Rick Rubin-Helmed Jay-Z Docuseries Coming to HBO

A Jay-Z documentary series is coming to HBO in the fall. Jaÿ-Z in 8 follows a simple premise: eight episodes of conversation between the rapper and Rick Rubin, who also directed the series. “Without the pain you wouldn’t have done the work,” Rubin says in the new teaser trailer, to which Jay-Z responds: “So the pain—you don’t say it’s necessary, you don’t say you need it—but if it’s there, you use it.” Watch the trailer below.

Rubin helmed a similar project in 2021, a Hulu docuseries about Paul McCartney called McCarntey 3,2,1. Across his long career, Rubin has actually only worked on a single Jay-Z track, “99 Problems” from 2003’s The Black Album.

Jay has spent the year ringing in the 30th anniversary of his debut album, Reasonable Doubt. He gave his first solo headlining performance in over five years at Philadelphia’s Roots Picnic in May, and will play back-to-back-to-back hometown shows at Yankee Stadium next month. The July 10 set will be themed around Reasonable Doubt, while July 11 is dedicated to 2001’s The Blueprint and July 12 is billed as an “Extra Innings” performance. You can also buy an anniversary box set of Jay-Z’s discography—it’ll just run you $1,500.

Read Alex Suskind’s new interview with Al Shux, “Empire State of Mind” Producer on Soundtracking the Knicks’ Win.