Big Bro with Kid Cudi - Making Platinum Hits with Jay-Z, Kendrick Lamar & Bey: Kid Cudi & Hit-Boy Trade Classic Studio Stories

Episode Date: August 5, 2026

The homie Hit-Boy pulled up to Big Bro! We go way back, so we tapped into those early days when we were both just trying to make a name for ourselves and find our place in the game. We traded studio stories about creating platinum records with Beyoncé, Nas, Jay-Z, and Ye, and got into the lore behind the classic hit "Ni**as in Paris." We also talked about the song Jay passed on that eventually found its way onto 808s & Heartbreak. And make sure you check out my guy’s latest project, Success Is a Dirty Word, streaming everywhere you listen to music.This weeks episode and Big Recs are brought to you by Adobe Acrobat. Head over to adobe.com/bigbroThis weeks Big Kids is brought to you by Apple Gift Card. Visit applegiftcard.apple.com to gift one today.BetterHelp: Head to www.betterhelp.com/BIGBRO for 10% off your first purchase. Subscribe for new eps of Big Bro launch every Wednesday 🚀 https://www.youtube.com/@BigBroCudi Big Bro is a Wave Original.⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ for more good vibes, tune in everywhere @bigbrocudi ⁠⁠instagram.com/bigbrocudi⁠⁠ ⁠⁠tiktok.com/@bigbrocudi #kidcudi #bigbrocudi Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

This episode is brought to you by Accenture. When your advertising operations fall out of sync, everything else follows. Spotify and Accenture are working together to reinvent the rhythm of ad sales, using automation, analytics, and smarter workflows to simplify campaign delivery and access better data across the business. The result? Less time spent on operations, more time connecting brands with the moments and fandoms that matter most. Learn more at Accenture.com slash Spotify.

In Toronto, every arrival is a statement, and nothing says it better than this. Cadillac Optic was the number one selling luxury EV in Canada for 2025. Find your rhythm across a seamless 33-inch display and an immersive 19-speaker AKG surround audio system. This city demands agility and optic delivers with precision to make every drive extraordinary. Let's take the Cadillac. Find out more at Cadillac Canada.ca. Luxury sales claim based on S&P Global Mobility Canadian New Vehicle Total Registrations for calendar year 2025 for the the Cadillac definition of luxury. Wave.

I want to talk about Beyonce. I want to talk about B. Legend. Man, she got that energy where she, like, she, like, specific and know what she won't. It's kind of like a rapper, to be honest. But Jay DeKis was, in my eyes, the greatest emcee.

He's flawless victory every single time. You know what's crazy about a world with no heartbreak? We had an idea for it that was for Jay. And the original hook was, like, it was like this. up in the kitchen, young boy had that vision, had to get with it. And that leads me into Newt's in Paris. I wasn't thinking about that beat.

It was in Paris. He hit me. He was like, bro, this song is so crazy me and I hope did last night. He was like, when this song, Drop Your Life is about to change. What's good, y'all? Welcome back to Big Bro with Kid Cuddy, a wave original presented by Adobe Acrobat. I'm a big bro Scott coming to you live from the attic of my mind. Today, our guest is my guy, my brother, hit boy.

We get into endless stories from when we first met. We talk about making niggas in Paris and working with the biggest artists in the game. So chill back, brib out, smoke something, drink something, and enjoy. See you on the other side. Yo, we are here with my guy, my family, my brother, hit boy. My dog. Thanks for coming to Big Bro. Man, we go back.

back we i think we met 2010 right yeah yeah do you remember that first moment when you when we met of course i do man for sure i never explained explain to the family how we met man i was uh i was signed to yay at the time yeah and i came out to new york we had the mercer hotel was like the worst snowstorm in like new york history so the whole city was covered in white and basically like we was just we was making music and we was going out kicking it like you know I mean we have snowball fights at 3 a.m. in New York man like it shit was crazy like yeah you just always like showed me like you know genuine like love like from day one like you put me on game about a lot of shit and you know what I mean you just kind of was like really big bro for real you know since day one

well I just felt like for me I saw your talent early on and that was maybe like my second year in the business. So, like, I felt like I was still coming up. You know what I mean? And I saw you were coming up and I just really connected with that. Like, just being hungry. I saw how hungry you were.

Like, there would be days at the Mercer. We'd all be in one room with Yay and everybody talking about the records, talking about the album. And I'll be like, where it's hitting? You would always just be in another room by yourself just getting it on. Like that day, I came to studio when you were working on the red eye synth right that was a day I was just I came up

there to say it up to yay but I wasn't working I was leaving and it's happened to hear that scent coming from down the hall crazy and I remember going into the room and you were just in there by yourself just cooking up 100 you know I mean so I was just like man this dude it's so focused because that's that's the thing with me like people kind of look at me and go like man how do you how do you do this like how do you always so prolific and it's just the hunger and i feel like you have that too like we're we're niggas that like have been in it a long time but yet it feel like we just started the hunger is still there you know honey no that's that's my whole goal man it's just to keep you know feeding that side man just like that that imagination really

you know what i mean just exploring like okay like i like when i feel like that self like growth like you know I mean. It's like, okay, I know I'm better at putting music together than I was before. That's exciting for me. I want to make a thousand new songs once I feel that level up. You know what I mean? Yeah. For sure.

Yeah. It's exciting, man, because we're doing what we love. Yeah. Right? So it don't feel like work, right? It don't feel like work to you, right? I don't know. For sure.

Yeah. Nah. It's like it's complete joy. Yeah. You know what I mean? Like every day we wake up and it's like, oh, I got studio today. It's like we're doing magic. Yeah, exactly.

Just creating something out of thin air. Exactly. Like, it's endless possibilities. Like, that's the exciting part is that there's endless possibilities. Right. You know? Right. Like, knowing you who has a crazy, eclectic sound, like, you're one of the only, we're

one of a few producers in the game that has crazy versatility. you know. Appreciate that. And I just feel like that that is that shit that like sets you apart from a lot of people, you know.

And that was one of the reasons why you know, I remember when you asked me to get on old school caddy, I just really love the fact I was like, oh, he's a rapper too. He's trying to rap. I was like, oh, that's fire.

