Talib Kweli & Hit-Boy On 'Racks In The Middle,' Big Sean, Nas, Kendrick, Kanye | People's Party Full

In this episode of "People's Party With Talib Kweli," Kweli and Jasmin Leigh sit down with producer, rapper, singer, and songwriter:
HIT-BOY
Here's what we got into:
• Growing up in Pasadena and his uncle being part of the R&B group Troop.
• The hip hop collective Surf Club and how it came together via MySpace.
• Being tired of questions about his production for 'Ni**as in Paris'.
• His experience working with Nas on 'King's Disease' I and II.
• People's claims of Nas being bad at beat selection.
• Kendrick Lamar's 'Backseat Freestyle' beat originally intended as an R&B track.
• Kendrick stealing the show during the Super Bowl Half-Time.
• Ye's admission of being a Backpack Rap poser when he first came on the scene.
• Hit-Boy's take on the importance beat tags.
• The emotional studio sessions with Nipsey Hussle making 'Racks In The Middle'.
• Working with Beyoncé on her songs 'Flawless' and 'Sorry'.
• People not fully grasping the depth of Beyoncé's musical genius.
• Sharing his record deal info online and the praise he received from artists.
• How he and Benny The Butcher linked up to record the track 'Legend'.
• The making of Nas' 'Moments' as well as 'Nobody' featuring Lauryn Hill.
• Lauryn Hill being the Nina Simone of our generation.
• Hit-Boy's musical connection with Big Sean and how easy it is to work together.
• Being notorious for throwing some of the best parties in town at one time.
• His work with A$AP Rocky and Ferg and the all-star collab '1 Train'.
• A possible Hit-Boy compilation featuring multiple artists in the works.
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PEOPLE'S PARTY WITH TALIB KWELI
People's Party is a weekly interview show hosted by Talib Kweli and Jasmin Leigh. Guests range from the biggest names in hip-hop to global entertainers to the most progressive minds moving our culture forward. The audio podcast is available on Apple and Spotify.

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TIME STAMPS: 3:11 -- Hit-Boy speaks on his Pasadena, California upbringing and the unique blend of influences he had coming up with his father's involvement in the street life and an uncle who had experienced huge success being part of the R&B group Troop. They go on to talk about the Surf Club, a hip hop collective of young artists, writers, and producers that formed via connections made on MySpace and how crucial the site was at the time for artists to make those direct connections with their fans when the marketing from record labels was slacking. 7:07 -- Hit-Boy explains why he's been avoiding discussions about his production on Jay-Z and Kayne's 'Ni**as in Paris'. They go on to explore his work with Nas on the 'King's Disease' series of albums and the song 'Ultra Black'. Hit-Boy gives his take on Nas' approach for that song of bringing realness with a message of hope, if he really was dissing Doja Cat as well as working on the song 'the Cure'. They also get into people's claims of Nas being bad at beat selection for his tracks and how his track record of success proves otherwise. 11:45 -- Hit-Boy's producing Kendrick Lamar's 'Backseat Freestyle' is brought up. They discuss how the beat was so conducive of Kendrick's unique approach to the song, how it was originally intended for an R&B track and Kendrick stealing the show during the Super Bowl Half-Time. They also explore the long and storied history between Talib and Kanye West, Hit-Boy's own falling out with Ye, Kanye's history of making mistakes and apologizing, as well as his admission of being a Backpack Rap poser when he first came on the scene. 18:02 -- Hit-Boy speaks on why he likes to make use of beat tags and how they've been a tool of motivation for him in bringing things to the next level. They discuss how producers that don't stay busy can easily be forgotten and with that in mind Hit-Boy tries to stay focused on being as consistent as possible. They also talk about his work with Nipsey Hussle on 'Racks In The Middle' and how emotional those studio sessions turned out to be, with tears being shed and Nip pouring his heart into the track. 22:10 -- Hit-Boy talks about working with Beyoncé on her songs 'Flawless' and 'Sorry'. He gets into witnessing how focused and involved she was through every aspect of the creative process as well as people not fully grasping the depth of her musical genius. They also get into Hit-Boy sharing his record deal information online and the praise he received from so many other artists for bringing attention to the same struggles they've dealt with. He also reflects on the fact that he's now one of the OG's in the industry and what that means. 30:21 -- Hit-Boy tells how Jay-Z first put him on to the Griselda crew and how that eventually led to him and Benny The Butcher linking up in the studio to lay down the track 'Legend'. Hit-Boy's work with Nas is revisited as they discuss tracks like 'Moments' as well as 'Nobody' featuring Lauryn Hill. Talib gives his take on why Lauryn Hill is the Nina Simone of our generation. Hit-Boy's musical connection with Big Sean is also explored, how they're always on the same wavelength and Talib speaks on his being impressed by the evolution of Sean. 35:55 -- Jasmin asks Hit-Boy about his being known to throw some of the best parties in town at one time. He speaks on how those parties would just seem to happen organically and how he's toned things down lately. They discuss his work with A$AP Rocky and Ferg and Talib being deeply impressed by the all-star collab of Rocky's '1 Train' featuring Kendrick, Joey Bada$$, Danny Brown and others. Hit-Boy also gets into his hopes to someday do a full-length project with Kendrick as well as a Hit-Boy compilation featuring multiple artists.

