Lifers Group has returned to the forefront of the culture, proving that their perspective on the incarceration system is sharper and more urgent than ever. Their latest collaboration, “Count My Blessings,” features a historic union with Sacramento icon X-Raided, bridging East Coast and West Coast lineages of prison rap.
For the members of Lifers Group, who unofficially formed back in 1972, this comeback is about correcting the historical narrative. They argue that despite their Grammy nominations and extensive contributions to the culture, they have been unfairly excluded from the mainstream conversation. By bringing in X-Raided—a veteran who also built his catalog from behind prison walls—the group aims to offer an authentic look at life that most rappers merely romanticize.
“Most have never lived the life that we have… Everybody wants to act tough and be gangsta in their music; that’s because they’ve pretty much never had to deal with the consequences of living a life that they have never really lived.”
Produced by the late Phase 5, whose passing in May 2026 adds a somber layer to the project, the track serves as a testament to survival. The group emphasizes that their mission remains focused on education and prevention. By documenting the reality of the system without glorifying it, they hope to steer the younger generation away from the same mistakes. As they prepare to drop their forthcoming LP, “Takin No Prisoners,” Lifers Group continues to stand as the definitive voice for those who have experienced the grit of the American penal system firsthand.