Hit-catalog Boy’s is full of major records that have made an impact both commercially and critically, and he stopped by ComplexCon 2022 to discuss some of them. During the ComplexCon(versations) panel Mixed & Mastered With Hit-Boy, the multi-platinum and Grammy-winning producer discussed songs he’s worked on with Jay-Z and Kanye West (“N***as in Paris”), Nipsey Hussle (“Racks in the Middle”), and ASAP Rocky (“Goldie”), as well as some behind-the-scenes moments.
He recalled being persistent and sending Kanye “hella” beats years ago, which led to his invitation to the Watch the Throne sessions at the Mercer Hotel in New York.
“N***as in Paris,” co-produced by Hit-Boy and arguably the best song on the album, is also the most successful, having gone 9x platinum since its release. Hit-Boy recalled Kanye telling him about how big the record would be when it came out. “He was emailing me and saying, ‘Yo, you gotta understand bro, when this song comes out, your life is forever changed.'” That was absolutely correct.”
“For one of my most simple pieces of work to be one of my most successful, that also taught me a lot, like man, don’t overthink it,” Hit-Boy continued. “Simplicity is essential.”
With Nipsey’s “Racks in the Middle,” Hit-Boy revealed that he originally created the song with Roddy Ricch and intended to release it on his own project. After hearing it, Nipsey told Hit-Boy that he needed it for his album; the song went on to win the Grammy for Best Rap Performance.
ASAP Rocky’s “Goldie” was also a Hit-Boy record that he had other plans for. “I had another version with the flutes but this epic piano sound.” “I played that beat for Kanye for Watch the Throne in 2011,” he explained. “And Kanye was like, ‘Yo, you should take out the piano and make it more dark.” That’s why I came in with the 808s and switch-up, just to make things difficult. I tried to get Hov and Ye to rap on it, but they had so many incredible beats that they didn’t make the cut.” Later, Hit-Boy met Rocky at a Van Nuys studio for a few sessions, which resulted in “Goldie” and the memorable posse cut “1 Train.” According to Hit, the “Goldie” beat is on par with “N***as in Paris.” That could have been on Watch the Throne, but it was written for Rocky.”
Other songs discussed included “Clique” (Big Sean, Kanye West, and Jay-Z), “Til My Last Breath” (from Nas’ King’s Disease III), “Corsa” (his collaboration with Dom Kennedy), and Hit-previous Boy’s collaborations with Beyoncé. .
Patrón El Alto sponsored the panel, which also included Allie Bostwick, Patrón’s senior director of global communications, culture, and brand partnerships, and Jon Colclough, vice president of creative strategy at Mass Appeal, who discussed Hit-collaboration Boy’s with Patrón, which includes a new song to be released in January 2023.