“I feel like I only just started making beats”: Hit-Boy is free and pushing himself to the limitIt’s 10:08 am in Los Angeles, and Hit-Boy is late to our interview — but for good reason. He’s been in the studio for three hours putting the finishing touches on his 2026 solo album, Software Update, which has already been in several years of development. “After today, it’ll be done, for sure,” he promises over video call.
Hit-Boy’s enthusiasm is palpable as he recounts his morning so far and explains the premise of Software Update: levelling up and creating on his own terms.
Hit-Boy on the MusicTech Cover. Image: Bradley Meinz for MusicTech
“Working with a free mind is completely different from working from a place of like, ‘Fuck, have I really made it yet? Am I going back to poverty? Am I gonna go back to standing in welfare lines trying to get free fucking milk and cheese?’” he explains. “Now, I’m excited to be able to work on straight art.”
It might seem strange to hear the three-time Grammy-winning artist talk about being in poverty. He is, after all, the producer behind Diamond-selling records such as Ni**as In Paris by Jay-Z and Kanye West and Sicko Mode by Travis Scott. But the past 18 years of his career were blighted by a brutal publishing deal he signed with Universal Music Group as an emerging producer.
Hit-Boy inked his deal in 2007, accepting a cash advance of $50,000, which, he says, was a lot of money to 19-year-old Chauncey Hollis Jr.. The terms of the deal, however, were archaic in a fast-moving age of music listening technology. His royalties, for example, were collected only from CD sales, not digital streams. It was only in 2011, when Ni**as in Paris became an explosive hit in the new online era, that Hit-Boy realised just how stifling the agreement was. He’s since described the agreement as a “prison deal”, and reveals that it pressured him to try and produce hits even bigger than Ni**as in Paris — not such an easy feat, given its immense cultural impact.
“I’m always thinking about how to make shit better… I’m not just settling”
Last year, the Californian producer was officially freed from the contract, with Jay-Z, his entertainment company Roc Nation, and Desiree Perez all playing a crucial role in helping him out of it. “It is kind of crazy that I gave Jay-Z his first diamond record, and he helped get me out of my slave deal. That’s a beautiful exchange,” Hit-Boy told Stereogum.
But Hit-Boy still has some mental barriers to overcome. “I’ve been doing therapy every week,” he shares, adding that music-making serves as an antidote to any pessimism in his career. “[When] I make music and feel myself getting better [at it], that shit feels better than money; a new idea, new creativity — that’s better than a million dollars in my account. I’m just taking advantage of this energy.”
Software Update is just one result of Hit-Boy’s renewed motivation from leaving the publishing deal and setting up his new home studio in Beverly Hills. “This shit has become a way of life,” he says. “Every day, I’m going into my studio as soon as I wake up, and just digging in. ‘How can I dig deeper and just make my shit better?’ That’s all I’m on. And that trickles down to every other part of my life; I’m back working out again, trying to eat better, cutting out certain shit, cutting out certain people. I gotta move right.”
Image: Bradley Meinz for MusicTech
And how else has Hit-Boy celebrated his freedom? “I threw a crazy party,” he says. But even that in service of his art. While the party was unfolding, he recorded a music video for Start Dissin’ with Spank Nitti James, BabyTron and AZ Chike. “I always make shit make sense,” Hit-Boy continues. “It’s all one thing to me. It’s just music. It’s art.”
Besides Software Update, Hit-Boy has been focusing on two other albums: Yeast Talkin’ with Californian rapper Spank Nitti James, and Goldfish with fellow producer legend The Alchemist. Both records, out now, see him move seamlessly between beatmaker and rapper, with candid lyricism and production that flows from classic boom-bap into heavier, trappier sounds. Both collaborators, though from different sides of hip-hop, share one thing with Hit-Boy: “They never been on no industry shit with me. They never been thirsty to be seen. None of that. They both always deliver,” he says.
Software Update was scheduled to arrive before the two collab albums, but working with The Alchemist and Spank Nitti galvanised Hit-Boy. Goldfish arrived with an entire movie, starring Hit-Boy and The Alchemist alongside Rory Culkin, Blake Anderson, Sarah McDaniel and a slew of other actors and friends. Yeast Talkin’, meanwhile, was a seamless flow of consciousness from Hit-Boy and Spank Nitti with no pressurising deadlines in sight. “That’s just where I was at in life,” Hit-Boy says. “Feeling my freedom, feeling myself, just getting it off. The energy just called for us to just drop the joints. I just go off the organic energy, what’s happening in my real life and how I really feel.”
Image: Bradley Meinz for MusicTech
That largely captures Hit-Boy’s workflow: He avoids putting any pressure on studio sessions, forcing creativity on specific days, or imposing any kind of routine. He’ll share ideas and progress online with his collaborators, and pull up to the studio when the feeling is right for both of them. “There’s no best way, it’s all whatever makes sense. Whenever we get time to make something happen, we just figure it out.”
