Hit-Boy

Hit-Boy & Avelino’s New Single Is “2 Certified”: Stream

by

The final New Music Friday of the year is upon us. Accordingly, some of the biggest names in hip-hop sharing new singles for your streaming pleasure. We’ve already heard from Wiz Khalifa on “#NeverDrinkingAgain” and Rae Sremmurd also came through with “Torpedo.” Now, we have a collaboration from Hit-Boy and Avelino called “2 Certified.”

The song finds the producer and the British rapper coming together to trade verses. “I told Hit-Boy he needs to rap more / I built myself up, brick by brick, but I don’t trap no more / Yeah, I ain’t full of myself, I’m impactful / I’m in a two-door Beamer, I’m toppin’ fuel, what do you think,” the 29-year-old spits.

On the chorus, Hit-Boy chiefly follows with, “I’ma need all the amenities / You made a lil’ pape, I went at their neck and made history / Dumbin’ out on my own beats / Hot like I threw ’em in grease.”

For his part, Avelino recently announced that his debut album will be forthcoming in the new year. On his final verse, he flaunts, “Yeah, I’m too certified / London boy in a German ride.”

As for the California native, he’s been undeniably busy all year. Among his projects were a slew of singles and albums in conjunction with other artists. October saw the arrival of “Tony Fontana III” with Curren$y. The next month, his work was showcased on Nas’ King’s Disease III album.

Other noteworthy titles from Hit-Boy this year include “Fire Proof” as well as his executive production on Drillmatic: Heart vs. Mind from The Game.

Finally, stream Hit-Boy and Avelino’s “2 Certified” on Spotify or Apple Music below. Afterward, tell us your thoughts in the comment section.

Quotable Lyrics:

Too certified, say that, watchin’ the numerals rise
Wrist and neck on jewelry heist
‘Cause I had some game, I knew when to apply it
TNT with it, we finna ignite

[Via]

Hit-Boy Has More Music for 2022: ‘I Got More To Say This Year’

by
Hit-Boy

2022 isn’t over yet, and Hit-Boy is using every minute to show why he was the producer of the year. Hitting Instagram, Hit-Boy announced he has one more drop before the 2022 clock strikes 12.

Posting a picture of himself and a cloud of smoke behind a podium, Hit-Boy had one simple message: “I got more to say this year 12/30.”

In a heavily successful 2022, Hit-Boy dropped King’s Disease III with Nas, the “One Mic One Gun” loosie teaming 21 Savage and Nas, led the Madden 23 soundtrack, produced for Beyonce on Renaissance, and more.

The post Hit-Boy Has More Music for 2022: ‘I Got More To Say This Year’ appeared first on The Source.

Hit-Boy Is The Producer Of The Year: On 21 Savage & Nas Collab, The Rise Of Loop Makers & Sampling “The Five Heartbeats” On “Legit”

by

Hit-Boy is undoubtedly the producer of 2022. After closing out 2021 with a third collaborative effort with Nas, Magic, he kept the momentum high throughout the year. He reunited with Beyoncé on “THIQUE” off of Renaissance – a strong display of his ability to craft hits. However, he also locked in with some formidable MCs. We saw him work alongside legends like Snoop Dogg and 2 Chainz. He also served as the executive producer behind The Game’s Drillmatic Heart Vs. Mind and, even more recently, Nas’s King’s Disease III. 

“My responsibility is to just bring quality every time,” Hit-Boy told HNHH. “Like, really get into like the sonic sphere of where they flourish at. I feel like that’s why me and Nas win… I just like getting a specific pocket that allows their shit to breathe.”

Hit-Boy’s emphasis on bringing quality helped usher in a new era of Nas’s career. However, on the cusp of releasing King’s Disease III, 21 Savage sparked a debate surrounding Nas’ “relevance” in the culture. Fans and critics initially considered the comments disrespectful, but it didn’t take long for them to put their differences aside for “One Mic One Gun,” produced by Hit-Boy.

Hit-Boy via Thirdeyeraz
Hit-Boy via Thirdeyeraz

“I definitely was just like… I’m just a little like – man, this is crazy that we are the only genre that’s so quick to downplay the people around us, the OGs, whatever,’” Hit-Boy recalled of his initial reaction to 21’s comments. “And it’s like, I feel like what me and Nas are even pushing for is a bigger agenda just with hip hop and artists being able to mature and still make the flyest shit that they could possibly make that don’t sound dated.”

For the latest installment of HNHH’s 12 Days Of Christmas, we caught up with Hit-Boy to discuss bridging the intergenerational gap in hip-hop, King’s Disease III, and the history behind “Legit.”

This interview has been edited and condensed for clarity. 

