Dave East Says He Was Working on a Collaborative Project With Nipsey Hussle

Dave East is gearing up for the release of his new album Survival, but he almost had another full-length out this year, too. In an interview with Revolt TV, East explained that he was working on a collaborative project with Nipsey Hussle prior to his untimely death in March.

"We were six songs in," East said of the unreleased record. "We were planning a tour and all of that. Fuck rap. I’m going to keep it 100. That was my n***a. Anything we did together or anytime I had to be around that n***a, I cherish it. It’s wack he went out like that. That n***a’s a king. Kings ain’t supposed to go out like that. But, that’s the world we’re living in. It’s wack he went out like that, but it sharpened me and a million other n***as up. He went out like a G."

East didn't reveal whether he would ever release any of the songs they recorded together, but Survival does feature a tribute to the late rapper. "I went mad personal and I wrapped it up with a tribute to my boy," he said when asked when he knew he was finished with Survival. "Once I said what I said to Nip, I was like, ‘We’re good.’"

Speaking about their relationship further, Dave East added that they first met "on Crip time" instead over music. "I’m from the [Rolling] 30s [Harlem Crips]," East said. "That’s how we met. I love Nip death and I’m going to put on for Nip until my death."

Dave East's debut album Survival, which is the follow-up to his 2017 EP Paranoia: A True Story, is due out Nov. 8.