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Chauncey Alexander Hollis Jr.[1] (born May 21, 1987), known professionally as Hit-Boy, is an American rapper, singer, songwriter, and record producer. He first signed with fellow producer Polow da Don in 2007 as in-house production staff for his label Zone 4, and later signed with Kanye West's GOOD Music in 2011 to serve a similar role.[2] He first gained major recognition for his work on Lil Wayne's 2009 single "Drop the World", which entered the Billboard Hot 100 at number 18. The following year, he produced West and Jay-Z's 2011 single "Niggas in Paris", which peaked at number five on the chart and received diamond certification by the Recording Industry Association of America (RIAA).
Hit-Boy | |
|---|---|
| Birth name | Chauncey Alexander Hollis Jr. |
| Born | May 21, 1987 |
| Origin | Fontana, California, U.S. |
| Genres | |
| Occupations |
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| Years active | 2003–present |
| Labels |
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| Website | hit-boy |
Throughout the remaining decade, he received credits on the Billboard Hot 100-top 50 singles "Trophies" by Drake, "Clique" by GOOD Music, "Sorry" by Beyoncé, and his first to peak the chart: "Sicko Mode" by Travis Scott, among other commercially successful productions. He pursued a career as a recording artist while doing so, and signed with Interscope Records to release his debut studio album, We the Plug (2013) in collaboration with his HS87 collective. He guest appeared alongside Roddy Ricch on Nipsey Hussle's 2019 single "Racks in the Middle", which won Best Rap Performance at the 62nd Annual Grammy Awards. He has also released the collaborative extended play What You Expect (2021) with Michigan rapper Big Sean, helmed the entirety of the production of six albums by Nas—King's Disease (2020), King's Disease II (2021), Magic, King's Disease III (2022), Magic 2 and Magic 3 (2023)—as well as the album Burden of Proof (2020) by Benny the Butcher, each of which entered the Billboard 200.[3]
His record label, Hits Since '87 was founded in 2011 also as an imprint of Interscope.[4]
 | This section of a biography of a living person needs additional citations for verification. (July 2023) |
Hollis got his start in professional music production upon receiving a message from high-profile record producer Polow da Don on Myspace which read: "Let's get this paper, pimp".[5] He received his first major production credit in tandem with the producer for the 2009 More than a Game documentary soundtrack, which was released by Polow's label Zone 4, to which he signed as an in-house producer. He co-produced the song "Stronger" by Mary J. Blige, which entered the Hot R&B/Hip-Hop Songs chart. Hollins is also a founding member of the collective Surf Club, which he formed with fellow producers Chase N. Cashe, BCarr, and Chili Chill.[6]
While continuing to receive production credits with Zone 4, he became acquainted with rapper Kanye West and produced his 2010 GOOD Friday song, "Christmas in Harlem".[7] On May 2, 2011,[8] he signed to Kanye West's GOOD Music label as an in-house producer, allowing him to work directly with West and the label's further releases. West and Jay-Z's 2011 single, "Niggas in Paris" peaked at number 13 on the Billboard Hot 100, won two Grammy Awards, and received diamond certification by the RIAA.
On June 7, 2012, Hollis released his first single as a recording artist, "Jay-Z Interview", which was produced by Bink!. Later in July 2012, Hollis was featured rapping on CyHi the Prynce's mixtape Ivy League Club, on the song "Entourage". Hollis then released the self-produced track "Old School Caddy", which features then-GOOD Music cohort Kid Cudi. These two tracks appeared on his first full-length project, a mixtape titled HITstory, which was released for free download on his website. Also in 2012, he produced three songs from his label GOOD Music's compilation album Cruel Summer, and produced ASAP Rocky's single "Goldie". On December 23, 2012, Hollis secured a solo recording contract with Interscope Records (the former parent label of Zone 4), under the record label Blueprint Group, along with the L.E.P. Bogus Boys. Soon after, he tweeted: "2012 has been great to me and my fam. Feeling more blessed than ever. Excited to see what God has planned for 2013. TU."[9] On January 23, 2013, his record label, Hits Since '87, became an imprint of Interscope.[10] On June 29, 2013, parted ways with GOOD Music, but instated that he was still on good terms with West and his labelmates.[11][12]
Hollins and Los Angeles rapper Dom Kennedy released the joint mixtape Half-A-Mil EP in December 2017, subsequently adopting the name as an alias for the duo.[13] The mixtape consisted of five songs, and was led by the single "100 Rounds". It was followed by the sequel, Half-A-Mil 2 on February 24, 2017,[14] and Half-A-Mil 3 followed thereafter in August 2017.[15] The mixtape only had two features; from 24hrs on "Don't Run" and Quentin Miller on the tracks "Might as Well" and "In The Hills".[16] Their debut collaborative album, Courtesy of Half-a-Mil was released in November of that year.[17][18]
From 2020 to 2022, Hollins teamed up with Nas to serve as executive producer on the King's Disease series—King's Disease, King's Disease II, and most recently King's Disease III—to close out 2022. King's Disease I and II were consecutively nominated for Grammy Award for Best Rap Album of the Year, with the former winning and awarding Nas with the artist’s first Grammy award throughout his storied career. They also collaborated on Nas's fifteenth studio album, Magic, in late 2022.