The producer has worked with icons such as Beyoncé, Drake and Nas, but the creative relationships that matter most to Hit-Boy right now are more down-to-earth. When asked what makes his connection with his recent collaborators so special, Hit-Boy’s answer is straightforward: “Just being a real homie.”
“The Alchemist has always been solid with me, giving me advice, giving me techniques I could use, all type of shit…He’s just a cool dude. I’ve been thinking — it’s crazy — I got Diamond records with certain artists, got Grammys with people that won’t even text me back. If we got a Diamond record and Grammys and shit, why the fuck we not working more? Why can’t I reach you? That shit is weird. I just feel like I got real ones, and Alch has always been solid with me. I don’t want to work with nobody who I can’t get in touch with.”
“Everything in my real life, I just use it as fuel”
Though he’s revered for his collaborative work, Hit-Boy aims to make a statement of independence and self-reliance with Software Update. “You’re not gonna see 10 producers on every beat on my album,” he says. “I’m really doing the music; I’m writing my lyrics, making all the beats.”
The dedication to perfecting this album runs deep. Hit-Boy’s not just churning out hundreds of beats and picking 12 that work together, but is locking down an idea and refining it relentlessly until it meets his standard. This meticulous habit was inspired by a Kanye West documentary that he saw, in which West says that he’ll work on tracks until they’re perfect. For Hit-Boy, that can mean playing back tracks endlessly, to the frustration of others who are in the studio with him — but that continues until he no longer feels his “critical ear” is in the studio, too.
“I’ll be up at 1 am sometimes playing mixes and being like, ‘Okay, I can fix this. I can make this better,’” Hit-Boy says. “I’m always thinking about how to make shit better, especially with this Software Update mindset. I’m not just settling. I’m pushing myself to the fucking limits.”
Image: Bradley Meinz for MusicTech
Part of his new ‘levelling up’ mindset has involved a shift in his studio setup. Hit-Boy splits his creative time between his Beverly Hills home setup and his studio in North Hollywood; neither is jam-packed with gear, the producer preferring a minimal setup with his essential tools. “As long as I have Pro Tools and FL Studio, everything else will get figured out,” he says, adding that a trusty pair of KRK monitors are crucial to his home setup.
Producers reading this may remember Hit-Boy’s appearance in a ubiquitous 2019 commercial for Output’s Arcade plugin in which he famously claimed: “If I had this when I was maybe 20, I’d probably be a billionaire by now.” He laughs when we mention it today, but doubles down on the power of plugins and programming. Recently, he’s started experimenting with AI–powered plugins, too, including a voice changer, which can be heard on the album.
“I’m literally dialling in my exact melodies, my exact words, and just changing the voice,” he says. “That’s been fun. I changed my voice to a female voice a couple of times on the album, and people have been like, ‘Yo, who is that girl singing?’ That’s me! I just utilise it as an instrument.”
Image: Bradley Meinz for MusicTech
The laptop-driven Beverly Hills setup also lets Hit-Boy balance production with fatherhood: he can drop his five-year-old son off at school and be back making beats by 8:30 am. The school run is rarely soundtracked by Hit-Boy music, however — it’s mostly K-Pop Demon Hunters and Henry Danger.
“What do I gotta do to make him want to get in the car and play my music?!” says Hit-Boy, laughing in mock exasperation. “But he’s everything. He’s pushing me every day. I played the whole album, and it got to a song I hadn’t played in a while, but he remembered. He was like, ‘Oh, you haven’t played this song in a while; I still like it.’”
One thing that comes up frequently in our conversation is just how much inspiration Hit-Boy finds in everyday life. Despite an upbringing marked by struggle, with his father, Big Hit, serving multiple sentences in prison as Hit-Boy grew up, and with the 18-year publishing deal always looming, Hit-Boy has still kept optimistic.
“I get inspired by every single thing in life, bro. My crib in Beverly Hills is surrounded by greenery and palm trees, and crazy scenery in the middle of the mountains. So even being in my studio, it’s just a different perspective. I’m enjoying just listening back to my verses in the headphones, looking at the trees — that shit is inspiring. My son is inspiring to me. Everything in my real life, I just use it as fuel.”
“I just go off the organic energy, what’s happening in my real life and how I really feel”
With Software Update dropping in early 2026, Hit-Boy’s sights are set firmly on “greatness”, he says. What does that look like in practice? “The whole Billboard Top 10 produced by Hit-Boy… One day I feel like that shit could happen, man.”
He looks to the late Quincy Jones as an icon for greatness in music production, citing his untiring commitment to the craft up until his death at age 90.
“I’m just going til I can’t think of shit anymore. I don’t know how that’s gonna happen; I get inspired every day. I feel like I only just started making beats.”
And at 38 years old, Hit-Boy isn’t late at all. He has all the time in the world — and he plans to use it well.
Hit-Boy’s Software Update is on the way
Words: Sam Willings
Photography: Bradley Meinz
The post “I feel like I only just started making beats”: Hit-Boy is free and pushing himself to the limit appeared first on MusicTech.

