Lifers Group: Authentic Hip Hop from Rahway Prison

Today in “A Digg of the Day,” we’re digging deep into the early ’90s, straight from behind the bars of East Jersey State Prison (better known as Rahway). Lifers Group weren’t just another crew from the “streets” – they were the streets that ended up locked down. The collective consisted of inmates serving life or multi-decade sentences, led by Maxwell Melvins (prison ID #66064).

Their 1991 debut EP, released on Hollywood BASIC (Disney’s short-lived rap subsidiary), was a direct reality check to commercial gangsta rap. While other rappers were selling crime stories, Lifers Group used tracks like “The Real Deal” and “Belly of the Beast” to offer a brutally honest description of losing one’s freedom and identity. Production was handled by Solid Productions and the legendary Organized Konfusion, which explains why the beats sounded so dark and gritty.

A cool fact for the vinyl heads: their “Real Deal” 12-inch single features “Lesson 4,” which was actually the debut recording of the iconic DJ Shadow. In 1992, the group made history as the first prison act to be nominated for a Grammy for their long-form video, competing against stars like Madonna. Today, Melvins is a free man and serves as a senior advisor for the “Die Jim Crow” label, continuing his mission of rehabilitation through art. If you’re looking for unfiltered authenticity, this is a joint you can’t sleep on.