Pioneering prison rap collective Lifers Group has released their latest single, “Prison Life,” available now on all major digital platforms via distributor Vydia, with physical copies available through Elastic Stage.
Formed inside Rahway State Prison, now known as East Jersey State Prison in New Jersey, Lifers Group has spent decades using music as a platform to share real-life experiences and deliver messages of accountability, awareness, and hope. With “Prison Life,” the group continues its mission of warning young people about the realities of incarceration through authentic storytelling drawn directly from their own journeys.
The record serves as an unfiltered message to those considering a life of crime, offering a firsthand perspective on the consequences of those choices without glorifying street life or prison culture. Every voice on the track carries the weight of lived experience, making “Prison Life” a powerful reminder of the importance of making better decisions before it is too late.
The single follows “State N#mber,” released in 2025 to commemorate Lifers Group’s 50th anniversary and mark their return to music after more than three decades away. That release signaled the beginning of a new chapter for the legendary collective, and “Prison Life” continues their commitment to sharing lessons learned through decades of personal experience.
Through their latest release, Lifers Group reinforces a message that has guided their work from the beginning: learning from someone else’s mistakes is far better than experiencing those consequences firsthand.
Both “State N#mber” and “Prison Life” are now available on streaming platforms, with official music videos released through Lifers Group’s YouTube channel. More new music and updates from the group are expected in the coming months.
About Lifers Group
Lifers Group is widely recognized as the originators of prison rap, having formed inside Rahway State Prison in New Jersey. Members were selected through auditions for their 1991 EP and their 1993 album “Living Proof,” projects that introduced the world to their groundbreaking approach to storytelling through hip-hop.
The group’s long-form video earned a Grammy nomination in 1992, while their legacy has continued through appearances and connections to influential projects including the Academy Award-winning documentary “Scared Straight!” and the Peabody Award-winning special “I Am My Brother’s Keeper.”
After a three-decade hiatus, Lifers Group returned in 2025 to celebrate five decades of impact, releasing new music with the same purpose that has defined their journey from the start: using their voices to educate, inspire, and help keep the next generation away from incarceration.