The 2025 AllMusic Readers' PollOur 2025 year-end coverage ends with the top 10 albums of the year as voted on by the AllMusic community. Respondents from all around the world made their choices, and we're excited to share the top 10 results as voted by you, the AllMusic reader. Thanks again for reading and supporting AllMusic in 2025, and we look forward to bringing you more reviews and features in 2026.

CCC Webinar "Financing Fanfare: Music Catalog Investments and Sales”

According to ness on Monday, "Join the CCC on Tuesday, January 13th at 2:30pm PST for a webinar presentation entitled: FINANCING FANFARE: MUSIC CATALOG INVESTMENTS AND SALES."

"One of the hottest topics in the industry for a while now has been investments, financing, and purchases of recorded and written music. Every day a new article seems to pop up touting the sale of another big catalog. The numbers sound big and the financial jargon is intimidating, but it’s all within reach of understanding. Let’s clear through the smoke and mirrors and learn what really goes on in the process of selling a catalog and finding investors in your craft."

"Learn more from the experts! Register for this month's webinar presentation below."

REGISTER HERE

Moderator: Janelle Hawkes | Publishing Royalty Manager, beatBread (Pictured)

Panelists to date: Spencer LeBoff | SVP – Head of Publishing/Acquistions, Avex Music GroupMegan Pekar | Music Attorney, Loeb & Loeb LLP

Advance Registration:

CCC Members $0 per person | Non-members $5 per person– No refunds –The post CCC Webinar "Financing Fanfare: Music Catalog Investments and Sales” first appeared on Music Connection Magazine.

Autodafe Autodafe BitcrusherThe plugin features precise, musically tuned bit depth and sample rate reduction, designed to deliver everything from subtle digital grit to aggressive lo-fi textures, with a focused interface optimized for real-time control and musical results. Key features: Bit depth reduction with smooth, usable ranges. Sample rate reduction for classic digital aliasing effects. Dry/Wet mix for parallel processing. Lightweight DSP and modern interface. Formats: VST3 (Windows, macOS, Linux). Audio Unit (macOS). Standalone (macOS, Windows, Linux). Read More

Nvidia launches powerful new Rubin chip architectureNvidia CEO Jensen Huang officially launched the company’s new Rubin computing architecture, which he described as the state of the art in AI computing.

NFT Paris cancels conferences: ‘The market collapse hit us hard‘The total NFT market capitalization dropped significantly in 2025, from about $9 billion in January 2025 to just over $2.7 billion in 2026.

Putting the M in a UNI-T MSO[Kerry Wong] points out that the Uni-T MSO oscilloscopes have a logic analyzer built in — that’s the MSO, or Mixed Signal Oscilloscope, part — but you have to add the probes. He shows you how it works in a recent video below.
He’s looked at the scope’s analog capabilities before and was not unimpressed. The probes aren’t inexpensive, but they do unlock the mixed signal capabilities of the instrument.

Although simple logic analyzers are very affordable today, having the capability integrated with your scope has several advantages, including integrated triggering and the simple convenience of being able to switch measurement modes with no problem.
In many cases, being able to do things like decode UART signals without dragging out a laptop and firing up software is a nice feature. If all you’ve used are the super-cheap USB logic analyzers, you may find some of the features of a more serious instrument surprising.
Is it worth the extra expense? That depends on you and what you are doing. But if you ever wondered if it was worth splurging on digital probes for a UNI-T scope, [Kerry] can help you decide.
Not that simple logic analyzers aren’t useful, and they certainly cost less. Some of them will even work as a scope, too.

