Good Life (with G-Eazy & Kehlani)

"Good Life" is a triumphant anthem celebrating the achievement of success and prosperity after a long period of struggle. The song's core message revolves around loyalty, perseverance, and sharing the rewards of hard work with those who have been there from the start. G-Eazy and Kehlani narrate a classic 'from the bottom to the top' story, emphasizing that the 'good life' isn't just about material wealth, but about the joy of overcoming adversity, supporting loved ones, and never forgetting one's origins. The lyrics express deep gratitude for the journey and for the friends—the "day ones"—who remained loyal throughout. It's a defiant celebration in the face of past doubters and a powerful statement of collective success. The song's placement in the film The Fate of the Furious enhances its themes of camaraderie, loyalty, and triumph, mirroring the franchise's own narrative pillars.

The song chronicles a journey from hardship to immense success, a narrative of ascension and celebration. It begins with a toast to the loyal companions—the 'day ones'—who have been present from the very beginning, while simultaneously dismissing any past negativity or 'haters.' The core message is established early: they have left the bad times behind and are now living the 'good life,' a state they've actively created. The lyrics paint a picture of rising from 'nothing' to heights greater than a 'skyscraper,' a metaphor for their dramatic climb in life and career. This isn't a minor league achievement; it's a major success, with the proof written in their financial and professional accomplishments.

G-Eazy's verses add a personal and detailed layer to this success story. He speaks of a profound, almost indescribable feeling of making it while keeping his original team intact, highlighting loyalty as a cornerstone of his journey. A particularly touching and significant achievement he shares is the ability to provide for his mother, buying her a house and eliminating her financial worries. This act symbolizes a key motivation behind his grind: to care for his loved ones. He then transitions to the more lavish aspects of his success—celebrating in Las Vegas, ordering copious amounts of expensive champagne, and 'stacking blue faces' (hundred-dollar bills). However, this isn't just a personal indulgence; it's about elevating his entire team, putting them in a 'position to make a killin'.' It's a collective victory.

The song continues with a focus on enjoying the fruits of their labor without looking back at the times of being 'broke and distressed.' There's a sense of having poured his entire heart into his craft and now reaping the rewards. The bridge serves as a powerful climax, declaring their rise 'from the bottom' to a point where they 'cover sky lights,' building an empire together. This reinforces the theme of shared destiny and mutual support, a journey undertaken not alone, but as a unified force. The recurring chorus, delivered by Kehlani, acts as a powerful, melodic mantra that reinforces this central theme of creating and living a joyous, successful life, built on perseverance and shared loyalty.

"Good Life" was recorded as a key track for the soundtrack of the 2017 blockbuster film, The Fate of the Furious, the eighth installment in the Fast & Furious franchise. Released on March 17, 2017, the song is a collaboration between Bay Area artists G-Eazy and Kehlani, who were close friends. G-Eazy expressed that working with Kehlani was easy and natural due to their long-standing friendship. The song was co-written by a large team, including G-Eazy (Gerald Gillum), Kehlani Parrish, Holly Hafermann (Skylar Grey), Vanessa Carlton, and a host of other songwriters and producers. The production was handled by a team including Infamous, Ben Billions, Jason Evigan, and DJ Frank E. G-Eazy has mentioned that some lyrics are deeply personal, particularly the lines about buying his mother a house, which he called "one of the most special moments of my life." Being part of such a massive film franchise was considered a "surreal" honor by the artists. The accompanying music video was filmed in Downtown Los Angeles and features scenes from the movie, intertwining the artists' performance with the film's high-octane action and themes of family.