In 2023, Hollins worked on and released a multitude of projects, including beginning with his albums SURF OR DROWN in March, which featured guest appearances from Nas, The Alchemist, and Curren$y. Two months later, he followed up the album with its sequel, SURF OR DROWN Vol. 2, on Father's Day in June alongside his father, Big Hit, who appears on nine of the ten songs. In May 2023, Big Hit was released from prison after serving nine years and got right back to the studio to pick up where he left off. Before his incarceration in 2014, Big Hit had grown a fanbase following the release of the 2013 singles, "Grindin' My Whole Life" and "G'z Don't Cry", both produced by Hit-Boy. SURF OR DROWN Vol. 2 is a celebration of the reunification of the father son rap duo, and the continuation of Big Hit's career. Hollins executive produced Big Hit's debut solo album, The Truth Is In My Eyes (2023).
Hollins executive produced a number albums in 2023, including three Nas albums (King's Disease III, Magic 2, and Magic 3), Musiq Soulchild's Victims & Villains, and Benny the Butcher's album Everybody Can't Go (alongside the Alchemist), and Madden 2024 video game soundtrack. He worked on two songs from Don Toliver's third album Love Sick, as well as the song "Delresto (Echoes)" by Travis Scott and Beyoncé from Scott's Utopia.
In January 2024, Hollins produced and executive produced the project Paisley Dreams by the Game and Big Hit. The nine song album was made in one session, the first time the Game and Big Hit had met. Hollins also produced Jennifer Lopez's single "Can't Get Enough" alongside Rogét Chahayed for her eighth album, This Is Me...Now.
Production
Hit-Boy uses FL Studio and custom music plug-ins to make his beats.[19][20]
Hit-Boy is the nephew of Rodney Benford, from the R&B group Troop and son of rapper Big Hit.[21] He grew up in Fontana, California.[22]
Studio albums
| Title | Album details |
|---|---|
| We the Plug (with HS87) |
|
| Courtesy of Half-a-Mil (with Dom Kennedy) |
|
| Family Not a Group (with SOB X RBE) |
|
| Also Known As (with Dom Kennedy) |
|
| King's Disease (with Nas) |
|
| Burden of Proof (with Benny the Butcher) |
|
| King's Disease II (with Nas) |
|
| Magic (with Nas) |
|
| Bulletproof Soul[23] (with Pacman da Gunman) |
|
| Hitgirl[24] (with Dreezy) |
|
| King's Disease III (with Nas) |
|
| Victims & Villains (with Musiq Soulchild) |
|
| Surf or Drown |
|
| Surf or Drown, Vol. 2 |
|
| Magic 2 (with Nas) |
|
| Magic 3 (with Nas) |
|
| The Truth Is In My Eyes (with Big Hit) |
|
| Paisley Dreams (with The Game & Big Hit) |
|
EPs
| Title | Details |
|---|---|
| Half-a-Mil EP (with Dom Kennedy) |
|
| Half-a-Mil-2 EP (with Dom Kennedy) |
|
| Half-a-Mil-3 EP (with Dom Kennedy) |
|
| This Wasn't Supposed to Happen (with Jay Park) |
|
| What You Expect (with Big Sean)[25] |
|
Mixtapes
| Title | Details |
|---|---|
| A Hit-Boy Christmas |
|
| Love Notes[27] |
|
| HITstory[28] |
|
| All I've Ever Dreamed Of (with HS87) |
|
| Zoomin |
|
| Tony Fontana |
|
Guest appearances and production credit
| Title | Year | Other artist(s) | Album |
|---|---|---|---|
| "Entourage" | 2012 | Cyhi the Prynce | Ivy League Club |