Idris Elba, Cynthia Erivo, Key Production’s Karen Emanuel and more amongst those recognized in UK New Year’s Honours listMax Richter and Ellie Goulding also awarded in latest New Year's Honours list
Source

BTS Is Hitting the Road in 2026 — Here’s a Brief History of Past ToursK-pop megagroup BTS announced a new album due out March 20, and a world tour to follow. Here's a brief history of their past tours.
The post BTS Is Hitting the Road in 2026 — Here’s a Brief History of Past Tours appeared first on Hypebot.

Napster’s Streaming Service Shutters as Company Rebrands Around AI“Napster is no longer a music streaming service. We’ve become an AI platform for creating and experiencing music in new ways."
The post Napster’s Streaming Service Shutters as Company Rebrands Around AI appeared first on Hypebot.

Fender forays into consumer audio with two Bluetooth speakers and a set of wireless over-ear headphonesMost people know Fender first and foremost as a guitar brand, but the company has made waves in other areas in recent years, too. Last year, the Big F – which also owns pro audio brand PreSonus – a simplified DAW for mobile devices rivalling the likes of GarageBand and BandLab.
Now, the company has unveiled Fender Audio, launching through it its first consumer-focused headphones and speakers. It should be noted that Fender already sells a number of headphones and speaker models, but these have, until now, been more geared towards professionals, producers and hardcore audiophiles.

READ MORE: Content creators: Shure has launched a mic that plugs straight into the USB-C socket on your phone or tablet

The new consumer audio lineup under Fender Audio consists of two Bluetooth speaker models – the ELIE E6 and E12. ELIE stands for Extremely Loud Infinitely Expressive, in case you were wondering.
Credit: Fender
Both speakers are designed to pair top-quality audio output with portability; both the E6 and E12 feature built-in subwoofers, as well as a system-on-a-chip (SOC) implementation for “greater volume and acoustic clarity”, according to Fender.
The E6 offers up 60 watts of power, while the E12 packs a bigger punch at 120 watts of power. In terms of battery life, the E6 delivers up to 18 hours at full charge, while the E12 offers up to 15 hours, depending on usage.
Credit: Fender
In addition to low-latency Bluetooth, both ELIE speakers feature a combined XLR and ¼” input, meaning you can plug in your guitar or a microphone and start jamming along. Additionally, multiple ELIE speakers can be linked together in stereo mode, or connected in multi-speaker mode to fill larger spaces, for example.
Meanwhile, alongside the ELIE Bluetooth speaker line, Fender has also unveiled its MIX over-ear wireless headphones. These feature 40mm graphene drivers, hybrid active noise cancellation, up to 100 hours of battery life (with ANC switched off – 52 hours with it enabled), and a modular design enabling the replacement of components without replacing the entire set of headphones.
Credit: Fender
Pricing & availability

Fender ELIE E6 Bluetooth speaker – $300
Fender ELIE E12 Bluetooth speaker – $400
Fender MIX wireless headphones – $300

All three products are set to be showcased at the upcoming CES 2026 show in Las Vegas.
Learn more at Fender Audio.
The post Fender forays into consumer audio with two Bluetooth speakers and a set of wireless over-ear headphones appeared first on MusicTech.

Content creators: Shure has launched a mic that plugs straight into the USB-C socket on your phone or tabletShure has unveiled the MV88 USB-C, a content creator-focused stereo microphone which plugs straight into your phone or tablet, offering pro-grade audio recording simply and anywhere.
Reimagining its existing MV88 with USB-C compatibility, the new mic boasts a number of features geared towards making content creation seamless and pain-free, including an Auto Level Mode which adjusts gain in real time to keep recorded audio levels consistent.