And then I heard the song and then I was like, oh, his raps are bars are fire too. And the beat was so far. fresh like you're definitely top three one of my favorite producers in the game you know what I appreciate it it's crazy man because we're coming up on the 14 year

anniversary of my first tape that had old school caddy on it and you know what's crazy is this might be like the most outlandish shit it could make me look very bad right now but I damn don't want to ask you can I clear the record to finally put it on DSPs because it's only been on live mixtape and that

piff and shit old school caddy is not on iTunes Apple Spotify Man, I thought that shit was on iTunes. It was just on straight. Oh, man, you send me the document. I will sign, bro. Man, my God, that's love. I think it's going to be a special moment.

That was one of my most fire versus. You had that SLS. Oh, yeah, I brought both of my cars. I bought the SLS and I brought the old school bands. Yeah, that was killing. And that was, man, I had to get rid of that car, man. Way on Lancaster. I didn't have to get rid of it, but I sold it eventually.

My brother had my nephew, and I just wanted him to have a little bit of pocket chain so I just sold the car and gave him the money. But that was, it was great because we had a good run in that car. And it's immortalizing that video. You know what I'm saying? I gotta say like that is a fucking legendary verse you gave me, bro. Like you gave me like the fucking high level like some shit you would have gave yourself or yay or whatever the fuck.

I'm like, I'll be listening to that shit like damn this nigga bless me. I don't know what? Crazy. You know what? It was, it was, thank you first off, man. And second, like I was, like I said, like, I was still proving myself. A feature is, is meant, like, if somebody just doesn't know who you are and they discover you on this feature, this is the first time they're hearing you, right? You want to make them a fan immediately.

100. You know? Yeah. Like, you want to have them convert over to your side. Straight up. You know what I mean? Straight up. So it's a way of promotion.

It's a way getting your shit out there tapping into a new audience. So I just feel like with features, like I always try to have a moment. 100. You know, not to outshine or anything or anything like that, just to have a moment that's memorable where it's like, okay, we see why this record needed. Cutty. 100.

Nah, for sure, bro. That's how you, that's why you, you know what I'm here? Got to push yourself every time, man. That's what I'm on. Every beat, every rap I make, I'm like, okay, let me try to make this shit better than the last one, just competing with myself at the end of the day, you know what I mean? It's not about the exterior and what's going on. And on the charts or in the game or whatever, it's like, how can I just be better than I was?

You know, and the rest of the shit just lines up, how it lines up, you know? Yeah. This week's Big Kids is brought to you by Apple Gift Car. So in 2007, you signed your first deal in 19. What was the type of music you were listening to at that time that shaped your early production style? I mean, I was listening to a lot of Timbling, Pharrell, the Neptunes, and I was listening to a lot of R&B, too. These producers caught the underdogs that had a studio out here, and they was doing a bunch

of R&B stuff. I was trying to just be versatile from the jump, you know what I mean? I would honestly try to emulate these people's style, like, early in my career trying to find, you know, where I belong in this shit. Yeah. Yeah, man, I mean, Dr. J. obviously, Battle Cat, West Coast legend. And like, I just study, like, anything that sound good to me, man. Like, before I made beats, I just had a boombox.

Like, that's why this room just remind me in my shit. Like, I had the speakers, and I didn't have no computer. I just had a boom box with a shoebox full of CDs. And I would play, yay, I would play Hove. I would play the locks. I would play DMX. Just like, you know, just all music, all day, just playing shit, man. And so it's crazy.

Ten years later, I linked up with a lot of these dudes and actually made fire shit with them. You know what I mean? It kind of, it makes sense. Like, I really studied, like, just listening over and over. Like, how the fuck is they making this stuff? You know what I mean? Man, I'm in high school with me and my buddies. I had some dudes that moved to my school from Philly.

And they put me on to, like, the locks and shit. And, like, all I did was, like, listen to Jada Kiss raps and just try to, like, mimic. Yeah. You know what I mean? Like, I learned how to put flows together in my earlier rap, like, listen to Jada. That's crazy. I don't think anybody knows that. Yeah, I never heard that one.

But Jadicus is somebody who is, in my eyes, the greatest MC. He is. He might be the greatest, you know. So. Got the voice, that raspy, just gully, grimy, like, yeah. I mean, he's just flawless victory every single time. He goes out. You know what I'm saying?

Every time he steps out on the court, fall as victory. But yeah, I feel you, man, about, like, because that's, because it's like no one comes in and teaches you how to rap. Right. Like, nobody's like, okay, this is how you write four bars. So you read, hey, you want a whole verse to be 16 bars. You want a hook to be A bars. Like, nobody is telling you this shit.

You got to fucking figure it out. You know what I'm saying? And for me, for a while, it was like just feeling the beat. Like, okay, it feels like it's been on for 16 bars. and I ended right here. You know what I mean? That feeling that that first energy you feel, like you got to run with that, man. Yeah, yeah.

First cosine that changed your career. Man, Polo to Don, cosign, you know what I mean? It put me in an 18-year deal, but it also, you know, gave me the opportunity to make something with myself and, like, feel like I was in the game and be in the game, you know, actually be in this shit. Like, you know, just I got a lot of opportunities, you know, through Polo, man, for sure. He was, I mean, he was doing it so big. He just had number one after number one in that era, you know what I mean?

He was the guy at that time. So, yeah, he put me on some shit, for sure. When did you decide to focus on producing first rapping? Man, it kind of just happened. I just was talking about how I never really planned on this shit. I was like just making my own albums. I was making beats to rap on them myself. Right.

But then once I seen like people wanted to buy the beats, like it was kind of like a hustler mentality. Like, man, I can think I just want to buy this shit. Like I sold my first beat at 16 for like 20 bucks. And then after that, it's like 100, 500. Then I sold a beat for 1,000 by the time I was like 17. I was like, oh man, like I got to get to it. You know what I?

Just like being in the position I was in, like my pops was locked up. You know, my mom. She had me young as hell, so, you know what I mean? We didn't have a whole lot, man. I just wanted better for myself. So it's like once I've seen that you could like make money off this shit, I'm having, like, I just, beats just always been fun to me, bro. It was like, especially I use FL studio.

