Jay-Z Documentary Series Sets HBO Release Date

After announcing the documentary series in June, HBO has revealed the release schedule for “Jay-Z in 8,” which will feature the rapper sitting down with music producer and record executive Rick Rubin to discuss the lyrics and ideas for songs across eight episodes.

The first two episodes of “Jay-Z in 8” will debut back-to-back on HBO on September 18 at 8 p.m. ET. Both episodes will be available to stream on HBO Max at 8 p.m. ET. Following the premiere date, two new episodes will be released every Friday until the finale on October 9.

Each episode sees Jay-Z and Rubin sitting down to talk about various tracks from his discography, from early songs like “Brooklyn’s Finest” and “Can’t Knock the Hustle” to deeper cuts like “This Can’t Be Life” with Beanie Sigel and Scarface and “Ignorant Shit.”

In a trailer for “Jay-Z in 8,” the rapper and Rubin go back and forth about the impact that he had on hip-hop culture and why it’s become such a global force. “The reason why rap is so loved, that feeling of that underdog… That’s why people were listening, that’s why it hit them somewhere,” says Jay.

“Jay-Z in 8,” a Tetragrammaton production, is directed by Rubin and executive produced by Shawn Carter, Daniel Kaluuya and Rubin. Producers include Leila Mattimore and David Rohde. Co-producers are Harlin Lawal and Will Mavronicolas, and director of photography is Bradford Young. HBO executive producers are Nancy Abraham, Lisa Heller and Sara Rodriguez.

The documentary series comes amid a busy year for Jay-Z, who made a grand return to the stage at Philadelphia’s Roots Picnic in late May before staging three historic nights at Yankee Stadium to honor the anniversary milestones of his seminal albums “Reasonable Doubt” and “The Blueprint.” He’s next scheduled to perform shows in London, Paris and Los Angeles, where he’ll take the stage at SoFi Stadium for two nights in late October.

Check out the release slate for “Jay-Z in 8” below:

Chapter One
Debut date: FRIDAY, SEPTEMBER 18 (8:00-8:42 p.m. ET/PT)
Episode one features “Intro,” “Meet The Parents,” “Can’t Knock The Hustle,” and “What More Can I Say”.

Chapter Two
Debut date: FRIDAY, SEPTEMBER 18 (8:45-9:22 p.m. ET/PT)
Episode two features “Brooklyn’s Finest,” “I Love The Dough (featuring JAŸ-Z & Angela Winbush),” and “What More Can I Say”.

Chapter Three
Debut date: FRIDAY, SEPTEMBER 25 (8:00-8:41 p.m. ET/PT)
Episode three features “Lyrical Exercise,” “This Can’t Be Life (featuring Beanie Sigel),” “You Must Love Me,” and “4:44”.

Chapter Four
Debut date: FRIDAY, SEPTEMBER 25 (8:50-9:51 p.m. ET/PT)
Episode four features “Where Have You Been,” “Allure,” “Where I’m From,” “Can I Live,” and “Don’t You Know”.

Chapter Five
Debut date: FRIDAY, OCTOBER 2 (8:00-8:42 p.m. ET/PT)
Episode five features “U Don’t Know,” “Politics As Usual,” and “Regrets”.

Chapter Six
Debut date: FRIDAY, OCTOBER 2 (8:45-9:38 p.m. ET/PT)
Episode six features “Jail,” “Ignorant Shit,” “Hovi Baby,” “Kill Jay-Z,” “99 Problems,” “Threat,” “Dead Presidents II,” and “Public Service Announcement (Interlude)”.

Chapter Seven
Debut date: FRIDAY, OCTOBER 9 (8:00-8:47 p.m. ET/PT)

Chapter Eight
Debut date: FRIDAY, OCTOBER 9 (8:47-9:42 p.m. ET/PT)
Episode eight features “New York (Concept de Paris),” “The Story Of O.J.,” “No Church In The Wild,” “Family Feud,” and “Legacy”.