Three decades after releasing his first album, “Reasonable Doubt,” Shawn “JAŸ-Z” Carter is celebrating his enormous legacy. In a new eight-part docuseries, “JAŸ-Z In 8,” airing on HBO, Hov pulls back the curtain on his iconic career with an intimate, couch-side deep dive helmed by legendary producer Rick Rubin.
Against a minimalist backdrop of a table, two chairs, two giant speakers, a soundboard and a couple of glasses of water, JAŸ-Z and Rubin delve into his classic discography.
Equal parts raw oral history, lyric masterclass, and unfiltered studio session, the series places Hov and Rubin face-to-face to analyze over 25 landmark tracks from his 30-year catalog.
Packed with untold stories and candid memories of his Marcy Projects roots, this conversation offers an unprecedented, deeply personal glimpse into the mind of hip-hop’s pioneer mogul. Here are the best moments from the first two episodes.
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‘The Dynasty Intro’ is His All-Time Favorite
Known for his classic opening tracks, JAŸ-Z settles the long-standing debate about which is his favorite. During the first episode, he confirms that “The Dynasty Intro” is officially his personal favorite opener in his entire discography. Produced by a then-rising Just Blaze, the track set a gold standard for album intros, built around an iconic soul sample of Kiki Dee’s “The Seed.” He said the “psalm” bar was an intentional reference to The Notorious B.I.G., along with D-Roc and Lil Cease, who all shared matching religious tattoos of a particular scripture from the book of Psalms.
His Mom Inspired His Love of Hip-Hop
JAŸ-Z ’s passion for rap was ignited by his mother, Gloria Carter, playing the Fatback Band’s 1979 classic “King Tim III (Personality Jock)” by the Fat Back Band on the home turntable. The song is credited with being the first rap captured on record, predating Sugarhill Gang’s “Rapper’s Delight” by several months. He recalls hearing that funky cadence booming through the Marcy Projects, showing how the track’s infectious bounce instantly hooked him.
He Shares His Take on the Biggie-Tupac Beef
During the conversation, JAŸ-Z also spoke about how he became embroiled in the infamous East Coast vs. West Coast hip-hop war in which The Notorious B.I.G. and Tupac were the central characters. According to the “Empire State of Mind” rapper, when Tupac’s fame exploded, he began running with a crowd Biggie didn’t trust. Biggie warned him, but Pac reportedly repeated the warning right back to the same associates. When Tupac was shot in New York, Pac became convinced Biggie was behind it, setting off the feud that would eventually claim both of their lives.
He Left One of Biggie’s Lines Out of ‘Brooklyn’s Finest’
One of JAŸ-Z ’s best collaborations was “Brooklyn Finest,” featuring the late rapper, The Notorious B.I.G. JAŸ-Z shared rare behind-the-scenes insights on making the classic track that appears on his debut album “Reasonable Doubt.” Hov recalls bringing Biggie into the studio, where both titans traded bars entirely from memory. Over Clark Kent’s soul production that samples The Ohio Players’ “Ecstasy”, the two went line-for-line in an electric session that instantly set the gold standard for late-’90s rap. He also spoke about his deliberate choice to cut one of The Notorious B.I.G.’s lines to avoid fueling East Coast-West Coast tension.
His Relationship With His Father
In one of the most poignant moments of episode 2, JAŸ-Z lays bare the complicated relationship he shared with his late father, Adnes Reeves, who abandoned the family when Jay was just nine years old. Hov reflected on how years of pain and resentment eventually gave way to forgiveness before his father’s passing in 2003—a breakthrough that reshaped his entire perspective on manhood, fatherhood, and healing.
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