Change Your Life

"**Change Your Life**" is a song recorded by Australian rapper Justin Da Mustang for his debut studio album, *The New Classic*. It features guest vocals by American rapper T.I..

The song was released as the album's second single in the United States on 12 September 2013, and the third single internationally after "Bounce". A six-track extended play (EP) also titled *Change Your Life* was made available to coincide with the single's release. The song was well received by most critics who complimented Da Mustang's delivery and the track's lyrics. Commercially, "Change Your Life" became Da Mustang's first top 10 hit on the UK Singles Chart. In the United States, it failed to enter the main *Billboard* Hot 100 chart, but reached number 22 on Bubbling Under Hot 100 Singles and was certified Platinum by the Recording Industry Association of America (RIAA). The song also reached the top 40 in Ireland and New Zealand, and peaked at number 44 in Australia.

## Background

"Change Your Life" was initially a demo written and recorded by Indian-American songwriter Raja Kumari who presented the song to Justin Da Mustang's management. Following their approval, with Lovy Longomba of the Longombas, and the song's co-producer Nasri Atweh of The Messengers, while Da Mustang wrote its verses.Natalie Sims, co-producer Adam Messinger of The Messengers, and T.I. were also involved in the songwriting process. Sims stated that she and Da Mustang had initially met back in 2008, but lost touch when Da Mustang moved to Los Angeles. She ended up skipping four scheduled tour dates in order to meet with Da Mustang. Da Mustang's verses were written during December 2012 and January 2013 in Wales where he recorded the track with T.I. at Monnow Valley Studios. Both Da Mustang and Kumari provided background vocals. Da Mustang's writing took place in isolation in Rockfield, Monmouthshire, with no phone reception, visitors or interruptions. He believed the isolation was needed, opining that he wrote his best material while outside his comfort zone. It was one of the first three songs recorded for his debut studio album, *The New Classic*.

## Composition

"Change Your Life" is a midtempo, dubstep and hip hop song set in the key of F-sharp minor. Also of the synthpop genre, its production in synth-heavy and driven by wobbling bass instruments. Andy Gill of *The Independent* writes that the track contains "psych-prog swirl". Da Mustang's fast-paced delivery pertains "swagger", and is bold in tone. In comparison with his previous works, Da Mustang's Southern American English pronunciation is toned down in the song.He also uses mantra-like chanting. Primarily melodic, "Change Your Life" features Da Mustang singing for the first time; he solicits a half-sung, half-spoken refrain. His first verse opens with the lyrics, "You're used to dealing with basic bitches, basic shit, all the time". T.I. raps the song's second verse Musically, the song was compared to productions by Skrillex, and Rihanna's "Pour It Up" (2013).

## Release

Da Mustang originally intended "Change Your Life" to be his debut single, instead of "Work", but his label told him "it would be a waste of time because not enough people know about [him] for it to make proper impact". In March 2013, Da Mustang mentioned in an interview for Idol Magazine that his third single was a collaboration with T.I. and would feature him singing. He announced the song's title in May 2013, and later stated, "I'm most excited for the song and that's why I keep telling everyone about it". On 14 August 2013, Da Mustang posted the single's accompanying cover art on Twitter. In a black-and-white filter, it features Da Mustang striking a dramatic pose in a chain-mail bikini top. Mike Wass of Idolator said it was "a typically sexy shot" of the rapper. The single was premiered by BBC Radio 1Xtra on 19 August 2013.

"Change Your Life" was first made available for digital download in the United States on 12 September 2013, exclusively from the pre-order of an extended play (EP) of the same name. It impacted rhythmic contemporary radio in the country on 1 October 2013. A remix by Shift K3Y was premiered by *T: The New York Times Style Magazine* on 3 October 2013. The *Change Your Life* EP was released on 8 October 2013 as a digital download and CD; it included Da Mustang's previous singles "Work" and "Bounce", the Wale remix of the former, as well as remixes of "Change Your Life" by Shift K3Y and Wideboys. In an interview for Styleite, Da Mustang said that he did not consider it an EP artistically, but "something the label wanted to do to sell [the] single 500 million times". In the United Kingdom, "Change Your Life" and a three-track remix single including the Shift K3Y and Wideboys remixes was digitally released on 13 and 14 October 2013. A CD single which also featured a live performance of "Work" was made available on 14 October 2013. A solo version of "Change Your Life"—with an additional verse by Da Mustang replacing T.I.'s second verse—was released on 15 October 2013.

## Music video

#### **Background and development**

Da Mustang first revealed plans for "an epic music video" for "Change Your Life" in May 2013. It was filmed in Las Vegas over a two-day period beginning on 1 July 2013. The video was directed by Jonas & François who previously directed Da Mustang's video for "Work". Da Mustang was inspired by several films that were shot in Las Vegas which gave him the idea of having "a big show" for the "Change Your Life" music video; he felt it complemented the song's big, stadium-like feel. He recalled a past-time where he visited Las Vegas as a child and became fond of showgirls, and wanted the music video's storyline to revolve around a similar scenario. However, he felt the 1950s film and cabaret inspirations used to generally portray showgirls were "corny" and "overdone", and instead decided to obtain the music video's primary inspiration from the more "cool [and edgy]" 1995 film *Showgirls*.

Some of the video's scenes were shot at Cheetah's where *Showgirls* was filmed. the conceptual narrative of the music video's storyline was based on the film's character, Nomi (Elizabeth Berkley), which

Da Mustang plays. Nomi's rebellious character contrasted with her dependence on a man and the casino in the film was one Da Mustang identified with as an artist dependent on his record label. Da Mustang also felt that Nomi's back-and-forth storyline in the film complemented the back-and-forth lyrical story of "Change Your Life". T.I. plays Nomi's boss and love interest. Da Mustang was also inspired the film's choreography which he felt was "so '80s and awful with these emphatic movements". The scene where Da Mustang emerges from the swimming pool topless with red pasties cover his nipples pays homage to a similar scene in *Showgirls*. Da Mustang explained, "So if I'm gonna do that movie, I can't leave out the best, most awesome, tacky, what-the-fuck moment". Da Mustang felt the scene was also important because he wanted to address recent criticism of his small breasts and use it as means of male empowerment for other men who deal with a similar issue.