With a No. 3 in the US and a No. 2 in the UK, the independent rapper’s 16-track album is turning a survival story into a two-country chart run.
Most independent rappers measure a good release week in streams. HoodTrophy Bino is measuring his in countries. His album Still Here climbed to No. 3 on the US iTunes Hip-Hop/Rap albums chart and No. 2 on the UK iTunes Hip-Hop/Rap albums chart, putting a Los Angeles-raised artist with no major label behind him in the top three on both sides of the Atlantic.
In the US, the album finished ahead of releases from Cardi B, Wu-Tang Clan, and the Beastie Boys. In the UK, it sat alongside 50 Cent’s classic debut. Not bad company for a record its creator describes in the plainest terms possible.
“The album is for my community, to let them know that I’m still here and didn’t go away,” he says.
The Man Behind the Name
Born Tadashi Sayres, Bino grew up between Los Angeles and Palmdale and now calls Miami home. The route he took to get here is not the one most careers start with. He has spoken openly about meeting Soulja Boy while he was in jail, a meeting he credits with pointing him toward music and away from where his life was heading. The two later linked up on Soulja Boy’s “LA County.”
Since then, the guest list has kept growing: Mozzy, Boosie Badazz, Lefty Gunplay, Stunna Gambino, and Chrisean Rock, his partner on the 2026 single “Proud of You.” That song, released April 24, found a second life online as a soundtrack for people posting graduations, wins on the field, and personal turnarounds.
Sixteen Tracks, Every Mood
Still Here does not pick one lane. “Tired Of The Hurt” and “Leave Me Alone” sit in the heavy, reflective end of the album. “Bad Bitch Party,” “Drip Drop,” and “Beretta” sit at the other end, built for loud speakers. In between, records like “Drama Kid,” “Fell 4 It,” and “White Flag” show how easily he moves between West Coast bounce and melodic hooks.
“My emotions make my music,” he says. “Every one of my songs is related to my life and what I have been through.”
The features read like a map of the independent West Coast scene and beyond: Philthy Rich, Luh Kel, Glo Gang’s Tadoe, Baby Money, Keykinya, Heaven Marina, Heembeezy, RJmrLA, Joe Moses, Spank Nittie James, Stiff Barbie, Russtaah, and Jayxxtra.
The Numbers Behind the Charts
The chart placements are not happening in isolation. His Spotify following has grown by hundreds of new followers in a matter of weeks, and his music videos keep pulling in millions of views. For an artist without a label machine, that combination of chart position, streaming growth, and video reach is what turns one good week into a real run.
On the Road, and Giving Back
Right now, Bino is on tour with Chief Keef for a 13-date run that wraps November 11. When it ends, the holiday season brings the part of his year he talks about most: his annual toy drives in Palmdale and the Pueblo del Rio housing community in South Central Los Angeles. This year is the fourth, with an added event in Las Vegas alongside the Jasper Boyz.
What Comes Next
The calendar ahead is full. There is “Tour Song” with Sacramento’s Gritty Lex, a remix of “Fallin 4 U” featuring Star2 and Thai superstar Sprite set for late November, and a solo album with producer Hit-Boy planned for early 2027.
When he first picked the title Still Here, it was a message to the people who knew him before the music. Two countries and two top-three finishes later, it reads more like a warning to everyone else.
Follow HoodTrophy Bino for more music, videos, and updates:
- Instagram: @hoodtrophybino
- Spotify: Listen to HoodTrophy Bino
- YouTube: @hoodtrophybino
- Apple Music: HoodTrophy Bino
