After producing for Beyoncé, Jay-Z, Kanye West, Travis Scott and more for over a decade, Hit-Boy has solidified his place as one of the best rap producers in the game.
The three-time Grammy winner is nominated for producer of the year, non-classical this year, marking his second time in the category. “I had no label budget. Everything is financed by me, the music by me, the studio time by me, like it literally comes out of my pocket. I feel like I've already really won,” he said Billboard NewsTetris Kelly. “I don't have a strong manager like other producers. I pull this sh– myself with some of my houses.'
But Hit-Boy isn't always solo in the studio. Over the past three years, Hit-Boy has executive produced six albums for Nas, with three King's disease and three Magic album. Nas won his first Grammy in 2021 in the category of best rap album with the first King's disease installation.
“Nas empowers me to be the best producer I can be and allows me to grow through my production process. When it comes [to] lay down two, three verses and a hook, and [he’s] like, “Yeah, do what you're doing.” I do breakdowns, I add additional keys, I do things to keep the production interesting. And when he's back in the studio, he's like 'Yo! I did not expect that. My mind is blown. What made you think of putting that sound in and does it match what I'm saying?' says. “We have mutual, super respect. He allows me to be me and grow through it, and I allow him to be him. He's one of the greatest, period. I just try to keep my ear open, my eyes open. That's how you got 80 songs in three years — you've got to leave the ego out of the room.”
The 36-year-old hitmaker (real name Chauncey Alexander Hollis Jr.) recently teamed up with another superstar, Jennifer Lopez, on her first single of the year, “Can't Get Enough.” The song, which Latto recently uploaded for the remix, comes ahead of J.Lo's ninth studio album This is me… Now, due out February 16 via Nuyorican Productions and BMG. And it's not the first time Hit-Boy has worked with her: His first official placement was on Lopez's “Forever” from her 2007 album. Brave.
But the most special partner he's ever worked with is Big Hit's father, who recently completed a nine-year 12-year sentence after being found guilty and sentenced for a hit-and-run in Los Angeles that resulted in serious bodily injury in 2014. After being released from prison, Big Hit went straight to the studio and started getting back to work. The father-son duo released Surf or Down, Vol. 2 just in time for Father's Day last year. The Hit-Boy executive then produced his father's long-awaited debut album The truth is in my eyeswhich was released on December 16, 2023, exclusively on album/the-truth-is-in-my-eyes” rel=”nofollow” target=”_blank”>Big Hit's Bandcamp. Two weeks later, at the top of this year, Hit-Boy, Big Hit and The Game joined forces on the 9-track project Paisley Dreams.
“It's a dream come true…. Sitting and lying in the shelter of the cell, surrounded by all the cement and all the noise, all the commotion–, trying to block it out, I said to myself, “One day, I'll be in the mansion. I will focus on the vision.' And I stayed focused,” Big Hit said. And that focus doesn't go unnoticed by his own son. “[I’m] getting to know different parts of myself through him and seeing his work ethic. Ever since I was a teenager, people have been saying, “All you do is work. You locked up the whole time.' I got that hustle in my blood, you know what I mean? Seeing him record 300 songs in seven months, I'm trying to keep up with him now!” Added Hit-Boy.
Watch Hit-Boy in full Billboard News interview above.
from our partners at https://www.billboard.com/music/rb-hip-hop/hit-boy-2024-grammys-interview-1235593042/
