"In My Lifetime" is the debut single by American rapper
Jay-Z. It is produced by
Ski
A ski is a narrow strip of semi-rigid material worn underfoot to glide over snow. Substantially longer than wide and characteristically employed in pairs, skis are attached to ski boots with ski bindings, with either a free, lockable, or partia ...
and contains samples from "Oh Baby" by
Aretha Franklin and two
Soul II Soul
Soul II Soul are a British musical collective formed in London in 1988. They are best known for their two major hits; 1989's UK number five and US number eleven " Keep On Movin'", and its follow-up, the UK number one and US number four " Back to ...
songs: "
Back to Life (However Do You Want Me) Back to Life may refer to:
Books
*''Back to Life: Poems from behind the Iron Curtain'', 1958, ed. Robert Conquest
* ''Back to Life'' (novel), 2004 novel by Wendy Coakley-Thompson
*''Back to Life, The Rachel Riley Diaries'', 2009 novel by Joanna Na ...
" and "Get a Life". The original
white label
A white label record is a vinyl record with white labels attached. There are several variations each with a different purpose. Variations include test pressings, white label promos, and plain white labels.
Test pressings
Test pressings, usua ...
version of the single was sold by Jay-Z and his friend
Damon Dash out of Dash's car in 1994.
It was originally released as a
indie label
An independent record label (or indie label) is a record label that operates without the funding or distribution of major record labels; they are a type of small- to medium-sized enterprise, or SME. The labels and artists are often represented ...
release by
Roc-A-Fella Records
Roc-A-Fella Records was an American hip hop record label and music management company founded by record executives and entrepreneurs Shawn "Jay-Z" Carter, Damon "Dame" Dash, and Kareem "Biggs" Burke in 1994.
History
1994–2000: Formation ...
in 1994,
but later re-released the single on
Payday Records
Payday Records is a New York-based hiphop label that was launched in 1992 by Patrick Moxey. The label began in association with FFRR/London Records, and released in the UK and Europe via London/ PolyGram Records. Artists launched via Payday Record ...
in 1995, but Jay-Z had royalty conflicts with the label and soon decided to grow Roc-A-Fella Records. The single features a remix by
Big Jaz and the
B-side, "Can't Get Wid That" produced by
Clark Kent. The song is not featured on either of Jay-Z's first two albums, but the Big Jaz remix is featured on the ''
Streets Is Watching'' soundtrack.
Formats and track listings
CD
# "In My Lifetime (Big Jaz Radio Remix)" (4:18)
# "In My Lifetime (Original Ski Radio Version)" (4:10)
# "In My Lifetime (Skistrumental)" (4:28)
# "In My Lifetime (Big Jazmental Remix)" (4:05)
Vinyl
A-Side
# In My Lifetime (Original Ski Radio Version) (4:10)
# In My Lifetime (Original Ski Street Version) (4:28)
# In My Lifetime (Ski instrumental) (4:28)
B-Side
# In My Lifetime (Big Jaz Radio Remix) (4:48)
# In My Lifetime (Big Jazmental Remix) (4:05)
# Can't Get Wit That (DJ Clark Kent Version) (4:10)
Vinyl b/w "I Can't Get Wid Dat"
A-Side
# "In My Lifetime"
# "In My Lifetime (Radio Edit)"
# "In My Lifetime (Instrumental)"
B-Side
# "I Can't Get Wid Dat"
# "I Can't Get Wid Dat (Radio Edit)"
# "I Can't Get Wid Dat (Instrumental)"
References
See also
*
List of songs recorded by Jay-Z
The following is a list of songs by Jay-Z organized by alphabetical order. The songs on the list are all included in official label-released, albums, soundtracks and singles, but not white label or other non-label releases. Next to the song tit ...
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1995 songs
1995 debut singles
Jay-Z songs
Songs written by Jay-Z
Hardcore hip hop songs