- 5 minutes ago
Blacc Sam and Bino Rideaux sit down with Billboard to talk about Nipsey Hussle’s long-awaited project Prolific—recorded in 2017 and finally released this year. They break down what it meant to finish the rollout with the full team, what studio life with Nip was really like, and why preserving the integrity and intent of the music mattered most.
Sam also shares why Lauren London wasn’t feeling the original title (“Single for the Summer”), clears up rumors about “new albums,” and gives an update on the Nipsey Hussle documentary (and what fans still don’t know). Plus: the story behind Nipsey’s pivot from Bullets Ain’t Got No Name to The Marathon—and the Nip quotes and songs that still hit the hardest.
Sam also shares why Lauren London wasn’t feeling the original title (“Single for the Summer”), clears up rumors about “new albums,” and gives an update on the Nipsey Hussle documentary (and what fans still don’t know). Plus: the story behind Nipsey’s pivot from Bullets Ain’t Got No Name to The Marathon—and the Nip quotes and songs that still hit the hardest.
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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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