Hit-Boy has officially ended an 18-year publishing deal, calling it a “prison sentence” and crediting JAY-Z and Roc Nation CEO Desiree Perez for helping him secure his release. The Grammy-winning producer announced his freedom on social media, calling the moment life-changing and thanking both for their support.
“Today I am a free man,” he wrote. “I feel like I just got out the pen after an 18-year sentence.” Hit-Boy, born Chauncey Hollis, signed the contract at 19. Now in his mid-thirties, he described the experience as a lesson in ownership and creative autonomy. “More valuable than a plane or anything tangible,” he said of regaining control of his publishing rights.
His gratitude extended to Perez, whom he thanked for her behind-the-scenes role in making the deal’s termination possible. “The love and respect runs deep,” he wrote, “and I appreciate all the help, for real.”
Hit-Boy rose to fame in 2011 with the breakout hit “N****s in Paris,” produced for Kanye West and JAY-Z’s Watch the Throne. The success of that track, along with work for Beyoncé, Nas, and Drake, turned him into one of hip-hop’s most in-demand producers. Yet despite his accolades, he remained locked in a contract that limited his financial and creative freedom.
His ties to JAY-Z trace back to childhood. “The first CD I ever bought with my own money was The Blueprint,” he shared.
A decade later, he was producing for the same artist, fulfilling a dream. “If you get me another ‘N****s in Paris,’ I’ll get you a plane,” JAY-Z once joked after the song’s success.
With the contract behind him, Hit-Boy begins a new chapter defined by ownership, independence, and control over his legacy.
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