111. Hit-Boy: From Kanye & Jay-Z to Kendrick & Nas | The Story of a Hip-Hop Super Producer

111. Hit-Boy: From Kanye & Jay-Z to Kendrick & Nas | The Story of a Hip-Hop Super Producer

August 27, 2026 · 1h 19m

About this episode

Hit-Boy discusses his journey as a hip-hop super producer and shares insights into the music production process.

Episode 111: Hit-Boy is one of the biggest producers in modern day music. He's produced some of the biggest songs for Kanye West, Jay-Z, Nas, Kendrick Lamar, Beyoncé, Drake, Travis Scott, Big Sean and Nipsey Hussle. He's a 3x Grammy winner. He gave Jay-Z the first diamond record of his career, off a beat that six artists turned down before it ever got to him. This Hit-Boy interview is different than the others he's done. We go deep into the craft, how the beats actually get made, cut, released, and paid! Why he's numbered every single beat he's made since 2006, and what happened to the 1,600 nobody picked. We got into all of it. Making "Backseat Freestyle" for Ciara before Kendrick ever heard it. Producing a #1 country record for Beyoncé. Being flat broke in 2017 with a future #1 already sitting on his hard drive. Getting free after 18 years and putting his new album out himself, on his own site, with no label and no DSPs. He also still makes everything in FL Studio, the same program he started on at 15 years old in Fontana, California. He's one of the most important producers of the last 15 years and he's still working like he has something to prove. His biggest days are still…

People in this episode

Host: Elmo Lovano

Guest: Hit-Boy

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