00:00Bluntly speaking, she wasn't with that name,
00:03Single for the Summer.
00:05It's understandable.
00:07Before we even said anything,
00:08we all internally was like,
00:10we're not going to name it that for sure.
00:12I don't even think Hustle,
00:13Hustle probably would have changed it at the last minute anyway,
00:16because we know how Hustle is.
00:18And I think that was one of the one things
00:20when I did kind of like pry in a little bit
00:24and ask her about the records,
00:25has she listened to it?
00:27She's like, y'all not calling it Single for the Summer?
00:29I was like, nah, hell no.
00:30She's like, all right.
00:31She said, I told Hustle, yeah, you put that out,
00:33you are going to be single.
00:36You're going to be single for more than the Summer.
00:37So she laughed and joked about it.
00:39So I kind of felt like she knew
00:44and she heard the project.
00:46I know she wanted the music to come out
00:48for Hustle and for Beano.
00:58I'm Mike Sapinara.
00:59I'm a staff writer with Billboard.
01:01We're here with the great Beano Rideau and Black Sam.
01:04Make some noise for the guys right here.
01:08So if you guys didn't know,
01:09Beano and Nipsey put out their project titled Prolific.
01:13They recorded it in 2017 and arrived in August 14th.
01:16I think it's one of my albums of the year.
01:18How are you guys feeling?
01:20Of course, album of the year, bro.
01:21You know what I'm saying?
01:22A long time album last year, the year before that.
01:25You know what I'm saying?
01:25It's been a minute.
01:26So yeah, I agree, bro.
01:27I appreciate that.
01:28For sure.
01:28So when I interviewed you guys for Billboard,
01:31yeah, we did a great piece on that.
01:33I think about the week before the album came out.
01:38So I want to know now, since the album dropped,
01:41what's been your favorite moment that has kind of crystallized this all for you
01:45and been like, hey, man, this journey's been crazy and worth it?
01:48I think for me, bro, it's just how thorough the team's been.
01:53You know what I'm saying?
01:54We come out and we do a lot of these panels and interviews
01:57and just assets for the rollout where we were prior to the release.
02:02And I feel like it's so many players behind the scenes
02:05that just kind of don't get that spotlight.
02:08But it's, for me, before and after,
02:12just so many moments for us to come together, you know what I'm saying,
02:15and work towards this thing.
02:16So I'll say that's the highlight for me.
02:18And just seeing everybody kind of in good spirits,
02:21we got new music to slide around and vibe out to, you know what I'm saying?
02:25The city, it's just a different energy, you know?
02:28So yeah, man.
02:30Black Sam, how about for you?
02:32Yeah, same thing, man.
02:33I'm just happy that the squad come together
02:36and be doing press for this project that Hustle and Bino did.
02:42For me, it was important that it comes out.
02:45And then I'm just happy that it's being received so well
02:49and just, you know, honored to be able to be a part of this push
02:53and continue to, you know, this rollout.
02:55Now it's time to get this thing nominated for a Grammy.
02:58Grammy nominee.
02:59That's what we got to do, right?
03:00Yeah.
03:01I like that.
03:01Hey, you guys have been in motion.
03:03This press run's been something serious.
03:04I know.
03:05When you guys pulled up to Billboard, I got to say, they pulled up 30 deep.
03:08I was like, this is the most people I've ever seen pull up with artists.
03:12I was like, man.
03:12But there was a certain intentionality with it that I really respected that it was like,
03:17yo, all money in, we're all moving together.
03:19And, like, this has just signified how important it was.
03:22And if you guys could just speak to, like, the press run and how important it was to you as
03:26well.
03:27Yeah, bro, you know, like when we put up on you, it was a lot of us.
03:31But, you know, everybody that was there deserved to be there, you know what I'm saying,
03:35deserved to be in that moment with us.
03:37And, you know what I'm saying, it's tough on us.
03:40You know, we excited, we emotional, but, you know, we got each other.
03:44So it's kind of like we had to do it like that, you know what I'm saying?
03:47Yeah.
03:48Sam, how about for you?
