LOS ANGELES – It is what dreams are made of. A boy from Fontana grew up to produce some of the tops hits of the last decade It is no wonder his name is Hit-Boy.
“My first at the Grammys was watching Lil Wayne and Eminem perform ‘Drop The World’ that me and the homie Chase N. Cashe produced,” Hit-Boy said. “That alone was exciting for me. That was like my first real introduction to the Hip-Hop World.”
That was way back in 2010, when he was just 22 years old. Since then he has won a Grammy, and has been nominated for more including this year. But this time he is up for awards as a producer and artist for his work on the Nipsey Hussle’s Racks In The Middle.
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“Nipsey recording the song literally in this chair where I’m sitting on this mic right here,” Hit-Boy said.
The song featuring both he and Roddy Ricch was released just one month before the South L.A. icon was murdered outside of his beloved Marathon store.
“He wanted to drop something right after the Grammys, having a nomination with Victory Lap, just you know taking it to that level. He wanted to have a staple record so I gave it to him. I didn’t hesitate. I gave it to Nip with no hesitation,” said Hit-Boy.
Hit-Boy, whose real name is Chauncey Hollis, explains how serious Nipsey took the song especially the verse where he honored the death of his close friend.
“He was sitting in this chair I’m in right now like hoodie up, wrapped up crying tears like, it was emotional. It was a real moment. So, I was like this record’s done. He came back maybe a day later, just popped up on me and he was like man, I need to put a third verse on this,” Hollis said. “We got to put a third voice on this. Everybody in this era, most people don’t even do three verses anymore.”
Now in the very same studio, where he also worked on the Chauncey Hollis Project album, he will carry on with the same musical spirit he shared with Nipsey.
“I feel like he left a piece of his self in here. Literally every artist that comes through they say bro I don’t know what it is about this room but I love being in here. They love working here,” said Hollis. “People coming through if not an EP, an album worth of music you know what I’m saying. It’s not just one or two songs. I feel like that all has to do with just the tone we set and the energy we put in this room when we made “Racks In The Middle”
On Sunday night, Racks In The Middle could deliver Hit-boy his second Grammy. It could be the final trophy awarded for the marathon Nipsey ran.