That shit looked like Tetris. It looked like just a video game. So I'm still to this day I use FM. It's like I sit down to make a beat. I'm having pure fun, you know what I mean? But I just did so many beats that I became good at this shit. It like made a career out of it. Yeah.

You know what I mean? Man, I feel what you're saying as far as, uh, you just started making beats naturally because you just like, I need beats to rap on, right? And that's kind of like, you know, people listen to my songs and they hear me singing a lot, but I just was singing on my hooks early on because I hadn't had no singers. So I was just like, man, I don't know who to get on my hook. So I was just singing myself. And then it just ended up being a part of the shit.

That's called, man. And you would think that you just like cultivated that shit, like super. Perfectly like you know, man. You really known for that. Like, I just fell into it. It just happened organically. Yeah. You know what I mean?

Yeah. And here we are, you know, 18 years in the game. Fucking still doing it. Crazy, bro. I still remember I was living in Atlanta when 808 dropped. Yeah. And just like running, like, all the songs, like the shit with you on it, just like fucking, what was the welcome to heartbreaking?

She's like, man. Just like, yeah, shit was the most freshest. Like, what the fuck? I never heard nothing like this. You know what's crazy about a world with no heartbreak? So playing Pat had made that beat with Kanye.

Yeah. And we had an idea for it that was for J. Oh, damn. And the original hook was like, it was like this. Cuckin up in the kitchen, young boy had that vision.

How to get with it. Hmm. Yeah. Cigin up in the kitchen, young boy had that vision. That's hard. That's hard. And it was the one joint that Hove didn't fuck with.

Damn. Out of all the, the pact that we gave him because I had, oh, they want me to fall. I had all this. It was already home. I had all this shit, right? It was the one that he didn't fuck with. So we were working on 808s. Yeah, it was like, yo, the Hove didn't take this.

We should change the hook up or whatever. Yeah. And that's when I came up with a new hook, right? That's crazy. But it was supposed to be cooking up in the kitchen. That was, that was. The name would be. In my computer, it was called cooking it up in the kitchen, you know?

That's hard. But it's kind of ill. Like, I just wish it's some way that we could hear some type of remix where I could redo the hook and the hooking up in the kitchen hook. And we get home rapping on it. Like, that would just be so ill, man. Because, like, we really wanted to hear that song, man, we thought for sure out of all the joints that he would get that one for sure.

That's how it be. The shit that you just dead set on, it's like. Like, it's almost never that one. Like, sometimes it will be, but like, there'll be times I'm like, yo, you're not going to pick this beat? And then it's like the one they pick end up just being the right one. Yeah, it's like the one you don't even expect. Yeah.

Do you remember the first time you heard your song on the radio on some five-part beats type shit? Man. Hell yeah. I mean, I don't know if I was specific. I'm more so just remembered being out, bro, being at any spot I went to any. They just had like hide and all type of little LA Hollywood clubs and shit. And niggas and parents was just the prime moment.

Like when that shit came on, the whole club just exploded. Like, I remember that for sure. Like, you know, I kind of might have got a little too much excitement off of that. I start throwing hell of parties and shit and just got, you know, you came to a couple of parties. Man, bro. And, bro, look, you were doing exactly what you're supposed to do. When we were at our Twitties, bro.

We were successful. We were sitting on millions. What are we supposed to do? Yeah. I don't know. I'm like 24, 25. And that's the thing about like, you know, because we got kids now. You're a father.

I'm a father. And it's like, you got to know, too. Like, there's going to come a time where your kids is going to get into some shit. Right. And then it's like, because I got my daughter now, she's 16. I don't think that she'll be a smoker. But like if she did, like, could I get mad? And if I look at it like this, like, if I approach marijuana, like alcohol, right?

Where it's like, you need to be 21 to do this. I don't know. It's like I think about when I was a kid, like I was getting after it at 16. Yeah. I can't be naive and just assume that like. She's going to be smooth. Yeah. You know your kids going to get into shit.

For sure. You know what I mean? For sure. Like, what do you, do you think about that sometimes? Man, I do. I mean, my son only six, man, but it would be certain little things where I'm like, like I know you know better than this, you know what I mean? And it's like, but it's like I try to just, like I try to have a real bond and a real conversation with him.

Like, you know, versus like coming down on him. It's more so just like this is the perspective. This is how you should deal with this. Like you shouldn't be doing this. Like you're not old enough for this yet. Like da-da-da-da. It's like, you know, you gotta just handle it with care, man. Like, you understand, like, I think about, man, I'm like, at six,

I was, like, more so, like, in the hood and shit. My son is in Beverly Hills and shit. So, like, it's a different thing. So I was dealing with way more treacherous shit, you know what I mean? So I think about it like that. Like, no, I was way worse, you know? As a parent, there's nothing like getting to spend time with your kid. But they get busy when school season hits.

So when it's time to start buying basic school supplies, the best gifts are the ones that actually bring everybody a little closer. That's what's dope about Apple Gift Card. It can turn into a movie night on Apple TV app, gaming on Apple Arcade, or something that helps your student reset and feel good going into a new year. Apple Gift Card is a gift that brings some positive vibes and can help them recharge. It shows you care about how they're doing. No matter what age, starting a new school is a big moment for everyone. wherever you are, you can send Apple gift card by email and let them know you're thinking about them on day one.

It's an easy, meaningful way to show up, stay connected, and send some love as this new chapter begins. Visit applegiftcard.appell.com to gift one a day. When you're a mid-sized business, you need every competitive advantage you can get, like an AI solution that works for you, not against you. SAP Grow is built with AI embedded at its core, working across every system.

And it's ready to go from day one so you can hit the ground running. Bring it with SAP Grow. AI Cloud ERP for any size business. Hear that? It's your money calling. It wants a promotion. Elevate your savings with the Scotia high-interest savings account. Always earn high regular interest rates that grow the more you save and invest.

