictable and confusing.
Wondering, the dumbest things and let everything
We get caught up in small things and let everything bother us.
Get under our skin
Small things can get to us and cause stress.
Trouble again, trying to impress, somebody else,
We often try to impress others, but this is not what life is about.
It's fucked in the head
This way of thinking is not healthy.
So do you, you'll never make everyone happy, it just won't happen
You can't please everyone, so focus on pleasing yourself.
At the end of the day, when all say is said
When the day is over and everything has been said and done...
You better be ready to go back at em
...be ready for whatever comes next.
I learned slow, my verse shows, my growth, my wisdom
As time goes on, I've learned and grown wiser in my life.
If you positive or negative, don't - make – difference not when you living
Whether you have a positive or negative attitude doesn't matter as much as how you live your life.
Cause some of the most successful people on this planet
Some of the most successful people...
Will kill themselves, or somebody else
...have still struggled and even made tragic mistakes in their lives.
Life they really couldn't manage
Their success did not make life any easier for them.
Then we got bums, alcoholics, on the streets
We also see people who have struggled and have ended up homeless or dealing with addiction.
With no stress, no where to rest, no where to dress
Despite their circumstances, they may feel less stressed and burdened by material possessions.
And they said, fuck my morals. I'm drinking away my sorrows
Some people cope with their struggles by abandoning their moral values and finding comfort in vices.
I'm living life and I'm happy, I ain't thinking - about tomorrow
However, they may feel content living in the moment without worrying about the future.
Life is what it brings
We have no control over what life brings our way.
It’s not about cars and fancy things
We shouldn't focus on material possessions to define our lives.
Or hair salons or diamond rings girl so don’t you lose no sleep
Neither should we focus on our physical appearance or the cost of our jewelry.
Life is all about
Life is about...
The things you’ll never figure out
...the unknowns that we'll never fully understand.
It’s all about the people you allow and, memories you keep
It's about the people we let into our lives and the memories we hold onto.
So tell me, who chooses what's wrong and what's right
In life, there is no clear definition of what is right or wrong.
Is it what we see, on TV, get a job, raise a family
We're often taught that a successful life involves getting a job and starting a family because this is what we see on TV.
That’s how I was raised, how I was brought up
Our upbringing shapes our beliefs about what a successful life looks like.
Get a Wife, a Son and a Daughter
...which often includes marriage and having children.
That's how I was taught to be proper
This is seen as the proper way to live.
Never thought anyone could get caught up
However, we may get caught up in this way of thinking and forget that there are other options.
And the fairy tale quickly vanished
We may realize that the dream we were sold is not always what it seems.
Realized that life is a b____, and s___, you gotta be able to stand it
We learn that life is not always easy and we have to find ways to cope with its challenges.
And you gotta be able to handle it, the stress or
We have to find ways to handle the stress and pressure.
The pressure, you channel it
We have to channel our pressures into something productive.
And you learn to cope, at the end of your rope
We learn to cope when we feel like we're at the end of our rope.
Anyway that you can, with liquor or dope
Some may find comfort in alcohol or drugs.
Or work hard; raise your kids, strip clubs
Others may find it through hard work or other unconventional means.
What ever it is,
Whatever helps you cope...
Smoke your weed, shoot hoops
...whether it's smoking weed or playing basketball.
What ever you find your happiness through
Whatever makes you happy...
It's your life, just make sure you know what you want when you go to get it
...it's your life, so make sure you go after what you truly want.
Keep doing this s___ for you, and not your crew or the dude you trying to impress kid
Do what makes YOU happy, not what impresses others.
Life is simple, life is hard, and yea life is fun
Life is full of different experiences.
So enjoy the things around you
Take pleasure in the things that bring you joy.
Before your life is done
Before it's too late.
And do you
Be true to yourself.
Chorus (twice)
It's all about you, so remember to take control of your life and make it what you want it to be.
It’s all about you
Your life is all about you, not anyone else.
So every morning that you wake before the first step that you take
When you wake up, remember that your life is in your hands.
