Entertainment · TV & Streaming · 13 hrs ago
Jay-Z documentary revisits his career but avoids harder questions
Jay-Z in 8 is an eight-part HBO documentary series about the rapper’s life and career.
In conversations filmed in 2024, he discusses his music and broader topics with producer Rick Rubin.
The finale, which aired on 9 October, included Jay-Z’s views on racism and inequality.
The series comes after criticism of his 2019 partnership with the NFL, where he became entertainment director and helped choose Super Bowl halftime performers.
Former NFL quarterback Colin Kaepernick has alleged that the league made the deal after owners sought a “Black face” to ease anger over his protest against police brutality.
The reviewer argues that the documentary does not examine Jay-Z’s role in that controversy or his ideas about social change closely enough.
Rubin’s lack of challenging follow-up questions, the reviewer says, makes the series more like praise than a probing conversation.
Jay-Z in 8, an eight-part HBO documentary series about Jay-Z’s life and career, aired its finale on 9 October.
The series features Jay-Z discussing his music and topics including racism, inequality and generational wealth with producer Rick Rubin.
A Guardian review argues that Rubin’s lack of challenging questions makes the series a polished account that avoids harder issues.
The review links scrutiny of Jay-Z’s public image to his partnership with the NFL, which began in 2019.
- Who
- Jay-Z and record producer Rick Rubin appear in the documentary series.
- What
- Jay-Z in 8 revisits Jay-Z’s life and career. A Guardian review says it avoids harder questions.
- When
- The finale aired on 9 October. The article was published on 12 October 2026.
- Where
- The interviews were filmed at Palais Brongniart, the former stock exchange in France.
- Why
- The series is described by the review as an effort to mend Jay-Z’s public image.
This story does not have two clearly opposing sides.
Jay-Z partnered with the NFL as entertainment director and worked with the league on community endeavors.
Jay-Z in 8 was filmed at Palais Brongniart in France.
The documentary series’ finale aired.
The Guardian published its review of the series.
- Episodes
- Eight
- Finale aired
- 9 October
- Filming location
- Palais Brongniart, France
- NFL partnership began
- 2019
- Interviewer
- Rick Rubin, Def Jam co-founder and producer
What people are saying
Black face
we never get together
What’s better than one billionaire? Two
Sources
Related news
Breaking Bad actor and disability advocate RJ Mitte dies at 34
RJ Mitte, Breaking Bad actor and disability rights advocate, dies at 34
Breaking Bad actor and disability advocate R.J. Mitte dies at 34
TNA ends Max Caster’s run after Riyadh attack reference at Bound for Glory
Dan Levy criticizes Shane Gillis over joke about women at the gym
Ego Nwodim responds to Shane Gillis’s joke about women at the gym
Emergency Medical Team 24 Returns for Its Sixth Series
Apple releases trailer for film about 1977 disability rights protest
Daryl Dixon season 4 is set to end the spinoff starring two original characters
A Lioness Star Moves to Apple TV as Season 4 Remains Uncertain