Conditions apply. Visit scotiabank.com slash h-I-SA to learn more. Scotia Bank. you're richer than you think. Man, you have some great projects with Nas, Alchemists. You know, I want to talk about how those projects kind of came about. How did the Alchemist Link Up happen? Alchemist Link Up, just, man, being, you know, mutual fans of each other,

like respecting what he does, he respect what I do. But the rap stuff, like, I seen him, like, you know, I had fucking rolling loud and all these viral clips of him rapping. So I'm like, yo, it made me think of an idea. I was like, I should get a beat from him and rap on it. should rap over one of my beats and we combined them and make a song and we end up making a song you got a few million views on youtube and shit so we just like we might as well make an album and we just like kept having this organic like just bond and just like a respect for each other i love it i love it

you know i'll because he's he's solid being solid dude i know him for a while man i remember i went to his house in new york years ago just like 2010 oh that's that that you know i mean like he he've been fucking with me for for years man and sound out of out we've been to out we We got to get him on the show too. Oh, that'd be dope. I know he's not too far from here. His studio is not far from here. No, we got to get you to the show, bro.

That'd be fire. I want to talk about the Nause link up. How did that happen? Man, really, I actually seen one of my homies, like, doing some work with Niz, and he, like, posted Nause on his story in the studio. And I just was like, yo, bro, I need you to bring Noss through. I got hell of beats right now. And he actually brought him through.

And once we start, we cook the first day. We made, like, three ideas. started some stuff. And he was like, man, I'm going to keep coming back and rocking with you. And I'm just thinking like, you know, this Nause. He's probably not going to keep pulling up. And he just kept pulling up working and just kept doing it. Every time he's slide, he'd do a hook, do a verse, do a whole song, whatever it is.

And we just put out 80 songs in three years. You know what I mean? Just gunning, having fun. You know, that shit was like practice for me in. Obviously, like with the rap shit, I got way better at rapping watching Naz rap. Fucking 100 verses, you know what I mean? You know, so that's it. It was like good training, man.

Oh, yeah, man. I feel like, I feel like not too many people can say that they've been that close to, like, creating with Nause to be able to learn. Yeah. You know what I mean? 100. Yeah. Like, master lyricist and also just a really cool dude. I remember I was at AP.

I was picking up my watch, picking up this watch here. It was like two years ago. And he was there. He was like, yo, what's up, man? Cuddy. I was like, yo, what's good? I was like, what you doing here? He's like, you know, picking me up a little Christmas gift or whatever.

I was like, nice, nice. He's just such a chill dude, man. For sure. And, you know, y'all were able to make some amazing records together, you know, like, for me, it's when I sit back and I watch you have these really big moments. It makes me so proud of you, bro. I appreciate it. We kind of started at the same time. And, you know, we was just young niggas that just wanted to do great shows.

you know what I mean like we you can tell we we we our ambitions were through the roof man I didn't even look at it like that though I always looked at it like you was just a giant in this shit like you had to style I was in the game for three years that's crazy like I just I did I didn't compute it that way I just look like this is motherfucking kid cutty like this a nigga like this nigga coming through with the leather jackets nigger crazy pants like I'm like you like you was just like rock star my eyes from day one you know so you know it's crazy to have that you know, in perspective, like, damn, we kind of, I came in the game like 07, like, producing little songs and shit, but by 2010, like, that's when I really tapped in

and just really start taking it to that level, like, you know, having that opportunity to work with Ye and get around people like you and shit. Yeah. Yeah, but damn, that's crazy, bro. That's wild, though, because at that time, you know, I think about it. Things were still uncertain. Mm-hmm. Like, the future was uncertain.

You know what I mean? Yeah. Like, I just always felt like, the shit can stop at any minute. Man. You know what I mean? Not same, bro. You know what I mean?

So I was like, all right, I have to like really make sure that that doesn't happen. So it was like a lot of, I never really had a chance to take a step back and appreciate what I was doing really in a moment because I was so like, okay, I got to like do better and I got to like top myself and all the things. You know what I mean? 100, bro. And it's like not until recent years, Rob, I've had to take a step back and go, like, man,

like, I have to be, like, proud of myself. Yeah. You know what I mean? Like, I've accomplished some really dope things. I feel like, you know, creative is just always kind of, they, we're the most hard on ourselves, you know what I mean? We'd be, like, kind of, man, I didn't, bro, like, I had a time where I was like, bro,

if a song I made wasn't, like, niggily, in Paris level where a motherfucker's like gay and ho could perform it 15 times in a row, it was a failure to me like damn but that's not true, you know what I mean? That's just not how this game goes. Like that shit was just a moment. That shit was what it was

and is what it is. But like... You don't have more moments. Yeah, exactly. And it's not always going to be that. It's like, you know, it comes in different forms but you got to just appreciate each one for what it is like instead of comparing.

Yeah, that's true, man. And I feel like that's the best mindset to have is to not really try to compare the moments. They're all moments. They're all special. You know, I think about my albums and the ones that did well commercially, the ones that didn't, like, there's no difference to me. They're all, like, moments.

Like, everybody can remember when my albums dropped. Like, it was a moment. 100. So that's what it's about making sure your shit is a, A moment in time that people don't ever forget. Straight up. And that leads me into niggas in Paris. Which is definitely that record that no one will ever forget.

Crazy. Just seen how to do that shit in New York a couple weeks ago, man. Oh, yeah. Still going crazy. I'm like, they get a countdown for that joint. Like on some New Year's Eve, I'm like, wow, the 14 years later is still up out here, 15 years. Yeah. So you got to tell me how did that record come about?

Because I don't really know the Lord behind that. Bro, it's crazy because that whole time we was out in New York making them songs and Hove was coming through. And I was working on everybody's shit. We never even brought that beat up. Like, we was doing other songs. They had another song called A Whole Lifetime and they had worked on some other shit of mine. I'm hype over those songs. I come back to Cali.

I'm thinking like about, I'm thinking about those songs. None of them shit's made in nowhere. You know what I mean? He like, that was a beat that was just sent. to yay just like months prior like I just was sitting in packs anytime I make a pack I was I wasn't thinking about that beat you know I mean he just like they was in Paris he hit me he was like bro this song is so crazy me and Hove did last night he was like when this song dropped your life is about to change like yeah that shit's it's it turned out to be true yeah he

wasn't mine yeah you was at the observatory right yep for the shit yeah when I when that song came on and everybody went crazy that's when that's when it finally hit me like oh this is a different beats right here. Yeah, man. Yeah, man. It's a beautiful story, man, because you deserved it. That's why. You deserve all that that came your way and all the things that have happened to you.

