Lil Durk Ft J. Cole – All My Life Lyrics

Lil Durk and J. Cole team up to express their raw thoughts on the tough times they have gone through and how they have had to work through great adversity. The main chorus, “All my life, they been trying to keep me down,” speaks to the theme of the song that people doubted Lil Durk while the system that was supposed to support him, actively worked to keep him in the same dark place.

Since reaching stardom and overcoming this hardship, he has worked to change his image and share his experience through rap. By being “The Voice,” he hopes to provide motivation to others who feel as if they are stuck in the trenches. By working on himself and internalizing these issues, he is “tryna better myself, tryna better my health” in order to continue providing inspiration.

J. Cole fits perfectly with the positive theme of the song since he typically raps about focusing on yourself and overcoming many of the same adversities. With his fame, he remains humble and promises to himself that he is in it for life. By deciding he wants to keep “runnin’ long distance,” he can continue to support those around him and provide hope for millions to face their challenges.

All My Life Lyrics by Lil Durk Ft J. Cole

[Intro: J. Cole]
Durkio told me he been on some positive shit, yeah, yeah
Lately, I just wanna show up and body some shit, yeah, yeah
Always been a lil’ mathematician, lately it’s cash I’m gettin’
Got me losin’ count of these bags, I’ve been movin’ too fast
Hard times don’t last, ‘member when cops harrassed
Talkin’ out my ass, boy, you ain’t shit but a bitch with a badge

[Chorus: Choir, Lil Durk]
All my life (All my life)
They been tryin’ to keep me down (They been tryin’ to keep me down)
All this time (All this time)
Never thought I would make it out (Never thought I’d make it out)
They couldn’t break me, they couldn’t break mе (No, no)
They couldn’t take me, thеy couldn’t take me (No)
All my life (All my life)
They been tryin’ to keep me down (They been tryin’ to keep me down)

[Verse 1: Lil Durk]
I decided I had to finish, but the media called me a menace
I done sat with the mayor and politicians, I’m tryna change the image
You can’t blame my past no more, I come from the trenches
Some said I’d never be a superstar, but I know I’m different (No, no, no)
I’m The Voice, but the system ain’t give me a choice
Know some people that’s still undeployed
I know a felon who tryna get FOID
Child support your only support
For a visit, I’m goin’ through courts
Went to jail, they was chainin’ me up
And you know that I’m famous as fuck
See how you gon’ joke about stimulus?
But they really had came in the clutch
I know some kids wanna hurt theyself
Stop tryna take drugs, I refer to myself
Tryna better myself, tryna better my health but

[Chorus: Choir, Lil Durk, J. Cole]
All my life (All my life)
They been tryin’ to keep me down (They been tryin’ to keep me down)
All this time (All this time)
Never thought I would make it out (Never thought I’d make it out)
They couldn’t break me, they couldn’t break me (No, no)
They couldn’t take me, they couldn’t take me (No)
All my life (All my life)
They been tryin’ to keep me down (They been tryin’ to keep me down, yeah)

[Verse 2: J. Cole]
First generation ghetto nigga
Cole world, hello niggas
Made it out the city with my head on straight
Niggas keep shootin’ up the lead out
Young Jordan Peele, gotta get out
But the shit that I spit out
Is a cheat code like I’m facin’ a RICO and how a nigga put a hit out
And another one, and, and another one
I got like a hundred of ’em
‘Bout to lap niggas so they think they ahead of me, but I’m really in front of them
Now some of them fumblin’ they bags
Fuckin’ up the little crumbs that they had
A reminder to humble yourself, this shit could be gone in an instant
Me, I’m runnin’ long distance
All pistons firin’
I be stuck between maybe retirin’ and feelin’ like I’m just not hittin’ my prime
These days seein’ rappers be dyin’, way before they even gettin’ they shine
I never even heard of lil’ buddy
‘Til somebody murdered lil’ buddy
Now I’m on the phone, searchin’ lil’ buddy name
Got ’em playin’ his tunes, all day in my room
Thinkin’, “Damn, this shit is wicked, to get they name buzzin’ some niggas just gotta go lay in a tomb”
And media thirsty for clicks
I got a new rule
If you ain’t never posted a rapper when he was alive
You can’t post about him after he get hit
It’s simple, it’s the principle
On any tempo, I’m invincible
Don’t even rap, I just vent to you
I rather that than an interview
Most days
Fuck ’em all like I’m goin’ through a ho phase
Young nigga shoot out the whip like road rage
I pray all of my dawgs stay so paid
And the only thing that kill ’em is old age
[Chorus: Choir, Lil Durk]
All my life (All my life)
They been tryin’ to keep me down (They been tryin’ to keep me down)
All this time (All this time)
Never thought I would make it out (Never thought I’d make it out)
They couldn’t break me, they couldn’t break me (No, no)
They couldn’t take me, they couldn’t take me (No)
All my life (All my life)
They been tryin’ to keep me down (They been tryin’ to keep me down)