Jay-Z is looking back at three decades of music in JAŸ-Z in 8, an eight-part documentary series built around conversations with producer Rick Rubin. In the first three episodes, the rapper revisits key songs, creative decisions, and moments that shaped his career.
During the conversations featured in the series, Jay-Z discusses tracks including You Must Love Me, 4:44, This Can’t Be Life, and What More Can I Say. He also addresses criticism over his use of lines associated with other rappers, explaining that hip-hop has a long tradition of sampling, borrowing flows, and paying tribute to earlier artists.
The episodes also explore Jay-Z’s thoughts on The Notorious B.I.G. and Tupac Shakur, along with the pressure that has influenced his creative process over the years. He reflects on songs he rarely revisits and acknowledges criticism of some of his own work.
JAŸ-Z in 8 gives viewers a closer look at how Jay-Z approaches songwriting, memory, and storytelling while revisiting a catalog that stretches back to the 1990s.