Hit-Boy Shares His Top Five Favorite Hip-Hop Beats of All-Time

Over the course of the last decade, Hit-Boy has maintained his status as one of popular music’s most trusted maestros. Hailing from California, the hit-maker has been partially responsible for chart-toppers and anthems such as Jay-Z and Kanye West's “Niggas in Paris,” Drake’s “Trophies,” “Clique” featuring Big Sean, Jay-Z and Kanye West, Beyonce’s “Sorry” and “Sicko Mode,” Travis Scott’s first No. 1 on the Billboard Hot 100 chart. Prior to establishing himself as one of his era’s most sought-after producers, he looked to a few production G.O.A.T.s. for inspiration. Here, Hit-Boy shows love to classic beats by Dr. Dre, Kanye West, Just Blaze, Timbaland and The Neptunes for XXL’s Pay Homage.

“I been inspired by Kanye,” admits the G.O.O.D. Music affiliate, who says West’s sophomore set, Late Registration, forced him to make a stronger commitment to his own production work. “Every beat on there just fucked my mind up.”

The Grammy Award winner also broke down his connection to the instrumentals attached to Dr. Dre’s “The Watcher,” N.O.R.E.’s Neptune-produced “Super Thug,” the Timbaland production “Take Away,” a track from Missy Elliott, and Jay-Z’s “Hovi Baby,” which was produced by Just Blaze.

These days, Hit-Boy's production catalog continues to grow. The multifaceted producer and rapper with several collaborative projects under his belt locked in several placements on Juice Wrld’s chart-topping album, Death Race for Love. He also dropped Family Not a Group, his joint effort with SOB X RBE that he produced in its entirety this year.

Another collaborator Hit-Boy made noise with in 2019 was Nipsey Hussle. The two artists, who have had a working relationship that dates back to the Victory Lap rapper’s 2008 release, Bullets Ain’t Got No Name Vol 2, reconnected for the Crenshaw legend’s Hit-Boy-produced last single, “Racks in the Middle,” which features 2019 XXL Freshman Roddy Ricch.

“Just him hitting this next wave, his next stride and him wanting to come work with me—that means everything,” Hit-Boy says of working with Nipsey.

Learn more about Hit-Boy’s favorite beats produced by Dr. Dre, Timbaland, The Neptunes, Just Blaze and Kanye West in the Pay Homage clip above.

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