[@sharilafofana9166]

Please Lady May Featuring Blu Cantrell Round Up !

[@TreeSnackz]

Dope interview! A1 🌲 reviews ⬇️ #TreeSnackz |Private Reserve OG | Excellence| Indoor | Snack #52 kzbin.info/www/bejne/aZirY5-hiaiXfbs

[@jurmain8437]

Too many details my man

[@hirambaker6139]

Hit Boy is theeee only nigga who truly recaptured that original Nas vibe with a modern update and it not sounding dated at all

[@bobt9705]

Hit Boy and Nas are clearly close friends. Hit Boy giving Nas his flowers in the beginning is authentic. The way hit boy side step the niggas in Paris beat and changed the subject into Nas was beautiful thing to see.

[@mishibataylor865]

FACTS ✨🙌

[@lordshishio4853]

Yup its like jay z has all of the media outlet in his pocket

[@sivenathimnxeba1107]

I love how he shut down the niggas i paris question. His run with Nas is more legendary than niggas in paris

[@marlonvarnell3098]

Speakin tha TRUTH

[@jdnwritingmachine]

Nas & Hit Boy’s joint COMPOSURE is THE one for me.

[@kes9298]

Nas and Hit Boy killing everything

[@JDHleo]

Not fan. I want nas m premo or nas large pro

[@thefreakyrobber0]

Facts bruh below tripping

[@JDHleo]

@@thefreakyrobber0 you tripping. Nas n hit boy are trash

[@kes9298]

@@JDHleo you gotta grow up fam. It's a new day. You stuck back in 96. If you didn't enjoy what Hit Boy did on Magic then you are just willfully being ignorant.

[@JDHleo]

@@kes9298 like I said it’s trash

[@thecunninlynguist]

Hit-boy is dope. He giving nas modern day classics!

[@user-gb2vk2ff8x]

Major FAAAAACTS!!!

[@tonytamagotchii]

So glad hit-boy is getting his flowers!

[@brianlarkins4250]

How long is the industry going to completely ignore Nas album Magic 🎩 that shit is 5 mics its a fucking classic and solidify him as the Goat 🐐 shoutout Hitboy KD3 on the way

[@marlonvarnell3098]

Speakin tha TRUTH

[@derrickwilliams2619]

Classic

[@frikshun_]

Hit boy and Nas in their bags. I love all the projects they have put out. But Magic is special. 🪄

[@sheltonalexander6785]

Nas and Hit-Boy got robbed for that KD2 Grammy.

[@debrajames3865]

Unfortunately the creator is bigger because he has the w masses.

[@chas3ton]

Nas and Hitboy dropped 3 albums in the span of 17 months

[@DeVonAmbitious]

I would love to meet Nas, Talib and Hit boy frfr.