The song features a straightforward and effective rhyme and rhythm structure that enhances its accessibility and energetic feel. G-Eazy's verses primarily use perfect end rhymes in AABB or ABAB couplet structures, such as "explain / same" and "change / trade." This makes his storytelling clear and gives the verses a confident, rolling flow. The rhythmic delivery is conversational yet precise, staying firmly on the beat. The tempo is upbeat and steady, creating a feeling of forward momentum and optimism that matches the lyrical content. Kehlani's chorus sections are melodically driven, with a simpler rhyme scheme that emphasizes the core message. The interplay between G-Eazy's faster, more rhythmically complex verses and Kehlani's soaring, melodically simpler chorus creates a dynamic contrast that is key to the song's structure and appeal. The overall rhythm is designed to be uplifting and suitable for a celebratory anthem.

"Good Life" employs a dynamic blend of musical and literary techniques to create its uplifting and celebratory mood.

• Vocal Contrast and Collaboration: The song's structure is built on the contrast between G-Eazy's rhythmic, narrative rap verses and Kehlani's smooth, melodic R&B vocals in the hook and pre-chorus. This call-and-response dynamic creates a well-rounded and engaging pop-rap track.
• Repetitive Mantra-like Chorus: The hook, "We put the good in the good in the good life," is highly repetitive and catchy. This repetition functions as a powerful, positive affirmation or mantra, making the song's central theme memorable and easy for audiences to latch onto.
• Direct Address and Personal Anecdote: G-Eazy's verses use a direct, narrative voice, speaking to his 'day ones' and his 'haters.' He incorporates a powerful personal anecdote about buying his mother a house, which adds a layer of authenticity and emotional weight to the celebration of success.
• Upbeat Production: The song is built on an upbeat, major-key instrumental with a driving rhythm and a clean, polished production style suitable for both radio and its placement in a blockbuster film. The instrumentation is modern and electronic, characteristic of pop-rap of the era.

"Good Life" achieved significant cultural penetration, largely due to its prominent feature in the massively successful 2017 film, The Fate of the Furious. The song appears in the movie's final, uplifting scene, cementing its association with the franchise's core themes of family, loyalty, and triumph. The song performed well on international music charts, peaking at number 59 on the US Billboard Hot 100 and reaching the top 20 in countries like Germany, Austria, and Norway. Its music video has amassed hundreds of millions of views on YouTube. The track became a popular anthem for celebration and motivation, often used in contexts celebrating personal or team achievements. The collaboration was also a significant moment for both Bay Area artists, highlighting their friendship and professional synergy.

The lyrics of "Good Life" are rich with symbolism and metaphors that illustrate the journey from struggle to success.

• "Higher than the highest skyscraper": This is a direct and powerful metaphor for the immense level of success they have achieved, starting from "nothing." It visualizes their upward trajectory in a tangible way.
• "From the bottom we rise / So high, now we cover sky lights": This imagery symbolizes a complete transformation from obscurity and hardship ('the bottom') to prominence and brilliance. Covering the skylights suggests they have reached a level of success that is vast and all-encompassing.
• "Stackin' blue faces straight to the ceilin'": This is a metaphor for accumulating wealth, with 'blue faces' referring to the new US $100 bills which have a blue security strip. It creates a visual of overwhelming financial success.
• The contrast of "Little League" vs. "major": This metaphor signifies the transition from amateur aspirations to professional, high-stakes success, emphasizing their growth and the scale of their achievements.
• Toasting with Champagne ("Clicquot," "Ace"): The specific mention of high-end champagne brands serves as a symbol of celebration, luxury, and the rewards of their hard work. It's a classic trope in hip-hop to signify making it.

The most prominent recurring motif in "Good Life" is the titular phrase itself, "the good life." It is repeated extensively in the chorus, functioning as the song's central thesis and a memorable hook. The repetition of "We put the good in the good in the good life" reinforces the idea that this positive reality is something they actively created, not just something that happened to them. Another recurring phrase is the toast "for all my day ones" and the dismissive "two middle fingers for the haters." This pairing recurs in the pre-chorus, establishing a core theme of loyalty versus opposition. The imagery of rising "from the bottom" or "from nothing" also appears multiple times, constantly reminding the listener of the journey and the distance traveled to achieve the current state of success.