In the United Kingdom it was released in a digital download on November 8 and physically released on November 24. It reached number two on downloads alone, becoming T.I.'s third top-five hit in the UK (Destiny's Child's "Soldier" with Lil Wayne which peaked at number four and "My Love" with Justin Timberlake reaching number two as well) and Rihanna's ninth top five hit in the UK.
The single has been certified 3x Platinum by the RIAA, and Platinum by the RIANZ
It was ranked the number six hip hop song of 2008 by MTV. This song can be heard in the film The Hangover as well as the trailer. It was also played during ESPN coverage of the 2009 NFL Draft. The song also won T.I. and Rihanna the Viewer's Choice Award at the 2009 BET Awards, becoming T.I.'s third and Rihanna's first BET Award win. At the 2009 MTV Video Music Awards the song won the award for Best Male Video. It was nominated for 'Track Of the Year', 'Best Hip Hop Collaboration' and 'Best Hip Hop Video' at the 2009 BET Hip Hop Awards, and won in the 'Best Hip Hop Collaboration' & 'Best Hip Hop Video' categories. The song was also nominated for 'Favorite Music Collaboration' at the 2010 People's Choice Awards.
The first version of the song leaked onto the Internet on August 26, earlier than the award performance, although that version was not the mastered version. The official mastered album version, which has Rihanna's own verse, and T.I.'s dedication to soldiers on the Iraqi battlefield (on the first part, he told "Ay... This a special what's haapnin' to all my, all my soldiers over there in Iraq. Errbody right here, what you need to do is be thankful for the life you got you know what I'm sayin'? Stop lookin' at what you ain't got, start and be thankful for what you do got. Let's give it to 'em baby girl") has already been released as a promotional digital download for radio stations. The radio edit clocks out at 4:01, the album version is the same as above except Rihanna's verse is longer, T.I.'s intro is longer, the chorus is extended and the sample is used at the end, the album version clocks out at 5:39.
The song contains a rendition of the O-Zone song "Dragostea Din Tei", a number one single throughout Europe that was further made famous by the Numa Numa Internet meme.
"Live Your Life" debuted at number 80 on the Billboard Hot 100 for the chart week of October 10, 2008. The following week, the song jumped from number 80 to number one on the Hot 100. This set a record for the highest jump to number one in history, a record previously set by T.I. himself only six weeks prior when his song "Whatever You Like" jumped from number 71 to number one on the chart. However, this record was broken the following week by Britney Spears and her song Womanizer jumping from number 96 to number one on the Hot 100. "Live Your Life" also replaced "Whatever You Like" at number 1 on the Hot 100, making T.I. the ninth artist to ever replace themselves at number one on the chart. "Whatever You Like" also occupied the number 2 position on the Hot 100 that week, making it the first time an artist has held the number 1 and number two positions simultaneously since Akon in 2006. It is T.I.'s second Hot 100 number one as a lead artist, and his third overall. For the issue dated December 6, "Live your Life" topped the Pop 100 chart in the U.S., replacing Katy Perry's "Hot N Cold" from the top spot, making it T.I.'s first ever number one hit on that chart. The single held the number 1 spot for six non-consecutive weeks.
The song debuted at number seven on Bubbling Under R&B/Hip-Hop Singles before entering Hot R&B/Hip-Hop Songs as the week's "Hot Shot" at number 77 and rising the following week up to number 38, peaking at number two for 10 consecutive weeks. The song was also number one on the Hot Rap Tracks for nine consecutive weeks. It also peaked at number four on the Canadian Hot 100. The song debuted at number 3 on the Irish Singles Chart, giving T.I. his highest charting single there, and Rihanna her tenth top ten there. However, in the week ending November 6, "Live Your Life" disappeared on the Irish Top 50, but re-entered at number nine.
In New Zealand, "Live Your Life" debuted at number twenty three on October 6, 2008 and peaked at number two. The song was certified Platinum after nineteen weeks selling over 15 thousand copies.
On the Australian ARIA Singles Chart, the song debuted in its first week at number 48, jumped up to 25, and has so far peaked at number 3. It debuted on the Australian ARIA Physical Singles Chart at number 10 on the 17th of November, and has so far peaked at number seven on that chart. Also, it has peaked so far at number 4 on the ARIA Digital Tracks Chart.
