Excellent interview.
Its interviews like this that leave me straight up bewildered why ANYONE who considers themselves a fan of Nas would want him to work with any other producers. Hit-Boy and Nas have literally struck GOLD in having a great relationship that transitions seamlessly into the music instead of vice versa. This is the type of synchrony we all WISH our favorite artists could find with producers. Jay had it with Kanye and Just Blaze and one time. Common had it with NO I.D. Wutang of course had the RZA. And for newer artists I would put Kendrick and Sounwave in that category. The closest Nas has ever come to that level of a producer executing his vision flawlessly was with Salaam Remi, and I LOVE Salaam Remi and think he’s given Nas some of his most timeless work. But Hit-Boy is that rare producer who can do it ALL. Boom Bap, Trap, West Coast Synths, R&B, hell if him and Nas announced a goddamn Country album i’d whole heartedly believe they were going to drop some heat.
Hit-Boy has done what any other producer you could name has failed to do. He’s INSPIRED Nas. And he’s ENCOURAGED Nas to not second guess himself. Goddamn TIMBALAND couldn’t do that.
Hit-Boy got Nas to reunite the muthafukking FIRM. Hit-Boy got Nas and Anderson Paak on a track. Hit-Boy got Nas and Eminem on a track! Hit-Boy got Nas and LAURYN HILL RAPPING ON A TRACK!
Madlib who? Alchemist what?
I don’t want to hear NOTHING about Nas working with no other producer until the man himself announces it. He called Hit-Biy his Quincy Jones. Thats a HELL of a statement that speaks towards Hit-Boy’s mastery of the craft.
“It’s just a balance, like I said, I wanted to be his essence. Anything I play him, it’s going to be something I can hear him on. I’m not just playing random beats. Even if it has a different texture to it that you might not be used to hearing Nas over, it’s still going to have a break beat or a drum pattern that feels like I can hear Nas over.” Hit-Boy
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