Just think it’s all what you make it and you’ll make it through
Believe that you have the power to shape your life and you will overcome challenges.
Lyrics © Kobalt Music Publishing Ltd.
Written by: Eric Jackson, Jo Perry
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
cody 101
Life's not what you take
It's not about the promises you make
It's not about the friends
You might have made
Or love that is gone
Life is what you give
It's not about the stupid things you did
It's not about the way
Things could have been
It's about moving on
It's all about you
So every morning when you
Wake before the first step that you take
Just think it's all what you make it and you'll make it through
Yeah
This life will leave you stressed out
Left out, with your neck out
Ain't nothing changed
It's real life, so we deal right
But it feels like
It's something strange
Wondering, the dumbest things and let everything
Get under our skin
Trouble again, trying to impress
Somebody else
Is tough on the head
So do you, you'll never make everyone happy
It just won't happen
At the end of the day, when all say is said
You better be ready to go back at em
I learned slow, my verse shows
My growth, my wisdom
If you positive or negative
It don't make a difference
Not when you living
Cause some of the most
Successful people on this planet
Will end themselves, or somebody else
Life they really couldn't manage
Then we got some
Alcoholics on the streets
With no stress, nowhere to rest
Nowhere to dress
Nowhere to sleep
And they said
Fuck my morals
I'm drinking away my sorrows
I'm living life and I'm happy
I ain't thinking about tomorrow
Do you
It's all about you
So every morning when you
Wake before the first step that you take
Just think it's all what you make it and you'll make it through
It's all about you
So every morning when you
Wake before the first step that you take
Just think it's all what you make it and you'll make it through
Life is what it brings
It's not about cars and fancy things
Or hair salons or diamond rings girl
So don't you lose no sleep
Life is all about
The things you'll never figure out
It's all about the people you allow and
Memories you keep
Yeah
I guess this is life
So tell me, who chooses what's wrong and right
Is it what we see, on TV, get a job, raise a family
That's how I was raised
It's how I was brought up
Get a wife, a son and a daughter
That's how I was taught to be proper
Never thought anyone could get caught up
Then slowly I grew up
And the fairy tale quickly vanished
Realized that life is a bitch
And kids you gotta be able to stand it
And you gotta be able to handle it
The stress and the pressure, you channel it
And you learn to cope
At the end of your rope
Anyway that you can
With liquor or dope
Or work hard; raise your kids, strip clubs
Whatever it is
Smoke your weed, shoot hoops
Whatever you find your happiness through
It's your life
Just make sure you know what you want when you go in get it
Keep doing this shit for you
Not your crew or the dude you trying to impress kid
Life is simple, life is hard, but yeah life is fun
So enjoy the things around you
Before your life is done
And do you
It's all about you
So every morning when you
Wake before the first step that you take
Just think it's all what you make it and you'll make it through
It's all about you
So every morning when you
Wake before the first step that you take
Just think it's all what you make it and you'll make it through
filabila
Shout out classified, you put canada on your back for so long. Im so glad i got share this time on earth with people like you. Your music has reached millions and truly helped and inspire. The world is fucked up place rightnow but things like this really help everyone
Aimee Merritt
I honestly didn't think it was possible to make this song better, because it's my all time fave. But this is just....wow ❤️
classifiedmusic
Thank u
Happiness😁
Both versions are a little different but the message just hits a different place with each while listening. Incredible!
Happiness😁
I really hope this version/message reaches even more people then the first one did. The more who get to hear this could help someone hear that one thing they needed to be a little more positive in their own lives. Blessed!
Indigenou§
Today I woke up and honestly all night I spent off and on having a hard difficult time.... this is helping..making me tear up. I needed this so badly today. Thank you!
Adam Whynot
You will make it.
Cameron Rzonca
Been listening to you since 8th grade... I'm 29 now and stoked to hear a different version of this song. Thanks for always keeping it real class. Definitely have helped me through some dark times.
Cory Pothier
Came here to say the same. Bless dude <3
Cannabinoid farmer
This has always been my favourite song for years and years now made even better