03:50Yeah, I think just what bro said, man, the whole squad, all money in, OTB, all the producers,
03:59friends and family, people that were in the studio sessions helping and were at that moment
04:06when the music was created.
04:08I know everybody was just excited and felt honored to be a part of the push and for the rollout.
04:15So everybody that came out with us was invested and was all hands on deck,
04:20helping put posters up and just was feeling the camaraderie again.
04:26For me, you know, it hasn't felt like a music push with everybody, you know, since with bro.
04:33So just being able to do this album out, I mean, push this album out and promo it brought back
04:39some good memories for me
04:41and for the team and everybody coming together, so it's just a good feeling.
04:45Most definitely.
04:46Sam, for you, was there like a moment or that you can go back to that you felt like,
04:52hey, I can listen to Hustle's music again and we could go forward with putting more music out?
04:58Because I know for a while, like, you weren't even messing with any of that.
05:03Yeah, I think, I don't know the exact moment, but for, you know, for a while I didn't even want
05:08to talk about it
05:09or be planning anything or I didn't want to talk to anybody about, oh man, we should be doing this.
05:14It was just like, man, this is not the time.
05:16But I think as time passed and I was listening to music and we were going and trying to figure
05:23out, you know, what music is, what do we still have?
05:27You know, this project, I already knew this project, you know, has to come out.
05:31And I felt, after talking to Bino and Bino team, you know, they was always supportive and like, bro,
05:39whenever y'all feel like it's time, let us know, there's no rush.
05:44So I wanted to just check, temperature check their team, like, man, how y'all feel?
05:49They're like, man, if y'all ready, we ready.
05:53That's how I felt for this project and even thinking about coming out.
05:57But, you know, it's still hard listening to any music.
05:59You get happy, you get sad, you laugh, Hustle's crazy.
06:03You're listening to things that you know, what he's talking about,
06:06because it's most everything he'd be saying is true.
06:09So you just find so many different emotions for me when I listen to the music.
06:14But it did take me a while to even think about commercially putting something out
06:21or getting the team together and trying to, you know, promo or release an album.
06:26For sure.
06:27Bino, take me through like what a typical day was recording with Nip for this album.
06:32I know you guys were at No Name Studios, right, outside of L.A.
06:35You guys were there for three months.
06:36For around 2017, right?
06:38You guys were like, showered there, stayed there.
06:40Yeah, bro.
06:40Take me through that.
06:41I'm sure that was crazy.
06:42Man, wake up, depending on what time you went to sleep, the day before.
06:46You got, like you said, you got your shower.
06:49Optional.
06:49You know what I'm saying?
06:50Some people getting straight to it.
06:53But all times of the day, somebody doing something.
06:55Some production.
06:56You know, something as small as, you know, minor EQ on one vocal.
07:01You know what I'm saying?
07:01Phrase or something like that.
07:03It's just always something going on.
07:06But same as, you know, us coming together and doing this rollout.
07:09It's like everybody had a common goal.
07:11You know, the same cast.
07:13You know what I'm saying?
07:14Everybody just focused and locked in.
07:16And, you know, we got hustle right there.
07:19Ain't no telling what you're going to get when you wake up.
07:21You know what I'm saying?
07:21You're getting documentaries, lessons.
07:24You know, you're getting bangers.
07:25You're getting jokes.
07:27You know what I'm saying?
07:27Man, it's just all around energy.
07:30Word.
07:30Definitely.
07:31I'm sure that was crazy.
07:32And it was originally titled Single for the Summer, right?
07:35Single for the Summer.
07:36Yeah.
07:36So if you could just tap into that.
07:37What kind of, like, conversations were you having with Hustle at that point?
07:40You know, kind of getting them in that kind of zone.
07:42I don't say I got them in that zone.
07:46It's just, you know, just talking amongst your homeboys.
07:48You know what I'm saying?
07:49It's just, man, like, you know, like we're going to do an album about how we're feeling.
07:53We just, you know, we was just turnt up that day, and, you know, we was having fun, but
07:58we was intentional at the same time.
08:00Definitely.
08:00And, yeah, we wanted to do, you know, something we ain't necessarily did before, you know,
08:05like an album for women, you know what I'm saying?
