Actor Daniel Kaluuya has joined Jay-Z and legendary music producer Rick Rubin as an executive producer on the upcoming eight-part HBO docuseries titled "JAŸ-Z IN 8."
The series, set to premiere in the fall, will explore Jay-Z's music, lyrics, life experiences, and creative process. Rubin, who famously produced Jay-Z's "99 Problems," will serve as interviewer.
Kaluuya's involvement might seem unexpected given his primary background in acting, including an Academy Award for Best Supporting Actor in "Judas and the Black Messiah." However, his connection to the project stems from a meeting with Rubin in 2023 when Kaluuya appeared on Rubin's "Tetragrammaton" podcast. According to sources close to the production, the two maintained contact. In 2024, Rubin shared early episodes of the Jay-Z series with Kaluuya, who offered significant contributions. This led to Rubin bringing Kaluuya on as an executive producer, and they have collaborated on the project for over two years.
Kaluuya has previously expressed admiration for Jay-Z's cinematic work, having watched all films produced by Jay-Z's Roc-A-Fella Records chronologically during the COVID-19 lockdown. Both Rubin and Kaluuya are known for their somewhat enigmatic public personas. Rubin is noted for his unconventional studio practices, while Kaluuya gained attention in 2022 for reportedly consulting with a holistic spiritual advisor.
Jay-Z, who recently updated his name styling to JAŸ-Z, is also scheduled to embark on a tour in July.