Cordae And Hit-Boy Run The Board In Their Triumphant ‘Checkmate’ Video

by

Earlier this month, Cordae once again linked up with California producer Hit-Boy to contribute the triumphant new single “Checkmate” to the soundtrack for Madden 2023. Today, they shared a simple but effective video for “Checkmate,” which focuses on Cordae and Hit-Boy in the studio with a football game on the TV in the background, black-and-white crew shots, and naturally, close-up shots of a chess board in the middle of an intense match. The video feels very much like a throwback to the 2000s in the way that the track does, evoking the exuberant, rebellious energy of the Dipset takeover at the turn of the millennium.

“Checkmate” followed up Cordae’s second studio album, From A Bird’s Eye View, which dropped in January and has spawned the singles “Sinister” — which was also produced by Hit-Boy and features Lil Wayne — “Parables,” and “Chronicles” featuring HER and Lil Durk. He also got into better shape, gave an insightful TED Talk, and shined in his Coachella debut. He kept momentum going in August with a double single release featuring “Unacceptable” and “So With That,” and he’s already begun teasing a new mixtape to add to his growing, impressive catalog.

Watch the video for “Checkmate” above.

Cordae is a Warner Music artist. Uproxx is an independent subsidiary of Warner Music Group.

Hit-Boy And Benny The Butcher Seem To Be Teasing Another Collaborative Album

by
benny butcher freddie gibbs
Getty Image

Is another Hit-Boy and Benny The Butcher collab in the works? The two appear to be dropping hints on social media about a follow-up to their 2020 collaboration, Burden Of Proof.

A video surfaced online of Benny and Hit-Boy listening to an instrumental track that sounded similar to the material on Burden Of Proof, according to HipHopDX.

In another video, taken from Hit-Boy’s Instagram page, the two are seen in the studio again.

Most recently, Hit-Boy shared a series of images on his Instagram page, captioned “’22 not over,” on which, Benny commented with three gold trophy emojis. This may mean that if there is another collaborative album in the works, we may be able to expect it to arrive before the end of the year.

In a 2020 interview with Complex, ahead of the release of Burden Of Proof, Benny revealed how Hit-Boy helped him tap into potential he didn’t realize he had.

“The feeling is going to be different,” Benny said. “I’m speaking about things I never spoke about on here. My confidence is different. My angle is different. It’s still me, but I discovered new things in the process of writing this album. I’m at a different level. I’m thinking a whole different way.”

Cordae And Hit-Boy Secure The Victory In Their Triumphant New Single ‘Checkmate’

by

Cordae sounds very triumphant in his new record “Checkmate,” in large part due to production by Hit-Boy. The record, featured in Madden 2023, shows the “Unacceptable” artist rapping with fury despite being a downtempo record. Hit-Boy laces him with thumping drums and powerful synths, and Cordae takes the handoff all the way to the endzone, blending introspection and confidence. “I feel unstoppable, odds are not probable,” Cordae says.

This record comes after what has been a big year for Cordae. The 25-year-old shared his sophomore album From A Birds Eye View at the start of the year. The album featured Lil Durk, Lil Wayne, HER, Gunna, Freddie Gibbs, Stevie Wonder, and more. Despite the young rapper’s clear confidence, he had a moment of clarity on a road trip where he played Birds Eye View and his debut solo album The Lost Boy, and noted that the former fell short of the latter.

The Lost Boy, released in 2019, included features from Meek Mill, Pusha T, Anderson Paak, Chance The Rapper, Ty Dolla Sign, and more. The album was nominated for Rap Album Of The Year at the 2020 Grammys, ultimately losing to Tyler The Creator’s Igor.

Cordae appears to already be working toward the next era of his career, as this record comes just months after his dual release of “Unacceptable” and “So With That.” There is no set release date for his next project, but given the aforementioned moment of clarity, it would not come as a shock if Cordae is putting the finishing touches on what he hopes will right the wrongs of From A Birds Eye View.

Check out Cordae and Hit-Boy’s “Checkmate” above.

Cordae is a Warner Music artist. Uproxx is an independent subsidiary of Warner Music Group.

Hit-Boy Is Fully With It On His New Single, ‘Fire Proof’

by

Hit-Boy has been a force in the game for 15 years, producing tracks for the likes of Kanye West, Nas, Beyoncé, and more. On his new single, “Fire Proof,” the legendary beatmaker gives a turn at rapping.

“Fire Proof,” is further proof that Hit-Boy is equally as skilled as a rapper as he is a producer. On a particular line in the song, Hit-Boy says he’s “working on his gratitude / you don’t understand me / I say that’s understandable / I’m done with the back and forth / I’m in a territory unexplored.” Shortly after the song’s slow, downtempo intro, the beat switches into a fast, drum-driven track. over the course of the song’s two minutes, Hit-Boy maintains his momentum, riding the beat with ease the entire time.

In an interview with XXL, Hit-Boy revealed that an upcoming rap project is just one of the many musical endeavors he has in the works.

“I been seeing a lot of people saying I should do a compilation of my own with my beats and just different artists,” he said. “That’s something I wanna turn up on. Look out for that Hit-Boy compilation. My rap album, too. I got all types of joints coming.”

Check out “Fire Proof” above.