HBO has set a September premiere for “JAŸ-Z IN 8,” a revealing new documentary series built around an intimate, career-spanning conversation between JAŸ-Z and legendary producer Rick Rubin.
The eight-part HBO Original series premieres Friday, September 18 at 8 p.m. ET/PT, with the second episode following immediately at 8:45 p.m. Both installments will be available to stream on HBO Max beginning at 8 p.m. ET. Two new episodes will debut each Friday through the October 9 finale.
Marking Rubin’s directorial documentary debut, “JAŸ-Z IN 8” finds the two creative heavyweights digging deep into three decades of music, memories and the experiences behind some of the most important records of JAŸ-Z’s career.
The timing couldn’t be more fitting. Thirty years after the release of his landmark 1996 debut, “Reasonable Doubt,” JAŸ-Z sits down with his longtime friend and collaborator to revisit the songs, lyrics and moments that shaped his journey from Brooklyn to becoming one of the most influential artists of his generation.
Rather than taking the traditional talking-head documentary route, the series centers on hours of conversation and shared listening between JAŸ-Z and Rubin. Along the way, JAŸ-Z breaks down his writing process and traces the connection between his lyrics and the childhood, relationships, struggles and changing world that informed them.
Rubin and JAŸ-Z also have some serious history together. Rubin produced “99 Problems” for 2003’s “The Black Album,” making him a particularly interesting person to help guide this trip through the artist’s catalog.
Across the eight chapters, the pair revisit everything from early classics like “Can’t Knock The Hustle,” “Brooklyn’s Finest,” “Politics As Usual” and “Dead Presidents II” to later career standouts including “99 Problems,” “The Story Of O.J.,” “Family Feud” and the deeply personal “4:44.”
According to HBO, the result is a revealing portrait of the man and his music, examining not only how JAŸ-Z created the work but how his life and art became inseparable along the way.
“JAŸ-Z IN 8” Episode Guide
Chapter One
Friday, September 18 at 8 p.m. ET/PT
Featured tracks include “Intro,” “Meet The Parents,” “Can’t Knock The Hustle” and “What More Can I Say.”
Chapter Two
Friday, September 18 at 8:45 p.m. ET/PT
Featured tracks include “Brooklyn’s Finest,” “I Love The Dough” featuring JAŸ-Z and Angela Winbush, and “What More Can I Say.”
Chapter Three
Friday, September 25 at 8 p.m. ET/PT
Featured tracks include “Lyrical Exercise,” “This Can’t Be Life” featuring Beanie Sigel, “You Must Love Me” and “4:44.”
Chapter Four
Friday, September 25 at 8:50 p.m. ET/PT
Featured tracks include “Where Have You Been,” “Allure,” “Where I’m From,” “Can I Live” and “Don’t You Know.”
Chapter Five
Friday, October 2 at 8 p.m. ET/PT
Featured tracks include “U Don’t Know,” “Politics As Usual” and “Regrets.”
Chapter Six
Friday, October 2 at 8:45 p.m. ET/PT
Featured tracks include “Jail,” “Ignorant Shit,” “Hovi Baby,” “Kill Jay-Z,” “99 Problems,” “Threat,” “Dead Presidents II” and “Public Service Announcement (Interlude).”
Chapter Seven
Friday, October 9 at 8 p.m. ET/PT
Chapter Eight
Friday, October 9 at 8:47 p.m. ET/PT
The finale features “New York (Concept de Paris),” “The Story Of O.J.,” “No Church In The Wild,” “Family Feud” and “Legacy.”
“JAŸ-Z IN 8” is presented by HBO Documentary Films and Tetragrammaton. The series is directed by Rick Rubin and executive produced by Shawn Carter, Daniel Kaluuya and Rubin. Leila Mattimore and David Rohde serve as producers, with Harlin Lawal and Will Mavronicolas as co-producers. Bradford Young serves as director of photography.
For HBO, Nancy Abraham, Lisa Heller and Sara Rodriguez serve as executive producers.
“JAŸ-Z IN 8” premieres Friday, September 18 on HBO and HBO Max.
Jason Price founded the mighty Icon Vs. Icon more than a decade ago. Along the way, he’s assembled an amazing group of like-minded individuals to spread the word on some of the most unique people and projects on the pop culture landscape.