Just knowing how we all started and, like I said, seeing the hunger in you and just seeing you win at such a young age, we were still young. We were all under 30 at that time. You know what I'm saying? So it was like, that was really a fucking moment. And I want to also talk about like because you've worked with some giants man I want to talk about

Beyonce I want to talk about B how was it working with Beyonce that it is like with like rappers man to be honest man she got that energy where like she like specific and know what she won it's not like a it's kind of like a rapper to be honest you know I know yeah rappers got day like nah this is how I want this shit this is how I need to hit like she know all that like drum sounds textures just like she understands like the production side too like you know it's just

you know you just have no choice but to grow working with an artist of that caliber people don't really know that Beyonce is so like hands on

I mean I think people that are her fans know about that but like I don't think it's like common knowledge right like it's like she could probably be looked at just like a pop star like whatever

I mean I've always felt like she you know was a complete artist there's no way she could do what she does without being fully involved in having a vision. Right. You know what I mean? Top to bottom.

Yeah, you know, this is not like some team coming up with this stuff. I feel like it always felt like it was coming from her. It felt authentic. And that's what making it. I mean, I know you know, like authenticity. That's, you can't beat that. You know what I mean? When a motherfucker can really doubt in on every piece of everything, you know, can't lose.

Yeah. Another giant you work with, Kendrick Lamar. backseat freestyle tell me how that came about man again that's similar to the to the watch the throne stuff like I had did some sessions with Kendrick worked on some other songs played them different beats and time went by he was like he hit me up he was like man like I like I like I like the songs we got but like I need some like fresh energy on some some more beats from you saw you know I'm gonna pull up he pulled up to my career with Dave free went through some beats

backseat freestyle was one of them he took it and I guess he was on the road at the time I mean I just remember him hitting me up like bro we got one this is on the album for show when he sent it to me and I was just like it kind of just reminded me like how I felt listening to like damn near to Marshall Mathers LP like he got some of that M&M like type of energy that umph behind it I was just like blown away like damn he barring up and it sound like he really just freestyling with the homies in the back in the back seat you know Yeah, yeah, yeah. So this is his first major studio album.

Like, what did you know? Did you know that Kendrick would take off like that? Did you feel it? I was just telling somebody back in those days, like, Don C would always challenge me to, like, show him some fresh shit, show him something like he's not up on type shit. So I remember playing the song called Michael Jordan by Kendrick and Schoolboy Q. And I was played it for Yay.

Virgil was there. Team Mills. I think I've been playing a song. Everybody in the room is like, Schoolboy Q, that's the one. I'm telling all them niggis, like, y'all tripping, bro. Kendrick is about to be the guy. Like, they didn't understand it at that point.

Like, everybody thought, like, Schoolboy was the star. Like, obviously, Schoolboy is fucking a star. He's a legend that's the guy. But I'm just saying, like, Kendrick is about to be, like, on a different, like, atmosphere type shit, you know? So it was just dope to see everything come from. full circle. Yeah, that's super dope.

Yeah. And I love that you're so ingrained in L.A. culture. You know what I mean? Like, I love seeing the unity with your fellow L.A. fam. And, you know, somebody else I want to talk about, you know, that's ingrained in the Los Angeles culture is Nipsey Hustle. Yeah. Rest of peace, man.

What, like, you know, would you say, what made Nipsey's a thing? so special. Got to bring up that authenticity again, man. Like, just really sticking to who he is, knowing who he is, and just being a solid dude. Like, you know, like, it was big times where my my pops was locked up. He had always just check in, like, man, how pop's doing? Like, you straight, da-da-da. I remember one of my homies came home from prison and, like, Nip just, like, pulled out some money, bought a gang of bottles, and then just left the studio. Like, you would, you know, he would think, like, he would have just stuck around and party with us, but he just did that off love like it was the type of person to just show just genuine love just because you know what

mean for sure you feel like that was your brother that described your bond you know man it was it was I mean it was you know music for sure like we when we when we when we was in the studio we just had just a different type of bond like I seen this thing and cried to my beats before cried to the songs he making to my beats you know that's like a different level of of just I guess like Comfortability, like, you know what I mean? Like, I guess he just respected what I did. I respected what he did, and we just, it was just natural. One thing I'm learning about, about you is, is, that I'm seeing through this conversation,

is that through your collaborations, they've all been truly authentic. Man, I got this whole theory, bro, that even though my name is hit boy, I, like, now I'm just realizing it coming to this, like, I don't know how to make hits, bro. I just make music and some of that shit becomes hits. Like my name is just the natural manifestation. But the thing about this, though, because this is how I always took your name. I never took it in a literal sense. You know what I'm saying?

Yeah. When you bounce a beat down the file. When you turn that bitch in and you say this is finished. Yeah. And you like it, you hit the target. That's a hit. That's how I look at it. What happens in the life?

For sure. It's a hit for you. Because you can't call it. You made a banger. Mm-hmm. You made a beat that Nas liked that he rapped on. You made a beat that Kendrick liked that he rapped on. You made a beat that Nipsey liked.

You know what I'm saying? It's like they are hits. Like maybe like fuck that other shit. Yeah. You know what I mean? It's not, it's like how some people are like, uh, your name is Kit Kuddy, but you're 42.

Do you think you should change your rap name? It's like, man, the kid has never been literal. Yeah, yeah. You know what I'm saying? And like, When I started, I wasn't 15. Like, when you guys met me, I was mid-20s. I was a grown man getting my shit on, you know.

So it's not literal. It's, it's, you know, hey, I fucking, I hit the target. Straight up. You know what I mean? Straight up. I did something that is a hit to me. Like, when I felt this shit in my soul that day when I made it, you know, for sure. Exactly.

You got to, like, lean on that, man, because you start, you know, I didn't been in a place where I'm just looking at the extent. You're looking at the charts, looking at sales, whatever the fuck it is. It's like, that should have taken you off your game. Like, you got to really just stick to the art, stick to the music, stick to what it is that excites you genuinely. You know what I mean? And it's going to just lead you to where you need to be every time. Yeah, because looking at the charts will fuck you up.