In the UK, the song entered at number 16 on the UK iTunes chart and within hours of being available, it had reached number 1. The Single debuted at number 39 on the official UK Singles Chart and surged up to number 2 the next week, giving Rihanna her sixth top two single, following "Pon De Replay", "SOS", "Unfaithful", "Umbrella" and "Take a Bow".
The video stars T.I and Rihanna. The music video uses the radio edit of the extended song. The video plays backwards, starting with the end of T.I.'s day. It is 6:33PM. In the opening scene T.I is walking. The song then starts and goes from a series of underground shots and Rihanna in her dressing room. T.I. goes back to walking and is shown with blood all over his face and other various cuts. T.I. is then shown driving in a car at 6:01PM. The video then cuts to T.I's day at 6:27PM. He gets thrown out of the car and is kicked by a large man. The video then cuts again to 5:21PM in the day. T.I is shown wearing the same suit he did earlier in the video, except that it is not torn and dirty. He then encounters a group of thugs. T.I preemptively lands a punch on one of the men. He is then beaten up by the rest men there. Here the video begins a different story arc, showing T.I before he made his fortune. The video takes its turn going from T.I. singing in a recording studio to him and in front of a house playing dice and dominoes with some of his friends. This portion of the video is interspersed with clips of the other story arc, such as showing T.I with a briefcase full of money. After this, the video is mostly back to main story arc. T.I is shown in the bathroom of a bar at 4:35PM. At 4:37PM he walks out into the bar. The video shows T.I. talking to a man saying "[he] want out."; the man replies by explaining that there is no getting out, not for him nor for the character that Rihanna plays. At 4:41PM T.I slams the money briefcase down on the table and shows it to the man saying that "I'm done. I got myself here, I'll get myself out". Then he is seen walking into that same bar, in a flashback, with a CD in his hand. The man that T.I spoke to earlier calls him over. This is a flashback showing T.I trying to get a record deal. The last shot of the video takes place at around the same time as the first shot of the video. T.I. is walking down the L.A. sewers, raising his hands triumphantly in the air with a bloodied and scarred face. Meaning that he was successful in buying his way out of the original record deal, both with the money he made and by getting jumped out.
During this scene you can hear T.I.'s song "U Don't Know Me" playing in the background.
The song's producer, Just Blaze, is briefly seen playing pool in the bar during the second verse and final chorus.
The Official Charts Company of the UK censored the video and only play a 30 second clip of the end of the video with no blood.
Live Your Life
T.I. Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
All my soldiers over there in Iraq
Everybody right here
What you need to do is be thankful for the life you got
You know what I'm sayin?
Stop lookin' at what you ain't got
And start being thankful for what you do got
Let's give it to 'em baby girl, hey (hey)
You're gonna be, a shinin' star
In fancy clothes, and fancy cars
And then you'll see, you're gonna go far
'Cause everyone knows, just who ya are
So live your life (hey, ayy, ayy, ayy)
You steady chasin' that paper, just live your life
(Oh, ayy ayy ayy)
Ain't got no time for no haters, just live your life
(Hey, ayy ayy ayy)
No tellin' where it'll take ya, just live your life
(Oh, ayy ayy ayy)
'Cause I'm a paper chaser, just livin' my life
(Ayy) my life (oh) my life (ayy) my life (oh)
Just livin' my life (ay) my life (oh)
My life (ayy) my life (oh) just livin' my life
Hey, never mind what haters say, ignore 'em 'til they fade away
Amazin' they ungrateful after all the game I gave away
Safe to say I paved the way for you cats to get paid today
You'd still be wastin' days away now had I never saved the day
Consider them my protégé, homage I think they should pay
Instead of bein' gracious they violate in a major way
I never been a hater, still I love 'em in a crazy way
Some say they sold the yay' you know they couldn't get work on Labor Day
It ain't that black and white, it has an area the shade of gray
I'm Westside anyway, even if I left today and stayed away
