Jay-Z is once again joining forces with his “99 Problems” producer Rick Rubin—but this time it’s for a new HBO documentary series. Rubin interviews the rapper over eight episodes “to discuss his music, lyrics, life experiences, and creative process,” HBO said in a press release for the series, which is expected to drop this fall.
It’s the second such project for Rubin, the wizard-like super producer who has overseen albums for an eclectic group of artists, including the Red Hot Chili Peppers, Metallica, Weezer, Slayer, Tom Petty, Beastie Boys, Run-D.M.C., LL Cool J, Johnny Cash and Adele. He previously co-starred with Paul McCartney in the 2021 documentary series, McCartney 3, 2, 1. Both Jay-Z and Rubin—who produced Hova’s hard-rocking “99 Problems” from 2003’s The Black Album, and even appeared in the video—are executive producing the new interview show.
“Everyone had this same experience, except I was the one that could stand on the soapbox and, like, articulate what we were going through,” Jay-Z tells Rubin in the moody, black-and-white teaser shared by HBO. “Without the pain, you wouldn’t have done the work,” Rubin replies. The rapper responds: “The pain, you don’t say it’s necessary, you don’t say you need it, but if it’s there, you use it.”
Jay-Z is currently celebrating the 30th anniversary of his classic album Reasonable Doubt, while his The Blueprint also turns 25 this year. He recently performed at the Roots Picnic in Philadelphia in May, and is slated to perform three long-anticipated shows at Yankee Stadium in July.