Hit-Boy hasn’t collaborated often with his fellow West Coast natives Kendrick Lamar and Roddy Ricch, and he can’t put a finger as to why it hasn’t happened.
During a conversation with Akademiks on his Off The Record podcast, the Grammy Award-winning producer questioned his relationship with the superstar rappers. Regarding Roddy, Hit-Boy couldn’t understand how their only song together proved successful with a Grammy win.
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“The music shit is weird,” Hit-Boy said regarding his work with Roddy Ricch. “The first beat I ever played n-ggas, the first song we ever did within 10 minutes of knowing each other, won a Grammy. How the fuck have we not locked in on more music? I don’t get it. Maybe it’s not for me to get.”
Hit-Boy explained the same night he met Roddy Ricch was when he played the beat for “Racks in the Middle,” which he also made that day. Roddy did a whole verse that’s not included in the final version with Nipsey Hussle, and Hit had plans to drop it.
According to the superstar producer, the single with just himself and Roddy was intended to kick off his career as a lead artist. However, a meeting with Nip changed the whole plan and ended with the song that won the 2020 Grammy Award for Best Rap Performance.
Hit-Boy continued to say it’s all love with Roddy and hopes the situation isn’t a result of people feeling they can’t approach him because of how much more popular he is now.
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“At the end of the day, the first muthafucking beat I ever played for you in the history of life is ‘Racks in the Middle,’ my n-gga. Like, pull back up! What the fuck?” Hit-Boy said.
As for Kendrick Lamar, the only song Hit-Boy produced that was featured on one of the Compton native’s albums was “Backseat Freestyle” on good kid, m.A.A.d city. He said he recently saw on social media that K Dot still performs the song on tour with Akademiks saying the record is still a fan favorite.
“I don’t be understanding how n-ggas don’t be having more songs, but it’s not up to me,” Hit-Boy said. “It’s like n-ggas around n-ggas, whatever the fuck it is.”
He added: “It’s all love and respect, man. Kendrick know what the fuck he doing. If it’s meant for n-ggas to lock in, it’s gonna happen. But I do definitely one million fucking percent feel like it’s no way we ain’t gonna make some life-changing shit if we really do tap in.”
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One artist that continued to work with Hit-Boy is Nas, who has already dropped four albums with him. The latest came on November 11 with King’s Disease III.
