Nipsey Hussle & Bino Rideaux – PROLIFIC (Album Review)

This project makes it painfully clear that Nipsey Hussle had plenty more chapters left to write.

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TOP 5 SONGS

Honorable Mention. I Just Wanna Know (Ft. Cardi B & Ty Dolla $ign)

Of course, this is one of the tracks from this project that you need to listen to. It features La Cardi.

“I Just Wanna Know” comes with Cali-inspired production that is smooth, packed with those signature snaps, and carries the kind of summery energy that makes you want to grab a drink and be around joints badder than what the Celtics got back for Jaylen Brown.

Nipsey Hussle sets the tone with a very blunt verse that mainly talks about being around a chick who is ready to get demonic early and often. He also drops a catchy chorus that Ty Dolla $ign adds some solid background vocals to.

Cardi B, who will probably be the main reason 70% of the women press play on this track, takes the baton with a whispery delivery. Lyrically, she channels some of that stripper-era energy while talking about how easily she can finesse some cash out of us.

Bino closes things out with an unruly performance that’ll remind you of that one homie who gets separated from the crew five minutes into entering the club and immediately starts acting up. Respectfully, I didn’t love his part.

For me, this is an undeniable hit because it doesn’t try to do too much. Sometimes, you need that.

5. Mean It (Ft. Ty Dolla $ign)

Put me in the club and play “Mean It.” Seriously, this song has a slick club sound that just knows how to set the mood.

I really like how Nipsey Hussle attacks the beat instead of letting the production dictate his performance. He comes through with punchy raps about his come-up and staying true to himself.

Ty Dolla $ign brings an energetic chorus, while Bino Rideaux slides into his verse with a perfect mix of talking his s**t and staying focused on business. Of everything I’ve heard from this project, “Mean It” lets every artist showcase what they do best.

4. All Summer (Ft. BH)

“All Summer” is basically made for one specific scenario: you’re in a car with the top down, the sun is starting to disappear, and you’ve got a long stretch of highway ahead of you. You can either pretend you’re Speed Racer or take your time and cruise. Either way, the production gives the song that warm, carefree summertime feeling.

I wasn’t necessarily in love with BH or Bino Rideaux’s verses, though. They didn’t ruin the song for me, but they weren’t the reason I kept coming back. Nipsey Hussle is the standout here, bringing some excellent energy and giving both rappers a catchy chorus to play off.

This song is hella addictive, bro.

3. Super Real

There’s something about “Super Real” that feels slightly incomplete, yet I still think it’s one of the strongest tracks on the project. Nipsey Hussle’s performance is incredibly choppy in the beginning, and the song even gives us moments where it feels like it’s going to abruptly stop. Somehow, though, it works. Nip’s delivery fits the slick production, which has just enough knock to keep things moving.

The lyrics also fit the atmosphere perfectly, with Nipsey talking about effortlessly connecting with a woman who appears to be elevating alongside him. Then, when he turns things up around the two-minute mark, the whole record changes. That’s when “Super Real” becomes a f**king undeniable banger.

I didn’t necessarily need Bino Rideaux on this one. His lyrics and flow are cool, but his underwater-sounding vocals kind of f**ked up the vibe for me. Maybe that’s just me.

Regardless, “Super Real” has too many great moments to dismiss.

2. Bacc of the Bach

Can you close out an album any better?

“Bacc of the Bach” features outstanding production that blends a helluva knock with soul-clenching qualities that keep you locked in. Nipsey Hussle gives us a performance with tons of heart, rapping about his rise to stardom and his love for grinding.

As for Bino Rideaux, he really shows up on his verse, keeping that theme of staying true to yourself going. Out of everything he does on the project, I think this is easily his strongest verse.

Then the beat switches to something even harder, and that’s when I gave the track a standing ovation. That switch completely takes the song to another level and makes it feel like the perfect way to close everything out.

Am I the only one hearing the “SOMEBODY THAT LOVES ME” beat in the background?

1. Reckless (Ft. Static Major)

I can absolutely hear “Reckless” fitting on Victory Lap. The production feels riveting from the jump, giving Nipsey Hussle plenty of room to deliver the type of unapologetic raps that made him so special. He talks about living life in the fast lane, and I love how fearless he sounds while doing it.

Bino Rideaux keeps his contributions relatively short but still makes an impact, adding some melodic flair to the record. As an opening statement, this track does exactly what it needs to do and sets the tone for the rest of the project.

SONG-BY-SONG RATING

Reckless (Ft. Static Major) (4.5/5)

Sacrifices (Ft. James Fauntleroy) (4/5)

500 Horses (4/5)

Make Believe (3.5/5)

Count On You (3.5/5)

Miami Off The Plane (3.5/5)

Just Like Me (Interlude) (N/A)

Just Like Me (Ft. Buddy) (3.5/5)

Super Real (4/5)

Situations (4/5)

Vibe With Me (Ft. Leon Thomas) (4/5)

Mean It (Ft. Ty Dolla $ign) (4/5)

All Summer (Ft. BH) (4/5)

I Just Wanna Know (Ft. Cardi B & Ty Dolla $ign) (4/5)

Bacc of the Bach (4.5/5)

RGM RATING

(B-)

I’m firmly in the camp that believes Nipsey Hussle never got anywhere near his prime. Victory Lap showed everybody that he could deliver motivational street music without sacrificing what made him special, but I felt like he was still learning how to bring that same authenticity into music that could reach an even wider audience. His tragic death happened right when I thought that next phase was starting to take shape. This project gives us a small taste of it.

The production we get in PROLIFIC is all over the place in the best way. There are island beats, summertime vibes, smooth Cali club records, and even songs that carry slow-jam energy. The crazy part is that Nipsey doesn’t really change to accommodate any of it. He keeps that same gritty Crenshaw tone regardless of what’s happening underneath him. That consistency makes the different sounds feel like extensions of him instead of Nipsey trying to fit into different styles.

There’s also a noticeable shift in what he talks about. Gangbanging takes more of a backseat, while women, personal connections, and his progression get more attention. His verses are strong, but what really stood out to me was how well he understood the bigger picture of a song. His choruses and the way he established the tone made his performances feel complete.

Bino Rideaux was a mixed bag. I liked the melodic flair he brought because it gave certain records the soul they needed, but there were also plenty of moments where his performances felt too wishy-washy for the production. Sometimes it worked, sometimes it felt like he was fighting against the vibe instead of adding to it.

The guest appearances didn’t really move me either. Ty Dolla $ign, Leon Thomas, and Cardi B all bring something to their respective songs, but none of them were the reason I kept coming back. For me, it was Nipsey, the production, and the moments when Bino actually clicked.

If there was ever any doubt that Nipsey Hussle was a special rapper, this project should erase it.

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