Yeah. It would fuck you up because you're going to instantly compare yourself to other people, you know? I think people like us that truly make music because we need to because we love it, you know. You know, it shouldn't be about any of those things. It's about just making what you feel deep down is dope. And then the chips fall where they may. You know what I mean? And just, for me, like I said, man, when I turn in the album and I say that bitch is finished.

And I like it, it's a win. It's a great feeling. It's a win. I don't really give a fuck what happens after that. I know this shit is fire. And when I get ready to tour it, it's a win. it's gonna go off. You know what I mean?

Like I just be like, I set these goals with myself and nowhere else. You know what I mean? It's like if I feel satisfied because I'm a perfectionist, you know? And I feel like you're that way too. So like it's like, we will work on some shit

for a year if we have to. And until it's right, it's not coming out. But when it's right, you feel that shit. Yeah, you don't second guess. It flow like, yeah. You work on it. Because you know, damn well, if you don't spend the time and you just put out some shit prematurely, you can be like, oh, you're going to be listening to that final mix on iTunes. Like, damn, I should have changed this.

Listen, man, that's why I thought. My whole, like, I mean, my whole first tape, like, it was crazy because when it dropped, I just remember getting this email from Yay. And he was like, man, like, you remind me of, like, my old self. He was like, I wish you would have took the time after you knew these songs a little better and just, like, re-recorded him. You know, I was my first tape. So I didn't understand, like, a lot of the recording process. I was just going with the flow, making some shit happen. But, you know, it made me think about that.

Like, damn, like, okay, I could have took some more time to, like, really dial in. I guess that's, like, the lessons you learned over the years and just, I understand it now. Like, just, you know, it might not be the first take. It might be the first take sometimes, but. Yeah, sometimes. You know, sometimes you got to go and refine. There's a lot of times where I lay down the reference, and that's the one. Yeah, yeah.

You know what I mean? Yeah. And there's a lot of times where I need to do a couple takes. Where I'll, like, there's been times where I'll, like, straight up be in the middle of writing the verse to a reference. And I'll scrap the whole shit and start over and lay down on a new reference. I just don't like, like where it's going or whatever, whatever, you know. I'm loving this conversation. But I wanted to take a second to shout out today's sponsor, Acrobat PDF Spaces.

I just got home from the most epic tour. When you're on the road, it's hard to stay organized and juggle all my creative projects between collaborators across the world. And there's nothing worse than digging through documents when you really want to be creating. But with PDF spaces, staying on top of your documents like scripts, pitches and contracts has never been easier. I can just put the files into a PDF space, then get an AI summary, or I can ask specific questions to get what I need instead of reading through everything. I can even have a generator audio summary I can listen to when I'm on the go. I can get exactly what I need and keep it pushing. All in one place, faster than ever.

I also made a PDF space for this episode. It's packed with cool process insights about my most recent tour. Some BTS stories about some of my favorite venues like MSG, crypto, and even playing in my hometown of Cleveland. Let's check it out. Head over to Adobe.com backslash Big Bro. Or hit the link in the description to unlock your full creative power today with Adobe Acrobat PDF spaces.

This is a paid ad by BetterHealth. Growth often comes from learning and adapting along the way. Life rarely goes exactly according to plan. Career changes, unexpected opportunities, setbacks, and major life events can all force us to adjust some real time with no breaks. And when you're balancing touring, meetings, and checking in on the people you love, and can be tough to manage everything at once. That's why taking care of yourself along the way matters.

Therapy was a huge help for me personally. With more than 30,000 therapists worldwide, BetterHelp is one of the leading online therapy platforms and has helped millions of people globally. Every BetterHelp therapist has at least three years and a thousand hours of hands-on experience so you can feel confident knowing you're speaking with an experienced professional who can support your needs. With BetterHelp, it's easier to fit therapy into your routine with flexible ways to connect that work for different schedules and lifestyles. You don't have to navigate life changes alone. Sign up and get 10% off at BetterHelp.com slash big bro. That's BetterHelp, h-elp.com

Now, back to the show. What did you learn from being in the deal for 18 years? It's fucked up out here. Nah, I mean, I'm fucked up out here, man. No, I mean, you know, a lot, bro. A lot about myself, a lot about patience. You know, learned a lot about patience, man. It was times where I wake up and be like, man, like, fuck.

Like, I'm just stuck. Like, I'm never getting out of this shit, you know, taking it to different lawyers. And they're like, oh, this is the worst. shit I ever seen, but then they're doing other business with Universal too, so they can't really like ruffle the feathers too much. So it was like a lot of just conflicts of interest and just shit, man, going on. But, you know, just having patience and just loving what I do, you know, just kept me just going, like, you know, seeing, you know, having those moments that when it's

what it is working. You just like use that as like the motivation. That's the evidence to be like, okay this shit is I am getting something out of this shit but you know I just I just wanted to be out of the deal once I figured out I was in a bad deal that wasn't allowing me to really flourish and eat you know on the level I should have been yeah yeah you have this cool new way

of releasing your music can you talk about that yeah definitely I was looking at your Instagram I mean that your Instagram or Twitter which I really feel is good like you post a lot on your I mean, yeah, I mean, I got people. Like, for a fan, like, you can follow along and see what's going on. Like, you update us.

Yeah. I mean. I try to. Talk about this new way of releasing music. I have built these things with a couple of my homies, like, to call hitpads where you just like, it's like the new mixtape essentially because I actually did sell mixtapes when I was 1516 at the Ontario Mills and the I. Like I used to be, you know, $3, $4, $5,

getting my tapes off albums I was making with my homeboy. So it reminded me of that, like, how can I modernize and make this shit futuristic? So I created these paths where, like, basically you can basically pay whatever you want for the album. And it'll just go straight to your home screen. Like, you know, it's not on Spotify. It's not on Apple and all that.

Eventually it won't be. It's an actual physical thing. It is. But if you can't get to me in person, I built the same out, you know, layout on my site, which is hit dashboy. So it's the same experience. So you can get me, you can get me a,

so that little pad that you had. Yeah. That's what you, it's called the hip pad. It's called the hip pad, yeah. Can you get me one? Yeah, for sure. Like, I really want one.

