Life's a Bitch (song)
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"Life's a Bitch" | ||||
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Single by Nas featuring AZ | ||||
from the album Illmatic | ||||
Released | April 19, 1994 | |||
Recorded | 1993 | |||
Genre | ||||
Length | 3:29 | |||
Label | Columbia | |||
Songwriter(s) |
| |||
L.E.S. | ||||
Nas singles chronology | ||||
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"Life's a Bitch" is the third single from
The beat is produced by
Music
Olu Dara's cornet work was the first on-wax collaboration with his son. "Jungle Jay" and "Dance" eventually followed, as did the 2004 single "Bridging the Gap". According to Nas:
"I asked my dad to play on the end of it — I told him to play whatever comes to mind when he thinks of me as a kid. I think he's really proud to see me coming up and really taking my life serious and doing what I want."[2]
Lyricism
Nas's verse discusses how he is happy to be alive at 20 years old, his rough childhood, consisting of "robbing foreigners" of their
Thematic continuation
The song's title and concept was later mentioned in Nas' verse on the collaboration track "Affirmative Action" off his 1996 album It Was Written in which Nas raps "Life's a bitch but god-forbid the bitch divorce me". This track also featured AZ along with fellow Queensbridge rapper Cormega, Park Slope and Brooklyn rapper Foxy Brown.[3]
In popular culture
In the 2009 film Fish Tank by Andrea Arnold, the song is played in one of the final scenes, bringing thematic closure to the narrative. It is also played as the closing credits roll.[4]
Track listing
A-side
- "Life's a Bitch (Radio Edit)" (3:37)
- "Life's a Bitch (Main Mix)" (3:29)
- "Life's a Bitch (Instrumental)" (3:29)
B-side
- "Life's a Bitch (Arsenal Radio Edit)" (3:31)
- "Life's a Bitch (Arsenal Mix)" (3:31)
- "Life's a Bitch (Arsenal Instrumental)" (3:35)
References
- ^ Logic – YSIV, retrieved 2024-02-10
- ^ Nas' "Greatest Hits": A Track-By-Track Journey With the Pride of Queens : Rolling Stone
- ^ Brown, Peezy (December 13, 2018). "Tale of the Tape - Nas' "Affirmative Action" ft. Foxy Brown, AZ, Cormega". Revolt TV. Retrieved November 5, 2019.
- ^ Meaney, Jake (March 24, 2011). "Andrea Arnold's 'Fish Tank' Is Rich with Stark Beauty". PopMatters. Retrieved November 5, 2019.
[...]Nas's stone cold classic "Life's a Bitch", which runs under the final scene[...]