READ MORE: New year, new deals: Plugin Boutique slashes 88% off its Core Collection plugin bundle

The mic also features an intelligent real-time Denoiser, which automatically removes unwanted background noise for a “clean, professional sound” in any environment.
Credit: Shure
Additionally, the MV88 USB-C allows creators to select between four polar patterns – adjustable stereo, mono cardioid, mono bi-directional and raw mid-side – meaning they can best configure the mic to suit a multitude of recording applications.
While some of its features are geared towards simplifying the recording process, the MV88 USB-C also offers creators flexibility in manually shaping their sound. Five quick-start presets are available, while advanced controls for microphone gain, five-band EQ, limiting, compression and a high-pass filter are also available. These can be accessed via the MOTIV Video and MOTIV Audio mobile apps, as well as MOTIV Mix on desktop.
Credit: Shure
“The original MV88 earned a loyal following for its simplicity and sound quality,” says Eduardo Valdes, Associate Vice President of Global Marketing and Product Management at Shure. 
“With the new MV88 USB-C, we’ve elevated reliable, professional audio. Just connect, and you’re ready to record on the go. There’s no need to worry about pairing, range, dropouts, or battery life – the MV88 USB-C delivers straightforward connectivity paired with the high-powered, simple-to-customise audio processing found in our acclaimed MV7+ and MV6 microphones. Creators can focus on their craft and leave the audio excellence to us.”
The MV88 USB-C is available now for $159 / £145 / €169, and comes with a foam windscreen and protective carry case.
Learn more at Shure.

The post Content creators: Shure has launched a mic that plugs straight into the USB-C socket on your phone or tablet appeared first on MusicTech.

New year, new deals: Plugin Boutique slashes 88% off its Core Collection plugin bundleNew year, fresh ideas – and if your 2026 plans involve finishing more tracks (or starting better ones), Plugin Boutique has a seriously tempting deal to get you moving.
Its Core Collection holiday sale slashes 88% off a powerful suite of production, mixing, and mastering plugins, making it one of the easiest ways to overhaul your setup without torching your budget.
[deals ids=”4t7lXs366EY9ilsY2Cv9as”]
The Plugin Boutique Core Collection bundles together nine essential plugins – eight effects and one synth – designed to take you from the first spark of an idea through to a polished, release-ready master.
Leading the bundle is WaveOSC, a fully fledged wavetable synthesiser capable of everything from punchy synth drums and snarling basslines to lush pads and evolving textures. With nine onboard master effects, four assignable LFOs, up to 32-voice unison, and more than 300 presets, it’s a flexible sound-design workhorse to get you started fast.
On the effects side, ResDelay is a powerful delay plugin combining two key production techniques – envelope filter and stereo delay – into one complete unit. The filter in ResDelay is audio-reactive, responding dynamically to the incoming signal and can be customised before being processed through the delay module.

READ MORE: MusicTech’s favourite free plugins of 2025 

DriveMod and DriveLE cover saturation and distortion duties, while ShapeMod is a volume modulation plugin that lets you achieve modern volume ducking effects in seconds.
The collection’s FilterMod rounds out the creative tools, offering 20 different filter types and two modulation envelopes for everything from subtle tone shaping to more experimental sound mangling.
To finish things off, the Core Collection includes three dedicated mixing and mastering plugins. Exceed adds clarity, warmth, and punch to tracks, buses, or full mixes; DualClip combines soft and hard clipping in a single unit for everything from transparent loudness to aggressive drive; and PeakLimit provides four limiter styles alongside detailed metering to help push levels while keeping your master clean and controlled.
To bring everything home, the Core Collection includes a trio of mixing and mastering tools. Exceed gives your masters, busses or individual tracks that extra bit of polish by adding warmth, power and clarity to any audio signal; DualClip combines soft and hard clippers within a single unit for everything from transparent loudness to aggressive drive; and PeakLimit provides four limiter styles alongside detailed metering to help push levels while keeping your master clean and controlled.
As for the deals, they’re hard to ignore. The Core Collection Complete bundle is currently available for just $29 (88% off), while owners of any single Core Collection plugin can upgrade to the full bundle for only $10 — a massive 94% saving. Individual plugins are also heavily discounted, with many priced between $5 and $10.
Individual plugins are also heavily discounted, with many priced between $5 to $10.

You can check out the full deal now over at Plugin Boutique.
The post New year, new deals: Plugin Boutique slashes 88% off its Core Collection plugin bundle appeared first on MusicTech.

MeldaProduction release Electric Keys - Tines Electric Keys - Tines has been designed to provide users with a definitive collection of classic sounds, and promises to deliver the bell-like tones and gritty bark that defined a generation of R&B, funk and classic rock tracks.

Can a social app fix the ‘terrible devastation’ of social media?Twitter co-founder Biz Stone and Pinterest co-founder Evan Sharp have raised new funding for a social media app that helps users "plan with intention."