08:07Or not necessarily for women, but just relationship-based, you know what I'm saying?
08:12All across the spectrum.
08:13And I feel like we executed.
08:15You know, we executed well.
08:16You got all sides of a relationship, all good and bad, you know what I'm saying?
08:20And you can catch every emotion, you know what I'm saying, through the track list of this
08:23project.
08:25And that's what we was trying to convey.
08:27Most definitely.
08:28And a lot of it was, what do you say, more than 90% of it is just recorded in
08:322017 and
08:33hasn't been touched at all, right?
08:35For sure.
08:35And one of the people that I know got added was Leon Thomas.
08:39If you could speak to, like, how that even ended up happening and what you guys originally
08:43thought.
08:43I know Sam, like, had his own reaction as well.
08:46Yeah, man.
08:47And Leon, like, man, I be telling people he probably the only one who could have executed
08:51this.
08:51He, first of all, just a brilliant talent, genius, you know what I'm saying, when it
08:56comes to these Sonics.
08:59Yeah, bro, tell me the story, and it's one of my favorite stories now.
09:02I wasn't at the studio, but we was in these post-production sessions.
09:06You got Mixed by Ali, you know, shout out C-Rose, Mike and Keys, Axl Foley, Rantz, Mars,
09:121500 and nothing.
09:13You know, everybody, we all in these studios, well, we all in Ali's studio, just, you know,
09:18the post-production process.
09:20And, yeah, bro broke it down to me, like, yeah, one day, man, somebody, I go in the
09:25studio and there's somebody in the booth.
09:26I'm like, yo, like, you know, because our thing is we keeping, you know, everything in
09:32the integrity, the intent, exactly how Nick Hustle left it, you know what I'm saying?
09:35So we see somebody new in the booth playing vocals, you know, well, I wasn't there.
09:39Sam seen them.
09:39And he's like, yo, but, you know, they broke it down who he was and, you know, bro, start
09:43listening.
09:44And it only take, for me, at least two, three seconds to hear some Leon vocals and like,
09:49ooh, you know what I'm saying?
09:50So, you know, what bro did, it was the perfect addition, I feel like.
09:55But, like I say, he probably the only one could have executed, you know what I'm saying,
09:58on the post-inside, just getting some things like that done.
10:01But, yeah, that's the only one.
10:03All right.
10:04So, Leon, want you over, Sam?
10:07Oh, yeah, 100%.
10:08I think I didn't know who it was.
10:10I just saw somebody in the booth, like the back of somebody.
10:12And I'm like, hold on, somebody trying to rap on this?
10:16What's going on?
10:16I'm looking at all the producers.
10:18And I'm like, man, we got to get whoever is that, get them out of here.
10:22And then I think Foley's like, no, no, bro, just listen, he's going to add some, you know,
10:27some singing or something on the end.
10:30So they press play, and I'm like, oh, that makes sense.
10:32That's dope.
10:33You know, so it was, you know, shout out to bro, man.
10:37He killed it.
10:38Like he said, I think he added the last piece to that record to make it classic.
10:44Now, I know Hustle would have loved that.
10:46Sure.
10:47Hell, yeah.
10:47But I was also going to touch on, like, for Bino, you know, you recorded this in 2017.
10:52You were obviously at a way different point in your life, right?
10:55Like in your 20s, like no kids at that point.
10:59Nah, no kids.
11:00That's crazy.
11:02So, like, when you listen back to it, I feel like do you want it to, like, ever, you know,
11:07change some of your lyrics or your mentality on anything?
11:09And then also just, like, rap as a whole, do you feel like it's just in a way different
11:14space now to where, like, how does this project fit in?
11:18Well, you know, like bro said, we all kind of was in the same space.
11:21We wasn't, you know, playing this music or, you know what I'm saying, focused on, you
11:25know, prepping this to come out of anything like that.
11:29So, really, you know, I really started diving back into the music when we came into, you
11:33know, getting ready to release this.
11:35And I don't know.
11:36I can say humbly in the most humble way, bro.
