Hit-Boy
Hit-Boy | |
|---|---|
 Hollis in 2026 | |
| Background information | |
| Born | Chauncey Alexander Hollis Jr. May 21, 1987 Fontana, California, U.S. |
| Origin | Fontana, California, U.S. |
| Genres | |
| Occupations |
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| Years active | 2003–present |
| Labels |
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| Website | hit-boy |
Chauncey Alexander Hollis Jr.[1] (born May 21, 1987), known professionally as Hit-Boy, is an American record producer, rapper, and record executive. A three-time Grammy Award winner and eleven-time nominee,[2] he is the founder of Surf Club Inc., an independent label, publishing company, and entertainment company.
He has produced or co-produced charting singles for Jay-Z, Kanye West ("Niggas in Paris"), Travis Scott ("Sicko Mode"), Nipsey Hussle ("Racks in the Middle"), Beyoncé ("Sorry"), Drake ("Trophies"), and Lil Wayne ("Drop the World"); also having helmed the entirety of production on six Nas albums—King's Disease (2020), King's Disease II (2021), Magic, King's Disease III (2022), Magic 2, and Magic 3 (2023). He has released collaborative projects with The Alchemist, Big Sean, and Game, among others.
He first signed with fellow producer Polow da Don in 2007 as in-house production staff for his label Zone 4, and later joined Kanye West's GOOD Music in 2011 to serve a similar role.[3] His first major production credit, Lil Wayne's 2009 single "Drop the World", peaked at number 18 on the Billboard Hot 100. 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). His record label imprint, Hits Since '87, was founded in 2011 as an imprint of Interscope.[4] In July 2025, with the assistance of Jay-Z and Roc Nation CEO Desiree Perez, he announced his exit from his publishing deal with Universal Music Publishing Group.[5]
Career
[edit] | This section of a biography of a living person needs additional citations for verification. (July 2023) |
Early career and Surf Club (2007–2010)
[edit]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".[6] 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. Hollis is also a founding member of the collective Surf Club, which he formed with fellow producers Chase N. Cashe, BCarr, and Chili Chill.[7]
GOOD Music and breakthrough (2011–2013)
[edit]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".[8] On May 2, 2011,[9] 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 five on the Billboard Hot 100, won two Grammy Awards (Best Rap Performance and Best Rap Song), 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.[10] On January 23, 2013, his record label, Hits Since '87, became an imprint of Interscope.[11] On June 29, 2013, he parted ways with GOOD Music, but stated that he was still on good terms with West and his labelmates.[12][13]
Continued production and Half-A-Mil (2014–2019)
[edit]Throughout this period, Hit-Boy was credited 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 others. 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.
Hollis 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.[14] 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,[15] and Half-A-Mil 3 followed thereafter in August 2017.[16] Their debut collaborative album, Courtesy of Half-a-Mil was released in November of that year.[17]
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.[18]
Nas collaborations and Surf Club era (2020–2024)
[edit]From 2020 to 2022, Hollis teamed up with Nas to serve as executive producer on the King's Disease series—King's Disease, King's Disease II, and King's Disease III—to close out 2022. King's Disease I and II were consecutively nominated for Best Rap Album of the Year, with the former winning and giving Nas his first Grammy win. They also collaborated on Nas's fifteenth studio album, Magic, in late 2021. He also released the collaborative extended play What You Expect (2021) with Michigan rapper Big Sean, and helmed the entirety of production on Burden of Proof (2020) by Benny the Butcher.
In 2023, Hollis released his albums Surf or Drown in March, which featured guest appearances from Nas, The Alchemist, and Curren$y. Two months later, he followed up 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 returned to the studio. 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. Hollis executive produced Big Hit's debut solo album, The Truth Is In My Eyes (2023).
Hollis also executively produced a number of 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), as well as the Madden NFL 24 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, Hollis 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. Hollis also produced Jennifer Lopez's single "Can't Get Enough" alongside Rogét Chahayed for her eighth album, This Is Me... Now. In May 2024, he released Black & Whites, a collaborative album with The Alchemist and Big Hit.
Independence and Surf Club Inc. (2025–present)
[edit]In July 2025, Hit-Boy publicly announced that he had been released from an 18-year publishing deal with Universal Music Publishing Group, which he had signed at age 19. He credited Jay-Z and Roc Nation CEO Desiree Perez with negotiating his exit from the contract, which he described as having lacked a defined end date.[5][19] He marked the occasion by releasing "What's the Deal?", his first single following the publishing deal exit, via Surf Club Inc.
In October 2025, Hit-Boy released Goldfish, a collaborative album with The Alchemist, via Surf Club Inc., ALC, and EMPIRE.[20] Hit-Boy serves as founder and chief executive of Surf Club Inc., his independent label, publishing house, and entertainment company.
