Hit-Boy Says Jay-Z Helping To Free Him Of Publishing Deal Led To Building A Stronger Business Foundation
Hit-Boy continues to embrace today’s technology.
The producer, born Chauncey Hollis Jr., has been in the music industry for nearly two decades. He made his foray into music by releasing mixes on Myspace and selling burned CDs outside a mall for only $5, according to The New York Times.
At age 19, he secured a $50,000 co-publishing deal with Universal Music Publishing Group, which he later learned had no end date, The Times notes. As AFROTECH™ previously reported, he was in a vulnerable position, raised by a teenage single mother. His father spent most of his life in prison, so, at the time, Hit-Boy had little mentorship or knowledge of music contracts and how to navigate the business.
Hit-Boy went on to experience great success, collaborating with industry titans such as Drake, Lil Wayne, Beyoncé, Mariah Carey, and even Jay-Z, producing the song “N-ggas in Paris” in 2011. In an interview with AFROTECH™, Hit-Boy credited the song and partnership with Jay-Z with changing his earning potential as a producer.
Jay-Z helped Hit-Boy break free from his long-term contract with Universal Music Publishing Group. He told AFROTECH™ that having a team that aligned with his vision for the future helped him build a stronger business foundation.
He named influential hires including:
“My lawyer, Jason Boyarsky, my manager Nima, just really having that same vision and just sharing the same passion behind my career and my music and the things I want to get accomplished.”
AI
Hit-Boy also discussed technology’s influence on producers, particularly AI. Overall, he has positive sentiments about its use and even sees it serving as a “co-producer at times.”
“I like AI in music, I just like the idea of using it as a tool, not a crutch or something that you could use to be lazy, but actually something to make you go harder, just to keep the momentum going when you’re in a session. It’s kind of like having a co-producer at times,” Hit-Boy explained.
Streaming
Hit-Boy also embraces the streaming industry, recently appearing alongside N3on on Twitch.
“I think the streaming world is ill, man, just like seeing people’s reactions in real time,” Hit-Boy explained.
“I mean, people dropping Ws and dropping fire emojis when you’re playing music or you’re doing something dope, like, it’s just like that real-time feedback is priceless. I rock with the streaming world,” he continued.
Under a record deal with EMPIRE, N3on is working on a 12-track album that will be released in three parts, according to a news release. Hit-Boy will serve as the project’s executive producer. The album will include features from Bebe Rexha, Big Sean, Diplo, and more, per information shared with AFROTECH™.
N3On commented:
“[Hit-Boy is] one of the best at what he does. And my chat, when they first saw him, they were freaking out. They were like, ‘Oh my God, is that really Hit-Boy?’ When I went to one of his events, it was like a pool party and I streamed it. People were going crazy, so I just knew the match would be perfect.”
“He’s highly respected in the streaming space. I feel like I’m starting to get there … The album itself, everything is gonna go crazy,” N3on added.
