Here is the 8th mixtape & 2nd of 2026 from Fontana, California producer, MC & singer/songwriter Hit-Boy. Emerging after Polow da Don took him under his wing by signing him to his Interscope Records imprint Zone 4 Records, his early production credits range from “Stronger” by Mary J. Blige to “Drop the World” by Lil Wayne & Eminem, but wasn’t until the winter following the last 2 jams where he would catch the attention of the Chicago jeen-yuhs himself Ye formerly known as Kanye West by producing his Christmas posse cut “Christmas in Harlem” & becoming an in-house producer for G.O.O.D. Music for 2 years approximately 5 months after that. It was there that he would cookup some notable bops such as “N****s in Paris” by The Throne as well as “Cold” by Ye & even “Backseat Freestyle” off Kendrick Lamar’s sophomore album albeit major label debut good kid, m.A.A.d. City. He then launched his now defunct Interscope imprint HS87 Music as his tenure under Kanye’s wing was coming to a close, continuing to build a reputation for himself by working with the likes of Beyoncé or Drake & Travis Scott. But it’s no secret that this decade has easily been Hit-Boy’s most prolific yet considering his work with Big Sean, Benny the Butcher & of course Nas. His own solo debut Surf or Drown would arrive in 2023, coming off HITStory 2: Success is a Dirty Word earlier this summer to drop a sequel to The Chauncey Hollis Project.
“On a Streak” begins with an R&B sample so he can lay some braggadocio on top of it whereas “Politickin’” talks about his success & his refusal to rest on his honors. “Lunch Line” featuring The Alchemist brings back those Goldfish vibes they gave us 52 weeks earlier over this summery beat & after “It’s Over” clocks another $1M, we have Hit fondly looking back at childhood memories during “Cannonball” remembering those who were later murdered in cold blood.
03 Greedo appears for “P.O.P. (Purpose Over Pride)” so they can talk about putting motives above ego while Don’t Let Them Stress You” by Half-a-Mil links up over a boom bap instrumental to talk about not allowing anyone bring you down. “Tech Decks” advises those who ain’t tryna face him to get the fuck up out his way & “Overdid It” ends The Chauncey Hollis Project II on a more layered note that starts off with some melodic piano chords suggesting maybe he could change the ending.
Scaling back the number of catchy hooks & radio friendliness, The Chauncey Hollis Project II does feel like an extension of sorts to it’s 2020 predecessor telling us what’s been going through Hit-Boy’s mind instead of looking to pack up the dance floors. There’s more variation to the production bringing secondary influences of chipmunk soul & jazz rap into the picture although HITStory 2: Success is a Dirty Word’s balance between boom bap & trap doesn’t lose itself as Hit gets some stuff of his chest.
Score: 3.5/5
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