Making music is in GRAMMY-winning producer Hit-Boy's blood. He's been around music since he can remember; his uncle was a part of the California R&B group Troop.
"I saw studio sessions and I saw video shoots, just the whole lifestyle and I was intrigued by it, so I just kinda was born into it in a way," he says in the studio.
Hit-Boy has worked with heavy hitters like Mary J. Blige, Jennifer Lopez, Mariah Carey, Beyoncé, and Jay-Z, whose song "N****s In Paris" won him a GRAMMY at the 55th GRAMMY Awards. He is the latest producer featured in the Recording Academy's Behind The Board series and shares how he knew music was going to be his line of work.
"I knew making music was gonna be a part of my life way before I even started making music," he says. "I just knew I wanted to be a part of it from [when I was] a super little kid, so when I turned 13 and I started just really getting to the point where I wanted to make it myself and I had the access to do it at that time, I locked in and just never looked back."
In the video, the prolific producer opens up about how unexpected the industry can be and not always knowing when a beat will get picked up by an artist. He also shared a bit of advice for anyone looking to produce: "Don't give up on your ideas, and just know if it emotionally connects with you, save it."
This year, Hit-Boy, who has also worked with the likes of Ariana Grande and Bebe Rexha, is nominated at the 61st GRAMMY Awards for his work in Travis Scott's ubiquitous single featuring Drake, "SICKO MODE."
Watch Hit-Boy talk about his road to success, his musical influences, and how he creates beats, and watch the 61st GRAMMY Awards on Sunday, Feb. 10 on CBS.
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