Rick Rubin and JAŸ-Z are revisiting their long creative partnership in a new HBO documentary series. The streamer today (June 25) unveiled the first teaser for JAŸ-Z in 8, an eight-part project directed by Rubin that will debut this fall.
The series promises an intimate, years-in-the-making conversation between the producer and rapper born Shawn Carter, with Rubin sitting down with JAŸ-Z to unpack his music, lyrics, life experiences and creative process. The teaser hints at the reflective tone of the project, with JAŸ-Z discussing his role as a narrator of his generation’s experiences.
“Everyone had the same experience, except I was the one that could stand on the soapbox and, like, articulate what we were going through,” he says in the preview. Rubin responds, “Without the pain, you wouldn’t have done the work.” “So the pain, we don’t say it’s necessary, we don’t say you need it,” JAŸ-Z replies. “But if it’s there, you use it.”
Rubin famously co-produced “99 Problems” for JAŸ-Z’s 2003 blockbuster The Black Album, bringing his stripped-down, rock-infused minimalist production style to what was billed at the time as the rapper’s retirement statement. One of Rubin’s most memorable contributions was suggesting that JAŸ-Z begin the song entirely a cappella with its now-iconic hook before the drums crash in — a decision that helped create one of the most recognizable openings in hip-hop history.
Adding to the mythology, JAŸ-Z reportedly recorded the track in a single take while standing in the vocal booth. Their creative chemistry was captured in the 2004 documentary Fade to Black, which offered fans a rare glimpse into the dynamic between the producer and artist during The Black Album sessions.
Produced by Rubin’s Tetragrammaton banner, JAŸ-Z in 8 is executive produced by Carter, Daniel Kaluuya and Rubin, with Leila Mattimore and David Rohde serving as producers.
The news comes amid JAŸ-Z’s first extended return to the live stage since his 4.44 Tour in 2017. The artist recently headlined the Roots Picnic in Philadelphia, will play New York’s Yankee Stadium July 10-11 and will visit Paris Sept. 19 and Los Angeles Oct. 23.