11:39I was impressed with myself because, you know what I'm saying, just because it was so many
11:42years back, you know, some of the things I was saying, I'm like, man, you know,
11:45and it didn't, like a lot of times if I record a song, you know what I'm saying, it don't
11:49really hit me right away.
11:50You know what I'm saying?
11:50I might got to let it sit and come back and listen a few days later.
11:53And it's like, man, you know, fresh ears.
11:55So, you know, just hearing some of the things I was saying in some of these records way back
11:59then, it's like, it's like, wow.
12:01You know what I'm saying?
12:01But, yeah, I just was impressed and damn near shocked.
12:07Like, I forgot bars that I said, you know what I'm saying, things like that.
12:10And I'm hearing them like a listener.
12:11So, I'm like, yeah, it's dope.
12:14So, I never really wanted to change anything.
12:16You know, honestly, even if I did, I didn't want to.
12:20You know what I'm saying?
12:21Right, right.
12:21Just because, you know, I feel like bro respected it.
12:24He was proud of it and confident in it.
12:26And, you know, that boosted my confidence.
12:28For sure.
12:29Sam, how important was it to get Lauren London's blessing to have this project come out as well?
12:34I think for me it was important.
12:37I just, you know, just bluntly speaking, she wasn't with that name.
12:44Single for the summer.
12:45Yep.
12:46It's understandable.
12:47So, you know, before we even said anything, we all internally was like, we're not going to name it that
12:52for sure.
12:53I don't even think Hustle probably would have changed it at the last minute anyway.
12:57Because we know how Hustle is.
12:58And I think that was one of the one things when I did kind of like pry in a little
13:04bit and ask her about the records.
13:06Has she listened to it?
13:07She's like, y'all not calling it a single for the summer?
13:10I was like, no, hell no.
13:11She's like, all right.
13:12She said, I told Hustle, yeah, you put that out.
13:14You are going to be single.
13:16You're going to be single for more than the summer.
13:18So she laughed and joked about it.
13:20So, you know, I kind of felt like she knew and she heard the project.
13:26And she, you know, I know she wanted the music to come out for Hustle and for Bino.
13:30And for me, just listening to the whole project, it's about, from my take on it, it's about, you know,
13:39relationships, it's ups and downs.
13:41But it's good, you know, one thing about the music, Hustle highlights a lot of good points in relationships and
13:49building with your significant other.
13:51And so I was, I was confident that it's a full body and it's not just like some negative, it's
14:02just like, listen, this is what, this is what, you know, people go through in a relationship.
14:06This is how Hustle was feeling through the good, through the bad, and then getting, getting through it together.
14:11So I hope that everybody listening to this whole project kind of takes that away from me.
14:17Most definitely.
14:18Something I found interesting as well, that like, just crazy timing, I always looked at Nip and Russell Westbrook together
14:25because of their relationship.
14:28And I saw Westbrook announce his retirement like two days before the project dropped.
14:33I was going to say, like, do you guys remember that 2020 game that Westbrook had and like to honor
14:40Nip in the first game he had after that?
14:42And if you could speak to like their relationship or your relationship with him as well.
14:45Yeah, I remember, man, I think Russ was always somebody that was always solid.
14:51Him and Hustle had a good relationship and he always was supportive of Bro and Bro always was supportive of,
14:57supportive of Russell.
14:59And just, he was a solid person, man, just outside of, you know, fame or anything.
15:05He was just somebody that, you know, our camp knew that was genuine.
15:11And so, you know, definitely, man, whenever, you know, anybody pays homage or does anything in a positive light, man,
15:20we just honored and appreciative, you know, of Bro.
15:23That was beautiful to see.
15:26I saw a tweet that came up on Hustle's account yesterday talking about a new album featuring like 50 Cent
15:32and Tupac.
15:33I'm like, this can't be like a real tweet.
15:35Did you see anything about this?
15:37I didn't see that.
15:38I was like, this had to be fake, right?
15:40There's no plans about anything like that.
15:42Not that I know of.
15:43I was like, what is going on?
15:45I did see, you said that Hustle and YG were working on an album at some point.
15:51Do you think fans could ever, like, that could ever see the light of day or get music from that?
