Nipsey Hussle’s voice returns to the forefront with the release of PROLIFIC, a long-awaited collaborative album with fellow Los Angeles artist Bino Rideaux.
Released Friday (Aug. 14), just one day before what would have been Nipsey’s 41st birthday, the 15-track project offers fans a rare opportunity to hear a full body of work created by the late rapper before his passing in 2019. Rather than piecing together previously unfinished material, PROLIFIC was recorded by Nipsey and Bino together in 2017, capturing the chemistry between the two artists during a pivotal period in both of their careers.
The album features appearances from Cardi B, Ty Dolla $ign, Leon Thomas, James Fauntleroy, Static Major, Buddy and BH, with production contributions from Mike & Keys, Mixed By Ali, Larrance Dopson and more.
The project has been in the works since 2017
Throughout PROLIFIC, Nipsey and Bino lean into the laid-back sound that made their previous collabs feel so natural. The project moves through ambition, relationships, loyalty and the sacrifices that come with pursuing success, showing a more personal side of their creative partnership.
That chemistry was already familiar to listeners. Nipsey and Bino previously joined forces for their 2017 collaborative project No Pressure, while Bino also appeared alongside Nipsey on songs including “Clarity” and “The Field” from Slauson Boy 2. PROLIFIC expands on that musical relationship, but with a noticeably different focus.
According to Bino, the pair spent roughly 90 consecutive days working on what would become PROLIFIC. After creating the more street-focused No Pressure, the two wanted their next project to speak more directly to women and explore emotions men sometimes struggle to communicate.
Ahead of the album, fans received an early preview through singles “Reckless,” featuring the late Static Major, and “Sacrifices,” featuring James Fauntleroy. The full project expands that world with records including “Just Like Me,” “Vibe With Me,” “Count On You,” “500 Horses” and “All Summer.”
For Nipsey’s legacy, the arrival of PROLIFIC is particularly significant. It marks his first posthumous full-length album since his death and arrives more than eight years after Victory Lap, his Grammy-nominated 2018 debut studio album.
But PROLIFIC doesn’t feel designed simply to revisit the past. Because Nipsey and Bino developed the project together while he was alive, the album offers another glimpse into where Nipsey was creatively and what he was building beyond the music audiences had already heard.
It also puts his connection to Los Angeles back at the center. From his independent approach to his investment in his community, Nipsey’s influence has remained deeply embedded in the city years after his passing. With another L.A. voice beside him in Bino Rideaux, PROLIFIC serves as both a continuation of their creative partnership and another piece of the musical legacy Nipsey left behind.
PROLIFIC by Nipsey Hussle and Bino Rideaux is available now on streaming platforms.
