Jay-Z Documentary Series Sets HBO Release Date

HBO has confirmed the release schedule for "Jay-Z in 8," a documentary series in which the rapper sits down with producer Rick Rubin to discuss the lyrics and stories behind eight episodes of his catalogue. The series premieres on 18 September and will roll out two new episodes each Friday until concluding on 9 October, arriving simultaneously on HBO and HBO Max. It marks a further high-profile project for Jay-Z following an especially active year in the public eye.

Each episode pairs Jay-Z and Rubin discussing tracks spanning his career, from early hits such as "Brooklyn's Finest" and "Can't Knock the Hustle" to lesser-known cuts including "This Can't Be Life" and "Ignorant Shit." The Tetragrammaton production is directed by Rubin and executive produced by Shawn Carter, Daniel Kaluuya and Rubin himself, with Bradford Young serving as director of photography. The documentary follows a busy period for Jay-Z, including his Roots Picnic comeback and three Yankee Stadium shows marking anniversaries of "Reasonable Doubt" and "The Blueprint," ahead of upcoming performances in London, Paris and Los Angeles.