15:56I need to double check the sessions.
15:57I just did an interview with somebody that got clipped up and then they were saying, I said it's a
16:03new album.
16:03There's absolutely not an album that I know about.
16:07That's like complete.
16:08I remember there were sessions and bro was going in and recording and I don't know.
16:14I don't know how much from those sessions got finished, but I don't think it's enough for a full project.
16:23Next up, I'm assuming the focus goes towards the documentary.
16:28I know you told me that you guys feel about 90% done and looking for a partner.
16:33Is there any update on that and what can you tell the people?
16:36Yep, I think the doc is still, you know, working and we got a lot of people that's, even since
16:42the interviews,
16:43a lot of people that have reached out and been like, hey, bro, we want to help push this thing,
16:47you know, to the finish line.
16:49So I think we're getting closer.
16:53The good thing is we got the right people involved.
16:55We got some key people that are very talented as far as finishing the art of a documentary.
17:08And then after that, then we got some people on the business side.
17:12I'm like, I don't really want to talk until it's done.
17:14But then once it's done, I feel like we can get the right people involved and really get it out.
17:19Word.
17:20I know Alan Hughes is involved, right?
17:22And another quote I thought was interesting, you said, we only know 10% of Hustle.
17:26And I'm like, damn, like, there's going to be a lot to learn on there.
17:29I'm looking forward to it.
17:29Oh, facts, man.
17:30Hustle, like, you know what I'm saying, man, Hustle's funny as f***.
17:34Hustle is just, you know, good energy.
17:38You're going to wake up early morning, play the music loud, get your spirits up, get you in a good
17:42mood from as soon as you wake up.
17:45Even if you're feeling it down, he's going to charge you up, educational, so many different layers.
17:51And he's going to be the first person to sock somebody if they're acting crazy.
17:54He's just got all 100%, you know, all around just A-plus on every characteristic and so many different textures
18:08that I feel like this documentary you're going to see.
18:11Because they've got behind-the-scene footage with Hustle in the studio with everybody laughing.
18:15You've got on the road.
18:16So it's just like anybody who loves Hustle is going to just love this documentary and the footage and, you
18:25know, be able to see what also what was going on in bro life and what was going on through
18:32the hard times and certain decisions that he made through these hard times.
18:37Be able to root for him and celebrate when, you know, when he's triumphant.
18:42So it's just important that we do it the right way.
18:45Definitely.
18:45True one of one.
18:47I remember the outro for the album on Prolympic, Back of the Back, right?
18:51He talks about, like, coming up with the marathon.
18:55What did you guys think when you first heard him talk about that?
18:59Because I know there was, like, a major pivot going from Bulletin Kind of Name to, like, we're going to
19:03change this to the marathon and kind of run with this.
19:06Yeah, I think I remember when bro was telling me about it.
19:12And like I was saying, a lot of interviews, I didn't understand it.
19:17It was Bullets Ain't Got No Names, Volume 3.
19:21And we was hot in the streets, the hottest, like, new rap music out, club appearances and shows, and it's
19:29just going, it's on fire.
19:30And he pivoted and was saying, you know, my next project is going to be called Marathon.
19:35And so I didn't understand exactly why.
19:38I'm like, bro, man, we need to run this Bullets to volume 10.
19:41Like, why would we change this?
19:43This is winning.
19:43He's like, nah, I don't like the energy at these shows.
19:47You know, we're getting in fights.
19:48We're jumping off the stage.
19:50Everybody's trying to test what's going on.
19:52And I want the energy to change.
19:54And so I'm like, man, I'm with you, bro.
19:57But I honestly didn't understand it.
19:58But when he dropped the mixtape, I saw the energy change.
20:02I seen people coming with resumes, people coming, telling them how the marathon mixtape helped him, you know, graduate from
20:09high school or graduate from college or, you know, helped him stay in sports.
20:14And all walks of life.
20:16And it turned the energy into what he wanted it to be.
20:22And so I just remember taking a step back and just like, damn, this is crazy, man.
20:27Bro was very intentional and took a career risk because the shift when you're winning and you're making money and
20:36the demand and everybody is wanting this.