| "All Good"[29] | D-Why | Don't Flatter Yourself | |
| "The Long Way"[30] | Audio Push | — | |
| "Them Niggas"[31] | Inland Empire | ||
| "The Right One" | Wale | Folarin | |
| "Do Me Now"[32] | 2013 | K. Roosevelt | RoseGold |
| "Scream & Shout" (Hit-Boy Remix)[33] | will.i.am, Britney Spears, Waka Flocka Flame, Lil Wayne, Diddy | #willpower | |
| "Joy"[34] | Ryan McDermott | Ryan vs. the Sandman: The Tale of the Sleepwalkers | |
| "Feel It"[35] | Deezo, Problem | Ten10Eighty7 | |
| "Funeral Season"[36] | Statik Selektah, Styles P, Bun B | Extended Play | |
| "What Ya Used To"[citation needed] | Rockie Fresh | Self Made Vol. 3 | |
| "Circle" | Casey Veggies, Rockie Fresh | Fresh Veggies | |
| "Goldie"[37] | ASAP Rocky | Long. Live. ASAP | |
| "1Train"[38] | |||
| "Money ($ * / ...)" | 2014 | Mariah Carey, Fabolous | Me. I Am Mariah... The Elusive Chanteuse |
| "Feeling Myself"[39] | Nicki Minaj | The Pinkprint | |
| "Boomerang"[40] | 2015 | Sevyn Streeter | Shoulda Been There, Pt. 1 |
| "I Mean It" | PJ | Walking Around Pools | |
| "Wonderful"[41] | Casey Veggies | Live & Grow | |
| "way back"[42] | 2016 | Travis Scott | Birds in the Trap Sing McKnight |
| "Other Shit"[43] | 2017 | Playboi Carti | Playboi Carti |
| "CAROUSEL (feat. Frank Ocean)"[44] | 2018 | Travis Scott | ASTROWORLD |
| "HOUSES ON THE HILL (album)"[45] | 24hrs | HOUSES ON THE HILL | |
| "Catch the Sun (from "Queen & Slim: The Soundtrack)"[46] | 2019 | Lil Baby | Queen & Slim |
| "Royalty"[47] | Nas | The Lost Tapes 2 | |
| "4 Thangs (feat. Big Sean & Hit-Boy)"[48] | 2020 | Freddie Gibbs, Big Sean & Hit-Boy | 4 Thangs – Single |
| "Bouncin"[49] | Kyle | Bouncin – Single | |
| "Fear Of God"[50] | Conway the Machine | From King to a God | |
| "DIRT ON MY NAME"[51] | Vic Mensa | V Tape | |
| "King's Disease"[52] | Nas | King's Disease | |
| "Don Life (feat. Lil Wayne)"[53] | Big Sean | Detroit 2 | |
| "Temptations (feat. Kid Cudi)"[54] | Ty Dolla Sign | Featuring Ty Dolla Sign | |
| "Composure" | 2021 | Nas | King's Disease II |
| "Lil League (feat. Quavo & Hit-Boy)"[55] | BlueBucksClan | ClanVirus 2 | |
| "What You Need"[56] | Don Toliver | Life of a Don | |
| "In My Feelings"[57] | Tee Grizzley | Built for Whatever | |
| "Evictions"[58] | |||
| "What We On (feat. Big Sean)"[59] | |||
| "Freshman 10 (Freestyle)"[60] | Big Sean | Finally Famous | |
| "Griots of the Crenshaw District (feat. Hit-Boy, Kamasi Washington and Robert Glasper)"[61] | Terrace Martin feat. Hit-Boy, Kamasi Washington & Robert Glasper | Drones | |
| "Judas and the Black Messiah Soundtrack"[62] | Hit-Boy | Judas and the Black Messiah | |
| "King's Disease II"[63] | Nas | King's Disease II | |
| "Magic"[64] | Nas | Magic | |
| "Corsa"[65] | 2022 | Hit-Boy and Dom Kennedy | Corsa – Single |
| "Scholar"[66] | Hit-Boy, 24hrs and Devin Morrison | Scholar – Single | |
| "Maniac"[67] | YG and Hit-Boy | I Got Issues | |
| "Wild Chapters"[68] | Conway the Machine, T.I. & Novel | God Don't Make Mistakes | |
| "A Father's Prayer"[69] | The Game | Drillmatic - Heart vs. Mind | |
| "Stupid (feat. Big Sean)"[70] | |||
| "The Black Slim Shady"[71] | |||
| "How Far I Came (feat. Roddy Ricch)"[72] | |||
| "Change the Game (feat. Ty Dolla $ign)"[73] | |||
