Jay-Z and Rick Rubin break down eight songs in new HBO series
Jay-Z is pulling eight tracks from his catalogue and talking through them line by line with producer Rick Rubin in a new HBO series.
The show is called Jay-Z in 8. It is an eight-part docuseries, meaning a documentary series told across episodes, built around Jay-Z sitting down with Rubin to dissect hits and deep cuts from his discography, according to Variety.
Eight songs. Eight episodes. Each one gives Rubin the controls and Jay-Z the microphone.
The conversation takes place in Paris' Palais Brongniart. Rubin cues up the music there and Jay-Z unpacks what went into it, Variety reported.
The focus is lyrics and ideas. Rubin, a music producer and record executive, talks with Jay-Z about word choices, stories behind the songs and how the tracks were put together, according to an earlier Variety report.
The series is set to debut on HBO this fall. That scheduling puts it in the autumn slate, when networks and streamers roll out many of their high-profile titles.
Variety published its review of the series on 18 September 2026. The review confirms the Paris set-up and the Rubin-led format.
For fans, this means a straight listen with context. No concert stage, no new album tease in the premise announced so far. Just two people in a room, playing the records back and pausing to explain them.