Some move away to make a way, not move away 'cause they afraid
I brought back to the hood, and all you ever did was take away
I pray for patience but they make me wanna melt they face away
Like I once made 'em spray, now I could make 'em put the K's away
Been thuggin' all my life, can't say I don't deserve to take a break
You'd rather see me catch a case and watch my future fade away
You're gonna be, a shinin' star
In fancy clothes, and fancy cars
And then you'll see, you're gonna go far
'Cause everyone knows, just who ya are
So live your life (hey, ayy, ayy, ayy)
You steady chasin' that paper, just live your life
(Oh, ayy ayy ayy)
Ain't got no time for no haters, just live your life
(Hey, ayy ayy ayy)
No tellin' where it'll take ya, just live your life
(Oh, ayy ayy ayy)
'Cause I'm a paper chaser, just livin' my life
(Ayy) my life (oh) my life (ayy) my life (oh)
Just livin' my life (ay) my life (oh)
My life (ayy) my life (oh) just livin' my life
I'm the opposite of moderate, immaculately polished with
The spirit of a hustla and the swagger of a college kid
Allergic to the counterfeit, impartial to the politics
Articulate, but still'll grab a nigga by the collar quick
Whoever havin' problems with their record sales just holler Tip
If that don't work and all else fails then turn around and follow Tip
I got love for the game, but ayy I'm not in love with all of it
Could do without the fame, and rappers nowadays are comedy
The hootin' and the hollerin', back and forth with the arguin'
Where you from, who you know, what you make and what kind of car you in
Seems as though you lost sight of what's important when depositin'
Them checks into your bank account, and you up out of poverty
Your values is a disarray, prioritizin' horribly
Unhappy with the riches 'cause you're piss poor morally
Ignorin' all prior advice and forewarnin'
And we mighty full of ourselves all of a sudden, aren't we?
You're gonna be, a shinin' star
In fancy clothes, and fancy cars
And then you'll see, you're gonna go far
'Cause everyone knows, just who ya are
So live your life (hey, ayy, ayy, ayy)
You steady chasin' that paper, just live your life
(Oh, ayy ayy ayy)
Ain't got no time for no haters, just live your life
(Hey, ayy ayy ayy)
No tellin' where it'll take ya, just live your life
(Oh, ayy ayy ayy)
'Cause I'm a paper chaser, just livin' my life
(Ayy) my life (oh) my life (ayy) my life (oh)
Just livin' my life (ay) my life (oh)
My life (ayy) my life (oh) just livin' my life
Got everybody watchin' what I do, come walk in my shoes
And see the way I'm livin' if you really want to
Got my mind on my money
And I'm not goin' away
So keep on gettin' your paper, and keep on climbin'
Look in the mirror, and keep on shinin' (shinin')
'Til the game ends, 'til the clock stop
We gon' post up on the top spot
Livin' the life, the life
In the Windmill City got my whole team with me
The life, my life
I do it how I wanna do
I'm livin' my life, my life
I will never lose
I'm livin' my life, my life
And I'm not stoppin'
So live your life, your life, your life
In T.I.'s song "Live Your Life," the artist encourages listeners to appreciate and be thankful for the life they have, instead of always chasing what they don't have. He acknowledges his own status as a successful paper chaser but also reminds listeners to prioritize their own values and morals rather than being consumed by money and material possessions. The lyrics also address haters and detractors who may try to bring others down, advising listeners to ignore them and keep striving towards their goals. The song's uplifting message has resonated with many fans and has become one of T.I.'s most popular and enduring hits.
Line by Line Meaning
Ey, this is special what's happenin' to all my
All my soldiers over there in Iraq
Everybody right here
What you need to do is be thankful for the life you got
You know what I'm sayin?
Stop lookin' at what you ain't got
And start being thankful for what you do got
Let's give it to 'em baby girl, hey (hey)
Be grateful for the life you have, and stop focusing on what you lack. Shoutout to the soldiers in Iraq. Let's live it up, baby!
You're gonna be, a shinin' star
In fancy clothes, and fancy cars
And then you'll see, you're gonna go far
'Cause everyone knows, just who ya are
So live your life (hey, ayy, ayy, ayy)
Believe in yourself and your potential, and you'll achieve great things. Live your best life!