| "Eazy (feat. Kanye West)"[74] | |||
| "THIQUE"[75] | Beyoncé | Renaissance | |
| "Sole Producer and Music Curator for EA Sports Madden 23"[76] | Hit-Boy | Madden 23 Official Soundtrack | |
| "Space Ghost Coast to Coast (Hit Boy Remix)"[77] | Glass Animals | Space Ghost Coast To Coast (Hit Boy Remix) | |
| "This Bitch Matters"[78] | Doechii | she / her / black bitch | |
| "Fireproof"[79] | Hit-Boy | Fireproof – Single | |
| "Jersey In The Rafters (feat. The Game (rapper))"[80] | Snoop Dogg | BODR | |
| "Checkmate"[81] | Cordae & Hit-Boy | Checkmate – Single | |
| "Tony Fontana III (feat. Currensy)"[82] | Hit-Boy | Tony Fontana III – Single | |
| "Gunehgar"[83] | DIVINE | Gunehgar | |
| "2 Certified (feat. Avelino)"[84] | Hit-Boy | 2 Certified – Single | |
| "2 LIVE (feat. Offset)"[85] | 2023 | Hit-Boy (feat. Offset) | 2 LIVE – Single |
| "Go Down (feat. TisaKorean)"[86] | Don Toliver | Love Sick (album) | |
| "Bus Stop (feat. Brent Faiyaz)"[87] | |||
| "Just Face It"[88] | Blxst | Creed III: The Soundtrack | |
| "Slipping Into Darkness"[89] | Hit-Boy & The Alchemist | Slipping Into Darkness – Single | |
| "Broke The Mold"[90] | Big Hit | Broke The Mold – Single | |
| "Constellation"[91] | Ski Mask the Slump God | They Cloned Tyrone (Soundtrack) | |
| "DELRESTO (ECHOES) (feat. Beyoncé)"[92] | Travis Scott | UTOPIA | |
| "Can't Get Enough"[93] | 2024 | Jennifer Lopez | This Is Me...Now |
Publication awards and nominations
| Year | Nominated work | Award | Result |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2014 | Himself (Grindin My Whole Life) | Producer of the Year | Nominated |
| 2020 | Hit-Boy | BET Awards: Producer of the Year | Won |
| Complex Awards: Best Hip Hop Producer Alive | Won | ||
| HipHopDX Producer of the Year | Won | ||
| 2021 | XXL Awards: Hip Hop Producer of the Year | Nominated | |
| BET Awards: Producer of the Year | Won | ||
| NAAPC Image Awards: Producer of the Year | Won | ||
| 2022 | BET Awards: Producer of the Year | Nominated | |
| XXL Awards: Hip Hop Producer of the Year | Won | ||
| HipHopDX Producer of the Year | Won | ||
Grammy Awards
The Grammy Awards is an award presented by The Recording Academy to recognize achievement in the mainly English-language music industry. Hit-Boy has received three Grammy awards from 15 nominations.[94]
| Year | Nominated work | Award | Result |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2013 | "Niggas in Paris" | Best Rap Song | Won |
| 2014 | Good Kid, M.A.A.D City | Album of the Year | Nominated |
| 2015 | Beyoncé | Nominated | |
| 2017 | Lemonade | Nominated | |
| 2019 | "Sicko Mode" | Best Rap Song | Nominated |
| 2020 | Racks in the Middle | Nominated | |
| Best Rap Performance | Won | ||
| 2021 | Deep Reverence | Nominated | |
| King's Disease | Best Rap Album | Won | |
| 2022 | King's Disease II | Nominated | |
| Himself | Producer of the Year | Nominated | |
| 2023 | Renaissance | Album of the Year | Nominated |
| Best Dance/Electronic Album | Won (certificate) | ||
| 2024 | King's Disease III | Best Rap Album | Nominated |
| Himself | Producer of the Year | Nominated | |
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