"M Y . L I F E" by J. Cole & 21 Savage w/ Jake One | BackTrak

What does it take to build a beat that feels both cinematic and personal? In this episode of Backtrak, legendary producer Jake One breaks down the creation of “My Life” — J. Cole and 21 Savage’s anthemic collaboration from The Off-Season. From gritty soul samples to clean drum programming, Jake revisits the creative choices that gave this track its emotional weight. Watch as he remakes the instrumental from scratch and unpacks the sonic storytelling behind one of Cole’s standout records.

Timestamps

0:00 Intro
01:26 Welcoming Jake One: The GOAT Producer
04:07 Seattle's Influence on Music and Career
08:10 Versatility, Pivoting, and Finding Your Sound
15:34 The Magic of the ASR-10 Sequencer
19:36 Early Career: Traveling to New York and Quitting Work
22:11 The Dr. Dre Call: A Career Defining Moment
28:04 The Unexpected Journey with Tuxedo
30:40 Evolution of Music Finances and Royalty Deals
33:32 The Enduring Impact of the John Cena Theme
37:09 Record Digging: From Utility to Collecting
41:57 Beat Battles and Celebrating Hip Hop Generations
50:28 Deconstructing J. Cole's "M Y . L I F E"
01:01:40 Beat Re-Creation
01:19:36 The Future: Hanging Up the Industry, Not Creativity

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