HBO Sets September 18 Premiere for Jay-Z Documentary Series

HBO has announced the premiere of a new eight-part documentary series titled "JAYZ in 8," featuring the rapper in conversation with producer Rick Rubin. The series is scheduled to debut on Friday, September 18, 2026, with the first two episodes airing back-to-back at 8 p.m. ET on HBO and HBO Max. Subsequent episodes will be released in pairs every Friday, concluding with the final two episodes on October 9.

The documentary series is described as an intimate reflection on the artist's career, with Jay-Z revisiting his music and unpacking his work and life through shared listening and conversation with Rubin. The project explores how and why Jay-Z wrote his songs, with the rapper recalling his songwriting process and lyrics for the first time. The series is framed as a masterclass in the mind of one of hip-hop's legendary lyricists, covering tracks from eight of his albums, including "Reasonable Doubt," "Vol. 3... Life and Times of S. Carter," "The Dynasty Roc La Familia," "The Blueprint," "The Black Album," "American Gangster," "Watch the Throne," and "4:44."

Songs to be discussed include "Can't Knock the Hustle," "Brooklyn's Finest," "This Can't Be Life," "Ignorant Shit," "Kill...