Musical style
[edit]Production
[edit]Hit-Boy uses FL Studio and custom music plug-ins to make his beats.[21][22][23]
Personal life
[edit]Hollis is the nephew of Rodney Benford, from the R&B group Troop, and the son of rapper Big Hit.[24] He grew up in Fontana, California.[25]
His first child, a son, was born in 2020.[26]
Discography
[edit]Studio albums
[edit]| Title | Album details |
|---|---|
| We the Plug (with HS87) |
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| Courtesy of Half-a-Mil (with Dom Kennedy) |
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| Tony Fontana |
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| Family Not a Group (with SOB X RBE) |
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| The Chauncey Hollis Project |
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| Also Known As (with Dom Kennedy) |
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| King's Disease (with Nas) |
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| Burden of Proof (with Benny the Butcher) |
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| King's Disease II (with Nas) |
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| Magic (with Nas) |
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| Bulletproof Soul[27] (with Pacman da Gunman) |
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| Hitgirl[28] (with Dreezy) |
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| King's Disease III (with Nas) |
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| Victims & Villains (with Musiq Soulchild) |
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| Surf or Drown |
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| Surf or Drown, Vol. 2 |
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| Magic 2 (with Nas) |
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| Magic 3 (with Nas) |
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| The Truth Is In My Eyes (with Big Hit) |
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| Paisley Dreams (with The Game & Big Hit) |
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| Rent Due (with LaRussell) |
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| Black & Whites (with The Alchemist and Big Hit) |
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| Rent Paid (with LaRussell) |
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| High-Class Wiggler (with Spank Nitti James) |
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| Goldfish (with The Alchemist) |
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| Yeast Talkin' (with Spank Nitti James) |
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EPs
[edit]| Title | Details |
|---|---|
| Half-a-Mil EP (with Dom Kennedy) |
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| Half-a-Mil-2 EP (with Dom Kennedy) |
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| Half-a-Mil-3 EP (with Dom Kennedy) |
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| This Wasn't Supposed to Happen (with Jay Park) |
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| What You Expect (with Big Sean)[29] |
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Mixtapes
[edit]| Title | Details |
|---|---|
| A Hit-Boy Christmas |
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| Love Notes[31] |
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| HITstory[32] |
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| All I've Ever Dreamed Of (with HS87) |
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| Zoomin |
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| Tony Fontana |
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Awards and nominations
[edit]Publication awards and nominations
[edit]| 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 | ||
| NAACP 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
[edit]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 eleven nominations.[2]
| 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" | Best Rap Song | Nominated |
| King's Disease | Best Rap Album | Won | |
| 2022 | King's Disease II | Best Rap Album | Nominated |
| Himself | Producer of the Year, Non-Classical | Nominated | |
| 2023 | Renaissance | Album of the Year | Nominated |
| 2024 | King's Disease III | Best Rap Album | Nominated |
| Himself | Producer of the Year, Non-Classical | Nominated |
References
[edit]- ^ "BMI | Songview Search". repertoire.bmi.com. Archived from the original on November 10, 2000.
- ^ a b "Hit-Boy". GRAMMY.com. The Recording Academy. Retrieved May 1, 2026.
- ^ "Entertainment Weekly Interview with Hit-Boy". Entertainment Weekly.
- ^ "Hit-Boy Confirms Signing with Kanye West". Rap Basement. May 12, 2011. Archived from the original on May 15, 2011. Retrieved May 12, 2011.
- ^ a b "Hit-Boy Thanks Jay-Z for Helping 'Secure My Freedom' From 18-Year Publishing Deal". Complex. July 25, 2025. Retrieved May 1, 2026.
- ^ Gordon, Jeremy. "How Hit-Boy Went From Myspace to Kanye West's Speed-Dial". Bullettmedia.com. Archived from the original on November 1, 2014. Retrieved August 10, 2014.
- ^ "The 15 Best Hit-Boy Beats - XXL". March 14, 2013.
- ^ Fresh, Mikey (May 11, 2011). "V Exclusive: Hit-Boy Talks Signing To G.O.O.D Music, Producing For Kanye & Pusha And Scott Storch's Influence". Vibe. Retrieved May 9, 2026.
- ^ "Producer Hit-Boy Joins Kanye West's G.O.O.D Music Label". May 9, 2011. Archived from the original on May 16, 2013. Retrieved May 9, 2011.
- ^ Donaldson, Erich (December 21, 2012). "Hit-Boy and L.E.P. Bogus Boys Sign to Interscope". Complex. Archived from the original on November 1, 2014. Retrieved August 10, 2014.
