How Hit-Boy Learned to Find Himself in the Amazon

If you ask Hit-Boy, his forthcoming new album, SFTWRE UPDTE, is a nod to improved production and rapping skills. But it’s also an apt descriptor for a spiritual and emotional level up he credits to therapy. 

“In older interviews, I wanted to express myself in certain ways, but I didn't really understand how to do that,” he tells Okayplayer over a Zoom call.  "I’m getting to that point where it’s tricked down to every other expression. Beyond the interviews, lyrically, I'm just opening up more.” 

It’s hard to know of any exact cause and effect relationship between his mental health hygiene and recent success, but it’s clear Hit-Boy’s been winning big. This past July, he held his own "independence" party after getting out of an 18-year publishing deal. He’s copped a new Lamborghini. He’s dropped an album and short film with The Alchemist. His latest LP is set to come out next year. Then, who knows what. 

“I'm making the best shit I've ever made,” he says. “People always say that, but it's just literally true for me. I'm making some hard s**t right now. And it’s only getting better.”

Chopping it up with OKP, Hit-Boy talks Nipsey Hussle book recommendations, depression and recovery in Las Vegas, and more. 

Hit-Boy: There’s this book called The Way of the Superior Man. I think my boy Nipsey Hussle put my boy Dom Kennedy onto it, and he put me onto it. And the idea is that, as a man, no matter where you’re at, even if you get dropped off in the middle of the Amazon, you should be able to find your way back to yourself.” Find your way back to where you’re from. There was a point when I couldn't even work for three or four months because I was that stunned and that shocked by some baby mama shit. I don’t want to explain it all. But I just had to refocus myself as a human., I couldn't really lock in musically. So sometimes you gotta take that step away. I went to Las Vegas. I was taking myself to David Copperfield magic shows and went to restaurants by myself. I was just alone. I was just studying. I end up seeing people, just like, people actually do fuck with me. “I actually am a co ol n***a.” 

I started going to therapy about a year ago. Being able to chop it up without being judged has helped me with opening up more as a person. It’s got me flowing through interviews better and people are just getting more insight from me. I’m being more detailed. I’m just getting better and putting more information in my bars.

I’ve learned that you gotta use negativity as motivation. When I first when I put my first mixtape out on Livemixtapes back in the day, I was coming off “N****s in Paris,” so people expected me to have like, “N**** in Paris”- level records. But I was starting out as a straight novice as a rapper. They were talking s**t and it used to hurt. But in retrospect, that really gives me fuel. When I see people talking, it makes me want to go harder. It makes me want to go make a better beat. That makes me want to go make a better rap. It makes me want to project my voice more. It makes me want to dive deeper into what I do. 

If I’m having a bad day, I'll smoke or I’ll go outside. I got a hoop outside at the studio, and I'll go shoot around and take a breather. And then I’ll see my son. That’s always a big help. If I'm with him, it's all good. I got my boy.