Rick Rubin is directing his first feature-length documentary, and the subject is Jay-Z. The eight-part series JAŸ-Z In 8 premieres September 18 on HBO and HBO Max with two back-to-back episodes at 8 p.m. ET, followed by two new episodes weekly through October 9.
The official trailer dropped June 25, 2026, and HBO has now confirmed the full episode schedule. The project brings together Rubin and Jay-Z for the first time since Rubin produced "99 Problems" for The Black Album in 2003. Their professional relationship has spanned more than two decades, and this documentary is the most ambitious collaboration yet.
How the series works
JAŸ-Z In 8 is not a traditional biographical documentary. There is no narrator walking you through events. Instead, Rubin and Jay-Z sit down and listen to the music, track by track, talking through the decisions that shaped each song.
The series covers key tracks from across Jay-Z's career, including "Can't Knock The Hustle," "Brooklyn's Finest," "99 Problems," "4:44," and "The Story Of O.J." According to the synopsis released by HBO, the conversations trace how his lyrics reflect his childhood, personal experiences, and the world he has navigated as his career grew.
The format is modeled on Rubin's earlier music documentary, McCartney 3,2,1, which applied the same listening-session approach to Paul McCartney's career. That series worked because McCartney was willing to talk honestly about his craft. The question with Jay-Z is whether he will go just as deep.
The production team
The series is produced under Tetragrammaton, the production company Rubin founded. Executive producers are Shawn Carter, Daniel Kaluuya, and Rick Rubin. Leila Mattimore and David Rohde serve as producers. Bradford Young, who shot Selma and Arrival, is the cinematographer.
Kaluuya's involvement is notable. The Get Out and Judas and the Black Messiah actor has become one of the most respected performers of his generation, and his role as executive producer suggests the series is aimed at more than just hip-hop fans.
A landmark year for Jay-Z
The documentary arrives at a pivotal moment. 2026 marks the 30th anniversary of Reasonable Doubt, Jay-Z's 1996 debut, and the 25th anniversary of The Blueprint, his 2001 follow-up. Both albums are widely regarded as among the greatest in hip-hop history.
Jay-Z marked the anniversaries with a three-night residency at Yankee Stadium in July. The first show, July 10, honored Reasonable Doubt. The second, July 11, focused on The Blueprint. A third "Extra Innings" show on July 12 closed the weekend with a career-spanning set. All three sold out within minutes. Guests included Beyonce, Nas, Alicia Keys, and Blue Ivy Carter.
The anniversary tour continues in the fall with stadium shows in Paris and London. Jay-Z has also been linked to rumors of a new studio album, which would be his fourteenth. His most recent project, 4:44, came out in 2017.
Where to watch
In the United States, episodes air weekly on HBO and stream on HBO Max. The first two episodes launch September 18. The final two arrive October 9.
Internationally, Mubi has acquired streaming rights. The first two episodes drop September 19, with two new episodes each Saturday through October 10, as reported by Deadline.
Why it matters
Music documentaries tend to fall into two camps: career retrospectives with archival footage and interviews with everyone who ever worked with the subject, or behind-the-scenes reality shows. JAŸ-Z In 8 is neither. It is a close reading of a catalog by two people who know how to listen.
If Jay-Z opens up about his process in the same way McCartney did in Rubin's earlier series, it could be one of the most useful documentaries about songwriting ever made. If he stays surface-level, it will still be interesting to watch Rubin guide the conversation. Either way, the series should arrive at a moment when fans are already primed to think about Jay-Z's work. The album anniversaries, the stadium shows, and the documentary all point to a year dedicated to looking back.
JAŸ-Z In 8 is an HBO Original Documentary Series presented by HBO Documentary Films. For the official announcement, see the HBO press release.