All right. I'm curious. Because I'm a free agent now. I'm not assigned to nobody. Oh, yeah. You know what I'm saying? Totally independent. Yeah.

And like I'm thinking of cool ways to get the music out. And I just really, I thought that was really dope. I appreciate it, man. Not for sure. I'm working on some. other shit too that can potentially help other artists in that, you know, same perspective. So it's definitely put something together. Yeah, man, for sure.

Yeah. Your latest project, success is a dirty word. What does that mean to you? Man, you know what I think about right now, like specifically is I remember we was at some rooftop club like in 2011 and we were just chopping it. Like, it's a crazy party. Yeah, it was like crazy part of it. Yeah.

like crazy party it was popping girls and shit like me and you just like really chopping it and you was like this is like when I'm first getting into the game and you was like bro like are you really ready for this shit he was like yo bro i remember this oh god and you was on some like bro like it's gonna be a lot of niggas that hate you it's going to be some haters it's going to be this it's going to be that but just you know keep your head down keep working type shit i just never forgot that convoy i remember i remember that moment and you know what it was it was you said 2011 right So niggas in prayers happen No, this is early

This is still like, I think January 2011. This is before Watch the Throne Dropped. Okay. But this song was made though. We knew it was coming. No, I just think you just was going off of just seeing me work at the mercy.

We weren't even talking about, we didn't anticipate that yet. You just saw me hustling so you like, you'd be prepared like for the shit that's going to come. I was looking at it like this. I was like, this nigga is with us. at the Mercer.

In his own room, like, he must be somebody special. Let me go ask this young nigga what's going on, man. Let me go in this room and check on him

and see what he making. Wow, 100. You know what I'm saying? $100. $100.000. But that's crazy, man. It's so wild, man. Here, we've been doing it so long,

bro. We officially, like, we're the OGs. Man, it's crazy. You know what I mean? It's crazy. Time flies. Yeah, and we're legends in our own.

right and we've done things for the culture, like, you know, we are the culture. Is this a beautiful thing, man? And also to think about, like, what we could be in the next 10 years. You know what I mean? Like, what do you want to do in the next 10 years, man? Man, I definitely want to make, like, some classic black films, man. You know what I mean? I want to make some films, for sure, bro.

Talk to me. No, I know you heavy in the game, for sure. Talk to me, man. You also should fuck with scoring movies. No, for sure. I've been on that a little bit for sure. Because that's what I'm tapping into now. My composer shit, I just scored this movie recently.

That's really fucking dope. It comes out next year. And also I'm scoring my own films. But you're a musical dude. I actually just, are you cool with the homie, Sasha Baron Cohen? No. So we've been working on some stuff. Like I got a couple, got a couple songs and some stuff he got going on right now.

So, you know, that's hilarious. He's a very dialed in, like, you know, real artists, you know what I mean. Oh, that's fire. That's fire. I can't wait to see what comes to that. Yeah, for sure. That's dope.

I'm fucking around. I'm trying to just, you know, dig deep, man. And it's like you said, it's endless possibilities, man. We got lanes out here. We got talent to do a lot of shit. So I'm trying to just. And bro, we're still young. Man, for sure.

I mean, Quincy ain't make a thriller until he was 50, man. Yeah, you know what I'm saying? We still got years to go until we hit that 50 mark. Just like, ain't no telling what's going to happen. Yeah. In between then. Yeah, they're right. They're right, man.

Endless opportunities. This week, Big Rex is brought to you by Adobe Acrobat. So, this is the tail end of the show where we do, like, it's called Big Rex, right? What's the fastest you made a hit song before? Like, what is it? Two minutes? I mean, five minutes. There's some beach, I mean, you know, that's crazy because I feel like early in my career, I would take all this time and just, like,

try to cultivate these crazy beats adding layer on layer, then I go in and play it for artists and they turn it off immediately and then they're just like trying to find the right beat, then they go pick the beat that I least expect it. And, you know, so it's like the shit that I just threw together in five to ten minutes. So I kind of start

really taking that to heart. Like, if I'm not cranking, like, at least the meat and potatoes out within five, ten minutes, I'm going to go into the next idea. You know what I mean? So it's like, really like a lot of shit that, you know, be coming out, be fast, man. you know yeah yeah I take that shit to heart

like I feel okay let me really just dial in to that you know since that's what it's been like I feel it too like as a producer like if it don't get me immediately

I ain't wasting no time yep yeah for sure you just frustrate yourself what's the first album you remember buying man was the blueprint with my own money yeah

I went to the version record story when they had the ill displays with the headphones that was the staring right there that was the shit the one in New York? No, I went to the one in Ontario where I used to sell my CDs and shit.

Oh, I did. I got some bread, went up there, bought the, I put the headphones on. I heard that first beat on the album. I was like, no, I need this shit. Yeah, I need this. You know what I mean? It's got to come home with me. Not for sure.

Favorite city or environment to record in? And I'd like to record everywhere, I like to record in places with just ill scenery and shit. Yeah. So it's like, I can make anything work, though. We just set up right in this, motherfucker. Yeah. You already know that. I feel it.

Favorite artist to sample. That's a great question. Maybe not favorite artists to sample, but favorite type of music to sample. That's a better question. I would say soulful shit. Like, you know, that Motownish Marvin Gaye, like, you know, just that texture, man. I mean, I grew up, you know, we grew up hearing our OGs, grandma's, aunties, mom was playing this type of shit. So it's just like give you an automatic, nostalgic feeling.

You think about being in your grandma living room when you hear certain joints. And then once you flip it, it's like, okay, it's the new version of that. It still makes me feel that way, but I modernized it. Damn, I think about, you know that one song, it's a Christmas song. I think it's, is it the temptations? It's like, sorry to know. Oh, yeah, yeah, yeah, yeah. Tell my friend, they didn't put in any funny movies.

Every Christmas. Every time I hear that, I'll just be like, oh, man, this is just like, I'll be thinking I'm back in Cleveland in 1988. I feel it, man. I feel it. Excited about Christmas. What toys did I get? Right. You know?