20:39For you to just shift and do something totally different is what Hustle has been doing his whole life.
20:45And, you know, sometimes you could win or you could lose.
20:48But he didn't care.
20:49He just he was like, man, the energy got to be right.
20:52And from that created, you know, for us, the camp and the whole team, the marathon mentality, the brand.
21:00And, you know, obviously from there, man, came the clothing and it came just so many different things.
21:05But that was something that I would have never been in a position to even think about doing or would
21:12have never happened.
21:13That was that was Hustle and him really leading from his heart and not liking, you know, where he was
21:22at at that point.
21:23You know, you get you get to a certain place with success.
21:25But he's like, man, my shit got to do something better for people.
21:29You know, so, you know, it's always important that I express that and people fully understand even that shift where
21:36that where those intentions came from.
21:38Definitely. True visionary in that way.
21:40Yes, 100 percent.
21:42You know, how do you carry like when you hear the marathon and like, you know, and having that experience
21:46with Nip?
21:47How do you how does a piece of him carry through you?
21:50When you just asked that question, I was going to ask, bro, to tell that story because, you know, I've
21:53been listening to him, you know, tell that story just just, you know, between bullets and, you know, the marathon
21:58and it's it's inspiring.
22:00So I feel like, you know, at this point, bro, still running laps, you know what I'm saying?
22:05It's still it's still, you know, it's still shit going on, bro.
22:08You know what I'm saying?
22:09And I feel like it's going to continue, you know, I'm saying as long as, you know, it's some Nip
22:15Hustle records out there.
22:16As long as you could go grab you a burger.
22:18You know what I'm saying?
22:20It's like, bro, inspiration and his reach is endless, you know what I'm saying?
22:24And eternal.
22:24And, you know, while he was here, it just felt like like Morpheus, like you had a Morpheus.
22:29You know, like whenever you looking to make a decision, you look at bro and, you know, like depending on
22:34who you are, he know exactly how to deliver the right message to you.
22:37You know what I'm saying?
22:38And I feel like the marathon is forever.
22:41You know, it continues, but it's forever.
22:42And just this project is just one of many testaments to that.
22:49Most definitely.
22:50Before we wrap up, I wanted to have like your guys' favorite like Nip quote or Nip bar or Nip
22:57song, like anything you guys wanted to touch on in that way.
23:07You know what I'm saying?
23:23And Nip, one of his kind, you know, his sound can't be mimicked, you know, it was timeless music, but
23:29I was just, I was a young kid and listening to Crenshaw every day, bro, it was just nothing like
23:36that was coming from anywhere, let alone out of my city, you know what I'm saying?
23:40So I'll say, you know, just the Crenshaw project, you know, whenever somebody asks me, you know, what's my favorite
23:47Nip hustle, I always resort back to Crenshaw.
23:49So specifically the outro, Crenshaw and Slusser, you know what I'm saying?
23:54For sure.
23:55But Crenshaw.
23:58Yeah, that's a hard one for me too, man.
24:00Everything bro did is classic.
24:04And I remember, you know, a point in his life and our life, what he's speaking on, and just seeing
24:14the growth.
24:15So every single album is important to me.
24:19A quote that I probably could go with is, the highest human act is to inspire.
24:23And that was one of the quotes that he loved, and he would always be very intentional about making sure
24:33that whatever he does is inspirational.
24:34And so just seeing that so many people were inspired and are still being inspired from his music and from
24:44his, you know, example, from business to education to, you know, empowerment.
24:53And just being inspirational to the youth and to really anybody that is looking for inspiration, for me, that's the
25:01thing I think about when I think about Hustle and his quotes.
25:05You know, the highest human act is to inspire.
25:07Word.
25:07That's the one that sticks with me too.
25:09And I know he gets a thrill out of, like, inspiring people in that way, which is beautiful.
25:13I appreciate you guys coming through.
25:15It's great to run it back, man.
25:16RIP Nip Hustle.
25:20Appreciate you, bro.
25:21Thank you, bro.
25:21Appreciate y'all.
25:24Yeah, thanks for coming out, everybody.
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