[@casteltheghettomonk4392]

Best young producer right now

[@TheNewYearBaby]

I’m happy to be a fan of your content, for real now!

Hitboy moving crazyyy for the past 3 years now and he gets me motivated to accomplish my goals and like he said impress myself. Salute!

[@kebelek01]

sonunda bir türk bende talib kweli için geldim getting up taki tranenin seslendirmeni çünkü

@@kebelek01 aynı zamanda sağlam lyricist talib. ama hitboy son 2 senedir dokunduğunu altına çeviriyo resmen

[@Nemarr]

The CULTURE NEEDED this!! One of the Greatest Producers of All Time 💎💎🌊🌊🌊🌊🌊🌊🌊🌊

[@OmarScruggs]

Nas my fav rapper since Illmatic. Not sure i ever heard of Hitboy before KD1. But Hitboy like part of my family now from what hes done with Nas

[@nottyknotz]

Great episode 👍🏽. The production quality is superb! What cameras are being used?

[@Mrjpleonardo]

I religiously have Hit-Boy on my Playlist, from his production and rhymes. Honestly, he’s winning but give this man his flowers. And straight, keep doing what you do best-living legend. I would say my this time around my favorite producer. #Thingsofthatnature

[@solomontackie923]

This is really good interview. Hit-Boy is on amazing run and can't wait to hear Talib Kweli on a Hit-Boy track!

[@debrajames3865]

Exactly

[@kennethtucker90]

"Me & Hitboy is like the new #GANGSTAR"🔥🔥🔥...Keep going 👑👑's

[@JDHleo]

I won’t go that far. Nas premo or nas large pro that’s what real hip hop heads want

[@kennethtucker90]

@@JDHleo Those is Nas's words from his joint.

[@JDHleo]

@@kennethtucker90 he’s living in the moment. Nas knows his fans want him n premo album or large pro album. Even Nas Az duet album. Real nas fans want that

[@kennethtucker90]

@@JDHleo Ima REAL NAS fan but them projects u just mentioned probably will never happen. It's been talks of those albums for yrs, the God is on a wave right now. He'll feature them on projects but whole projects, I doubt tht fam, if it was going to happen I think it would've already happened

[@JDHleo]

@@kennethtucker90 that’s the problem with Nas. He never give the fans what they want. Very disappointing

[@riseonthetrack]

DOPE INTERVIEW💯

[@wesleyhaze6116]

Yo hit, you a golden child just love the way the kid talks and from the get, he's been keeping it 💯 and consistent and that's the result we see. And s/o to Talib the 🐐♥️🙌🏿🔥🔥

[@poerava]

Ultra black. The opposite of Doja cat (yeah that was a diss. A valid one. She has said she wished she wasn’t black) This beat supposed to slap. Masterful beat. One of the best (Car #85 is one of my hit boy beat favourites)

[@trentrama2645]

She is zulu her father is from kwa zulu natal. I don't think she can change that

[@Loz2008]

How mf’s ain’t got the HALF-MILLLLL on repeat!!! Hit you the Greatest! Love you DOMMM!! Chicago2LA

[@leronnspaternalpresencepod5247]

I LOVE Ultra Black. Gives me chills! Reinforces my feeling of being Proud to be a Black Man

[@misterjahi]

Hit-Boy didn't follow the flow. He was the flow. Our Quincy.

[@premiumdre5228]

Everytime I see a HitBoy interview they bring up another crazy track I didnt know he made.

[@iam9546]

I freaking love Talib. I’m so proud of how he’s not only such a great MC but also smart af! I’m mad I got white girl wasted when he was here in Vegas at the Brooklyn bowl and was mad I was in VIP. I kept saying I need to go down I need to go down.

[@niamwhale3997]

DJ Vlad started that Nas doesn’t pick good beats bs how when he had the first super producer album.

[@jamillewis600]

This started in the 90s.

[@bobt9705]

@@jamillewis600 No the hell it didn't.