You steady chasin' that paper, just live your life
(Oh, ayy ayy ayy)
Ain't got no time for no haters, just live your life
(Hey, ayy ayy ayy)
No tellin' where it'll take ya, just live your life
(Oh, ayy ayy ayy)
'Cause I'm a paper chaser, just livin' my life
(Ayy) my life (oh) my life (ayy) my life (oh)
Just livin' my life (ay) my life (oh)
My life (ayy) my life (oh) just livin' my life
Focus on your hustle and your goals, and ignore the negativity around you. Life is unpredictable, so make the most of it. T.I. is a paper chaser, living his best life.
Hey, never mind what haters say, ignore 'em 'til they fade away
Amazin' they ungrateful after all the game I gave away
Safe to say I paved the way for you cats to get paid today
You'd still be wastin' days away now had I never saved the day
Consider them my protégé, homage I think they should pay
Instead of bein' gracious they violate in a major way
I never been a hater, still I love 'em in a crazy way
Some say they sold the yay' you know they couldn't get work on Labor Day
It ain't that black and white, it has an area the shade of gray
I'm Westside anyway, even if I left today and stayed away
Some move away to make a way, not move away 'cause they afraid
I brought back to the hood, and all you ever did was take away
I pray for patience but they make me wanna melt they face away
Like I once made 'em spray, now I could make 'em put the K's away
Been thuggin' all my life, can't say I don't deserve to take a break
You'd rather see me catch a case and watch my future fade away
Ignore the haters and focus on your own success. T.I. helped pave the way for others to succeed, but some people are ungrateful and disrespectful. Life isn't always black and white, and there are many shades of gray. T.I. comes from the west side of town, but even if he left, he wouldn't be afraid to come back. Some people move away to find success, but others take advantage of their communities. T.I. has had a tough life, but he still deserves a break. Some people would rather see him fail, but he won't let that happen.
I'm the opposite of moderate, immaculately polished with
The spirit of a hustla and the swagger of a college kid
Allergic to the counterfeit, impartial to the politics
Articulate, but still'll grab a nigga by the collar quick
Whoever havin' problems with their record sales just holler Tip
If that don't work and all else fails then turn around and follow Tip
I got love for the game, but ayy I'm not in love with all of it
Could do without the fame, and rappers nowadays are comedy
The hootin' and the hollerin', back and forth with the arguin'
Where you from, who you know, what you make and what kind of car you in
Seems as though you lost sight of what's important when depositin'
Them checks into your bank account, and you up out of poverty
Your values is a disarray, prioritizin' horribly
Unhappy with the riches 'cause you're piss poor morally
Ignorin' all prior advice and forewarnin'
And we mighty full of ourselves all of a sudden, aren't we?
T.I. is ambitious and self-assured, with a hustler's spirit and a college kid's swagger. He doesn't tolerate fakeness or political BS, but he can still be aggressive when necessary. If any other artists are struggling, they can reach out to T.I. for help. Fame isn't everything, and some rappers these days are a joke. T.I. sees a lot of superficiality in the industry, with people too focused on their own success to care about what's really important. Despite all the advice and warnings, some people are still arrogant and out-of-touch.
Got everybody watchin' what I do, come walk in my shoes
And see the way I'm livin' if you really want to
Got my mind on my money
And I'm not goin' away
So keep on gettin' your paper, and keep on climbin'
Look in the mirror, and keep on shinin' (shinin')
'Til the game ends, 'til the clock stop
We gon' post up on the top spot
Livin' the life, the life
In the Windmill City got my whole team with me
The life, my life
I do it how I wanna do
I'm livin' my life, my life
I will never lose
I'm livin' my life, my life
And I'm not stoppin'
T.I. knows that everyone is watching him, but he's proud of how he lives. If you want to see what he's all about, come walk in his shoes. He's focused on his money and his success, and won't let anyone stop him. Keep working hard and shining bright, because T.I. and his team will always be on top. He lives life on his own terms and won't give up, no matter what.
So live your life, your life, your life
The chorus reminds listeners to live their best lives, focus on their goals, and ignore the haters.
Lyrics © Universal Music Publishing Group, Sony/ATV Music Publishing LLC, Reservoir Media Management, Inc., Warner Chappell Music, Inc.
Written by: Dan Balan, Makeba Riddick, Clifford Harris, Justin Gregory Smith
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
@1wesleymcgee1
Life is an interesting journey
You never know where it will take you
The peaks and valleys
The twists and turns
You can get the surprise of your life
Sometimes on the way to where your going
You might think
"This is the worst time of my life"
But you know what?
