HBO announces the release of Jaÿ-Z in 8, a new docuseries produced and directed by Rick Rubin, premiering this fall. The series centers on intimate, long-form discussions between Jay-Z and Rubin, exploring his career, creative process, and personal reflections. In the first teaser trailer, Rubin states, “Without the pain you wouldn’t have done the work,” followed by Jay-Z’s measured reply: “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.” The trailer is embedded below for viewing.
This project marks Rubin’s second high-profile interview series, following the 2021 Hulu docuseries McCarteny 3,2,1, which similarly delved into Paul McCartney’s legacy. Despite their collaboration, Rubin’s professional writing credits with Jay-Z are limited to a single track—“99 Problems”—from the rapper’s 2003 album The Black Album.
Coinciding with the series’ announcement, Jay-Z is celebrating the 30th anniversary of his debut album Reasonable Doubt. He recently headlined the Roots Picnic in Philadelphia for his first solo performance in over five years and will return to his hometown for a tri-city anniversary concert series at Yankee Stadium. The July 10 show will focus on tracks from Reasonable Doubt, while July 11 highlights songs from The Blueprint, and July 12 serves as an “Extra Innings” performance open to broader career highlights. Fans can also purchase a specially curated $1,500 box set commemorating Jay-Z’s entire discography.
The series arrives alongside new interviews spotlighting music industry figures, including Alex Suskind’s feature on “Empire State of Mind” producer Al Shux, published this week.