Right. Is there a soul artist you think you've sampled the most times? No, I can't. I can't say. I just be all over the place. Is there somebody like, have you done a lot of Marvin Gay samples? Have you done like a lot of... I think I've tried to flip a lot of different Marvin Gay songs over the years for sure.

Probably, that was probably the first person that came up in my head. Yeah. It's like a Marvin Gay. And you fucked with some Jackson Five samples before? I messed around with some. I don't think I replaced nothing with no Jackson Five sample, but I've, you know, chocked out. We have a plan then. We're going to get in the studio.

We're going to fuck with some. Some Jackson 5. With all that. And we're going to figure it out. Let's run it. Let's run it. They got some gems. Oh, yeah.

There's a couple joints that I feel are totally sampable. Sampo-Bobo. Yep. One song that you didn't expect to blow up that did. Niggas in Paris. You know what I mean? The beat. I'm going to say not the song.

Once they did the song and it's, you know, they watched the throne and all that shit. But I'm talking about that beat specifically. Like, I didn't think not too much of it. You know what I mean? I just like, again, it was one of them quick little. little boom. It's like, oh, it's like a little bop, like, but it wasn't nothing. I'm like, I put my heart and soul into I feel like, but I can't say that because I put

my heart and soul into everything. But you know what I mean? It's just like you take them, you got them times where you're working on some shit for an hour or two. Yeah, yeah. You got some shit that you just chop up, man, and people end up fucking with it, man. So, yeah. But, you know, at this point, every song, you know what I mean?

Every song, I don't, I don't, I can't call it. Yeah. What's one thing you do. nerd out about that might surprise people man yeah like cinematography and shit man just like really watching for angles and watching for composition and shit like that just how they put in the scenes together like that's something i'd be like fucking with like i would just watch random movies just like to just see like sometimes watch it with the sound off just to see the shots you know what mean yeah yeah i'd like to record music with the sound off watching put the movie on and that's kind of like

how you can fuck around with scoring too. Like, try to score to the movie if you're watching. Exactly, yep. If you can bring only three albums on a deserted island, what would they be?

That's crazy. Come on. Michael Jackson, bad. There's some shit out there. Damn, I will go Outcast Aquaminai. Yes. My new album, shit.

Yeah, right. Success is a dirty word. I love that. I love that. I love that. What's one tip you would give people on how to unplug? Just do it.

Just do it. Don't stress yourself out. Like, you know, with none of this shit, man. Just like, if you feel like you need to take time away, do that. Like, it's just like, I'm just down the last, like, week just starting to make beats again. I wasn't making beats for like early. This whole, like, from January to, like, you know, a couple months after that, I was just cranking beat after beat.

And for a minute, I just was, like, going through, like, real life shit, dealing with, you know, BM drama or whatever, family drama, all type of shit. And I just was like, I don't feel like making beats right now. Like, I just want to just like take life in and really just like, just like pause for a second. Like, I start doing piano lessons again and shit. Oh, dope. Yeah, I've been like heavy on the piano lessons, like, twice a week.

Got my son doing it with me. Like, trying to just like grow as a person, as a musician. And I'm just noticing, like, with the piano lessons, it's trickling down into the rap. Just trickling down into the beats. To the way I'm, like, balancing the beats. Like, it's not just like, for just, you know, to be the best pianist ever.

I'm just trying to expand my knowledge and it's really helping. That's crazy because I've been telling that that's one thing I want to learn how to play piano. See. For the same reasons. Yeah. To just expand my, because I feel like I'm very limited. I feel like I'm very limited. I can, like, I've been, I've been good at creating within these limits.

But, like, I know that, like, I can unlock some shit. That's awesome. if I actually knew how to like take that instrument and like really cook with it. You know, more chords and things like that. I don't even think I know chords on a piano. Man, sometimes you don't have to though. You know, it's like I was just talking about that with my piano teacher. Just like this dude just sit down and play anything.

And it's like he also told me like him being like kind of stuck in a box. He can't think the way I think. Like the way I'm just like he because we was like, making some beats together and he's like he like bro i can't sit down and do this shit myself but having you right here i'm able to just like chop this shit up in a different way and it's like because i wasn't taught like classically i just like pick this shit up just learn so that's what that's that's another thing that makes you great makes us great it's like we wasn't boxed into yeah you know it's like i'm like how the fuck is this dude playing the keys this crazy and it's not the richest motherfucking in in

america it's like not the rich motherfucker in this room You know, it's like, damn, bro. You know, we get blessed by not having the knowledge sometimes. Yeah, exactly. Being ignorant to shit. Yeah, exactly. You know, you have to expand at some point, though. Yeah.

Yeah. When was the last time you felt like a big kid? I ain't going to lie, man. You got some equipment for the studio. Man, I ain't going to lie. Like, the first thing that came in mind was, like, seeing Hove and Eminem do renegade on stage at the Yankee Stadium. Like, that's, you know what I mean? Like, that's some shit I wish.

I would have been able to see back then, but just to experience it now, like, I was rapping that shit, word for word, like, bro, that shit felt great. Oh, man. Because that's the first album I bought, so that shit hit me different. Yeah, man, I know that was such a special moment. What's your biggest moonshot, a dream, a goal, or something that might seem impossible? Man, I still want to have a number one hit boy rap album, and I still want to have a, I mean, I want to have a fucking successful movie, like, multiple successful movies.

I love it. I still got a lot of work to do, man. Well, nigga, I'm here, so we got to cook. Nah, let's get it, man. Anytime we tap in, this is automatic, bro. Oh, it's magic. It's all good. I'm gonna definitely shoot you over that old school caddy too, man.

Yeah, please do. Send it in my way. It will get approved tonight. Oh, my God. Tonight, ladies gentlemen. I was low-key nervous to ask you. I'm like, fucking, let me just go for it. Ladies and gentlemen, you will be getting old school caddy on DSPs.

Let's go. Please believe. Yeah. All right, man. Thank you, boy, man. I appreciate you. Hey, thanks for coming through the attic, y'all. Make sure you subscribe on YouTube

or wherever you get your podcast and follow the show on social media at Big Brocutty. Until next time, love yourself, take care of each other. Dream on. Peace. Yeah.