- ^ Horowitz, Steven J. (January 23, 2013). "Hit-Boy Announces Signing To Interscope Records". HipHop DX. Archived from the original on November 1, 2014. Retrieved August 10, 2014.
- ^ "Hit-Boy Parts Ways With Kanye West's G.O.O.D. Music". MTV. January 7, 2013. Archived from the original on August 9, 2016. Retrieved July 26, 2016.
- ^ "Hit-Boy's Top 10 Best Beats". HNHH. January 11, 2022.
- ^ "Stream Dom Kennedy And Hit-Boy's Joint EP, Half-A-Mil". The FADER. December 11, 2016. Archived from the original on April 12, 2021. Retrieved April 12, 2021.
- ^ "Half-A-Mil 2 EP Mixtape by Dom Kennedy x Hit-Boy". www.datpiff.com. Archived from the original on April 12, 2021. Retrieved April 12, 2021.
- ^ "Dom Kennedy & Hit-Boy Join Forces For "Half-A-Mil 3" EP". HipHopDX. August 7, 2017. Archived from the original on April 12, 2021. Retrieved April 12, 2021.
- ^ India, Lindsey (November 30, 2017). "Stream Dom Kennedy and Hit-Boy's 'Courtesy of Half-A-Mil' Album – XXL". XXL Mag. Archived from the original on April 12, 2021. Retrieved April 12, 2021.
- ^ "Nipsey Hussle Wins Best Rap Performance". GRAMMY.com. January 26, 2020. Archived from the original on January 27, 2020. Retrieved January 27, 2020.
- ^ "Hit-Boy celebrates ending 18-year publishing deal with JAY-Z's help". Revolt. July 25, 2025. Retrieved April 10, 2026.
- ^ "Why Hit-Boy says new album 'Software Update' represents more than musical reinvention". Yahoo Entertainment. October 15, 2025. Retrieved May 1, 2026.
- ^ "9 Popular Music Producers Who Use FL Studio". Hiphopmakers. Archived from the original on July 11, 2014. Retrieved July 26, 2014.
- ^ "Fruity Loops- From kids toy to Producer Choice". Concrete. Archived from the original on August 9, 2014. Retrieved July 26, 2014.
- ^ Tingen, Paul (July 2024). "Inside Track: Hit-Boy". Sound On Sound. Retrieved October 6, 2025.
- ^ Frydenlund, Zach. "Hit-Boy's 25 Favorite Albums". article. complex.com. Archived from the original on January 7, 2013. Retrieved February 17, 2013.
- ^ Ryan, Blake (December 15, 2017). "For Hit-Boy, Quality is Everything". Complex. Archived from the original on February 18, 2022.
- ^ "Hit-Boy Reveals How Producing Made Him a Better Artist and Praises Bond Between His Father, Big Hit, and Son (Exclusive)". June 9, 2023.
- ^ "Pacman da Gunman & Hit-Boy – Bulletproof Soul". Apple Music. Retrieved March 31, 2022.
- ^ "Dreezy & Hit-Boy – Hitgirl". Apple Music. Retrieved May 20, 2022.
- ^ @billboardcharts (November 8, 2021). "Debuts on this week's #Billboard200 (2/3)..." (Tweet). Retrieved November 9, 2021 – via Twitter.
- ^ "Big Sean & Hit-Boy – What You Expect – EP". Apple Music. October 29, 2021. Retrieved October 29, 2021.
- ^ "Hit-Boy – Love Notes (HS87)". DaMixhub. Archived from the original on August 8, 2017. Retrieved August 8, 2017.
- ^ "Hit Boy – HITstory (G.O.O.D. Music, HS87)". DaMixhub. Archived from the original on August 8, 2017. Retrieved August 8, 2017.
External links
[edit]- Official website
- Hit-Boy on Instagram
- Hit-Boy on YouTube
- Hit-Boy on X (Twitter)
- Hit-Boy on TikTok
- Hit-Boy on Spotify
- Hit-Boy on Apple Music
- Hit-Boy on Discogs
- Hit-Boy on Genius
- Surf Club discography
| International | |
|---|---|
| National | |
| Artists | |
- 1987 births
- Living people
- 21st-century African-American male rappers
- 21st-century African-American rappers
- 21st-century American male rappers
- African-American record producers
- American hip-hop record producers
- Hardcore hip-hop artists
- Grammy Award winners for rap music
- People from Fontana, California
- Songwriters from California
- West Coast hip-hop musicians
- 21st-century American rappers
- Record producers from California
- African-American songwriters
- 21st-century African-American musicians
- 20th-century African-American musicians
- American male songwriters
- Rappers from California