[@marlonvarnell3098]

Speakin tha TRUTH

[@rosestephen6789]

Ultra Black. Is such a Classic!!!! 🔥🔥🔥

[@mikejones8667]

HIT-BOY I LOVE EVERYTHING U BRING. HARD

[@miiiiisvibes]

Kanye admitting that he was a poser broke my heart

[@SirAntawn]

Your heart should've been broken way before then lol

[@kincamell2]

Heavy. Ps Much Gratitude

[@flair6400]

Best hip hop podcast .

[@westcoastraider64]

Fontana in the building 💪🏼

[@djmekahx9066]

Peace.. Dope frames Bro. Talib...

[@bertnvilkinz]

I miss the tags too!

[@christopherbenning6085]

Let’s go💨💨💨

[@mateoelguero9780]

Hit Boy showing the IE some love!!! West West

[@shogunate2]

8:00 that part! 💯

[@trentrama2645]

Hit boy my favourite producer I wish he rapped more

[@Fireshotbyvision]

Hit letting it be known lets talk about my new sh*t. Telling his story his way!!!

[@1natVson1NATIVESON]

💪🏾💯✊🏾 RESPECT ⚔️ HONOR !!!

[@tbond6579]

That Girl beautiful every show/ sick podcast to

[@mangaaification]

Jasmin Leigh looks great

[@mariohampton5350]

Dena boys Much Respect Hit Boy Cali ways

[@devizebeats2483]

Dope work, I got them beats for ya..No generic flstudiio trap shit either. Raw, Real

[@kingallah7911]

🔥🔥🔥🔥🔥

[@doncaver3006]

This dude hitboy is new to me and Im from the IE!! I been sleep wtf

[@timothydavis7579]

Radio One underground B-side fire music mix Friday

[@303TAG303]

lmao jasmine took it personal he didn't want to talk about NIP

[@lordoftheflytv6046]

🔥🔥🔥🔥🔥🔥🔥🔥

[@BDiHaze]

Speaking of Jean Grae, whey you gonna have her on your show? As well, when we gonna get new projects from her?! Jean Grae, we NEED your voice back out here! #BARS #BeatzLife #SupportUS

[@billyaverycoffee7843]

I know KD3 is Next but the next joint album ideas: Killa Cam, Conway, Pusha, Jay, Z-Ro, Killa Kyleon, Larry June, Premo Rice, and Kanye.

[@marlonvarnell3098]

Hit-Boy got cha back NaS! As well as REAL/TRUE HIP HOP FANS got urs too!! Its clearly ol girl Jasmin not a NaS fan?! It's all good tho.....US Real/True Hip Hop HEADS knows NaS is THE 🐐👑........BEEN DAT A

[@CanOkan]

Can't even be mad at hit boy for wanting to skip over the paris questions...he really has been asked so many times about that shit. Suprised she even asked to be honest haha

[@prark9959]

Dam need Hitboi collaboration with Lupe, Talib, Ab Soul or K.dot

[@lordshishio4853]

Hmmm why bro talking bout nigga in paris ...when u know de guy have fire with nas ....

[@marlonvarnell3098]

Speakin tha TRUTH

[@anwion]

Wanna hear a HB Sean Don Nas track for reaLz wit Key Wane in tha mix! ✊🏿

[@JA-mj9re]

Nas is the best to ever do it 🐐

[@elonnelson5024]

👨🏾‍🏫🧑🏾‍💻❤️‍🔥📈

[@iamdanielrobles]

I was going to say daaaym jasmine glowedup

[@lourenzosmith5392]

i love how kwelii hates kanye but needs to include his name for clickbait lol

[@HertoftheCity]

@Aaron9 nah

[@Shinobi91]

Kweli went around doing interviews talking trash about him....Kanye just thought about the most hurtful sh!t to say about him

[@NahMyself]

24:06 Quiet as kept, Beyonce is a native tongue.

[@Slimcheeze]

U gotta ask about his pops.

[@althrillatdk2665]

Damn,Kweli,why didnt u ask Hitboy bout KD3

[@aec111100]

KD3 30:00

[@thapelomphala4912]

You always feel that Kanye and Talib have the same kind of upbringing and stuff

[@debrajames3865]

What do you mean?.