At the end of the road
Through all the adversity
You can get to where you want it to be
If you remember that whatever don't kill you
Makes you stronger
And all the adversity will be worth it
On your way to the top you will do anything
But how to you get your life back when you get there
Yeah, that's my dilemma!
...
What you need to do is be thankful
For the life that you got
You know what I'm sayin'
Stop lookin' at what you ain't got
And start bein' thankful for what you do got
Let's give it to 'em baby girl
You're gonna be a shining star
With fancy clothes and fancy cars
And then you'll see, you're gonna go far
'Cause everyone knows who you are
So live your life (ay ay ay ay)
Instead of chasing that paper
Just live your life (oh ay ay ay)
Ain't got no time for no haters
Just live your life (ay ay ay ay)
No telling where it'll take ya
Just live your life (oh ay ay ay)
'Cause I'm a paper chaser
Just living my life
Never mind what haters say
Ignore 'em 'til they fade away
Amazing they ungrateful
After all the game I gave away
Safe to say I paved the way
For you cats to get paid today
You'd still be wasting days away
Now had I never saved the day
Consider them my protégé
Homage I think they should pay
Instead of being gracious they violate in a major way
I never been a hater still I love them in a crazy way
Some say they sold yay
And no they couldn't get work on labor day
It ain't that they black or white
It has an area the shade of grey
I'm west side anyway
Even if I left today and stayed away
Some move away to make a way
Not move away 'cause they afraid
I brought back to the hood
And all you ever did was take away
I pray for patience
But they make me want to melt their face away
Like I once made them spray
Now I could make 'em put the K's away
Been thugging all my life
Can't say I don't deserve to take a break
You would rather see me catch a case
And watch my future fade away
You're gonna be a shining star
With fancy clothes and fancy cars
And then you'll see, you're gonna go far
'Cause everyone knows who you are
So live your life (ay ay ay ay)
Instead of chasing that paper
Just live your life (oh ay ay ay)
Ain't got no time for no haters
Just live your life (ay ay ay ay)
No telling where it'll take ya
Just live your life (oh ay ay ay)
'Cause I'm a paper chaser
Just living my life
I'm the opposite of moderate
Immaculately polished with the spirit of a hustler
And the swagger of a college kid
Allergic to the counterfeit
Impartial to the politics
Articulate but still I'll grab a ***
By the collar quick
Whoever having problems
With their record sales just holla T.I.P.
If that don't work and all else fails
Then turn around and follow T.I.P.
I got love for the game
But ay I'm not in love with all of it
Could do without the fame and rappers
Nowadays are comedy
The hooting and the hollering
Back and forth with the arguing
Where you from, who you know
What you make and what kind of car you in
Seems as though you lost sight of
What's important when depositing
Them checks into your bank account
And you up out of poverty
Your values is in disarray, prioritizing horribly
Unhappy with the riches 'cause you piss poor morally
Ignoring all prior advice and fore warning
And we mighty full of ourselves
All of a sudden, aren't we?
Got everybody watching what I do
Come walk in my shoes
And see the way I'm living if you really want to
Got my mind on my money and I'm not going nowhere
So keep on getting your paper and keep on climbing
Look in the mirror and keep on shining
'Till the game ends, 'till the clock stops
We gon' post up on the top spot
So live your life (ay ay ay ay)
Instead of chasing that paper
Just live your life (oh ay ay ay)
Ain't got no time for no haters
Just live your life (ay ay ay ay)
No telling where it'll take ya
Just live your life (oh ay ay ay)
'Cause I'm a paper chaser
Just living my life (ay)
My life (oh), my life (ay), my life (oh)
Just living my life (ay)
My life (oh), my life (ay), my life (oh)
So live your life!
@chrisblack5585
Who’s here in 2024?!✨
@jhaber.2024..
This song is legendary
@sowerslatoya6246
Meee
@MercylynOduor-dl1yz
Me😁
@JasmineMershonMckinney
Yes
@orlandomoises4058
Meee
@Gisura
It's officially April 2024, let's see how many people are listening to this masterpiece 💕💕💕
@longupeterpaul9032
Here
@shorts4you429
Here
@marvinschroder6767
Here boy