What’s the deal with Hit-Boy? That is a question that fans of the Grammy Award-winning producer have seen plastered across his social media profiles (and online merchandise store). Well, if it had anything to do with Hit-Boy’s Universal Music Publishing Group publishing deal, supporters have most of the details.
After a tumultuous behind-the-scenes battle, Hit-Boy has been released from the deal. Over on his official Instagram page, Hit-Boy announced that he parted with Universal Music Publishing Group thanks to the help of Jay-Z and Roc Nation CEO Desiree Perez.
“The first CD I ever bought with my own money was the ‘Blueprint’ by Jay-Z when I was 13 years old,” he wrote. “I never would’ve imagined when playing that album over and over and studying it that I would have the opportunity to work with him 10 years later.”
“The first song ever released that I produced for Jay was ‘N****s In Paris,'” he added. “I remember getting a text from Hov after the song dropped and was going crazy, and he said, ‘If you get me another ‘N****s in Paris, I’ll get you a plane.'”
“Today, I can say he got me something more valuable than a plane or anything tangible,” he continued. “[Jay] helped secure my freedom from an 18-year publishing deal I was stuck in, and I can’t thank him enough for pushing that through.”
He closed the note: “Much appreciation to Desiree Perez for also making this happen. The love and respect on my end runs deep, and I appreciate all the help. Today I am a free man, I feel like I just got out of the pen after an 18-year sentence and have a chance to start over with more knowledge than I ever had. My best is yet to be seen. God is Great! WHAT’S THE DEAL?!”
In 2024, Hit-Boy publicly expressed his frustration with Universal Music Publishing Group.
Afro Tech captured his online statement regarding his deal. “I signed when I was 19 years old,” wrote Hit-Boy. “I’m about to be 37. So, yeah, I’ve been in the deal for a long time. Co-pub with Universal Publishing… and the way it was set up, it’s just ancient terminology in the contracts.”
He continued: “But before, my whole career, I was working without having an actual end date to the way we really get our money, which is through publishing. So, I’m like just a little bit more out. And that’s gonna be like, life-changing for me, you know what I mean? Just to even have freedom as a grown man. I haven’t been able to go do other deals or go get advances in different places like my counterparts have.”
“And I eat very well, but it’s like, I know what it’s really supposed to be, and that’s gon be the day for me…I just want to really, just have that peace of mind and just be a grown person able to make my own decisions for the first time in the publishing world,” he closed.
Universal Music Publishing Group has not released a statement regarding the split.