[@allenstore4974]

ARTISTS - If you're in a horrible deal and they and took your publishing.....try this...say that your son or daughter wrote the song, create publishing in their name....that way as the parent you still control the money and have complete access to it, and if God forbid something happens to you, the publishing is already in their name. Kcuf these crooked labels. You're welcome and God Bless if you're reading this.

[@StayHuman2011]

24:48 ???

[@NHExperienceTV]

The best producer for Nas is Hit-Boy. Great interview on Hit-Boy, west coast. But uh Nas hadn’t picked great beats prior to HitBoy. 🤷🏾‍♂️ This dude is incredibly gifted.

[@debrajames3865]

That part! Major facts. Nas needed the wiz of Hit boy. Nas was moving like a bored man prior to Hit boy.

[@chinbeats6551]

Gassed

[@user-gb2vk2ff8x]

No KD3 questions though???😥😥

[@vincerodriguez209]

the lady on talibs pod should ASK questions instead of telling talibs guests-- she is wrong SO SO many times -- she would look/sound smarter if she ASKED instead of telling people then she wouldnt be WRONG so much

[@debrajames3865]

Clearly she is clueless.

[@Loki11467]

Just so you know....every song you ever were on....is better than the Jay Z Kanye in Paris song you asked Hit-Boy about. I would never own that song. It's just not good. Sorry. BUT It made them a ton of jack so on a business note its a brilliant pop song. Just yawn. Boring. Great interview though. You ALWAYS have me liking who you interview as people even if I don't always like their music. I'm digging this dude.

[@Channel-lj1zx]

Damn he got triggered af after mentioning the NIP beat lol maybe he didn't have much to do with his most known beat. I see Mike Dean/Kanye are also credited

[@jdovma1]

When it comes to the Kanye convo.. you don't have to lie to be full of shit. Bullshitters just talk with no thought. Truth doesn't matter because whatever is coming out their mouth is whatever they thought they had to say at the time or didn't think at all before saying. So it does no good to say someone doesn't really lie. What matters is if what they say is valid. If somebody is constantly saying "I was on some bullshit" or "I was posing" or any of this other shit.. whatever they say, whenever they say it, doesn't matter. Because it's whatever drips from their lips in the moment.

[@themushtube42]

Those "Kanye one of the smartest" comments aged poorly. Lol People tip toed around that dude for too long. This interview comes after his "slavery was a choice" BS... should have been cancelled for that back then. This defference paid to Klanye was wasted words. Facts; Klanye easily proved himself to be one of the most ignorant people on the planet. Guess you could still say he's a genius at music, but who's gonna listen now? Moving on...

[@mikec3304]

Kanye is whack! He better keep Pac's name out his mouth!😈👿💀

[@sbrooklyn2379]

I’m a fan of Hit-Boy, but I wasn’t feeling the interview. I’m always on People’s party and haven’t seen anyone decline to respond to a question. Shout outs to you all and the culture tho.

[@jessymangala78]

It's true Nas picked lots of terrible beats

[@bobt9705]

It's not true. Clearly you haven't listened to Nas whole catalog. You can't have 8 plat to multiplat albums choosing alot of terrible beats.🤣🤣. You acting like Nas is canibus status. Cut it out.

[@jessymangala78]

@@bobt9705 didn't compare him to Canibus but it's the production that has let him down on his recent albums

[@lenhalz8086]

Nah. Nas has exquisite taste with music, he can rap on anything and made a career of it, its easy to pick boom baps. Nas background goes deep in musicianship. He picks shit that the regular Joe is afraid to touch. Eminem chooses weird shit to, Andre 3000 too. Tho they all top 10 easy without picking the most popular beats.

[@thefreakyrobber0]

Name said terrible beats.....

[@marlonvarnell3098]

@@jessymangala78 must've heard KD1, KD2 and Magic

[@DJJamofThaDose]

👍🏼 Definitely in The Place to be 👊🏼#ThaDose This kzbin.info/www/bejne/l5i2hH9ogq5sqLc is what happened..