Hit-Boy has confirmed that there is a song-length version of the beat used in the opening moments of Travis Scott‘s hit single “SICKO MODE.”
Speaking to HipHopDX, the multi-platinum producer revealed that, while he wasn’t present when Drake recorded his verse for the song’s first part, he received a call from Travis Scott following the studio session.
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“I remember Travis first facetimed me when he first did it, like the next morning after the session,” HitBoy said. “And he played it and it was extended, it was longer so…”
The final version of “SICKO MODE” — which appeared on Scott’s third and most recent studio album ASTROWORLD — finds Drake opening the song over Hit-Boy’s production, before having his verse interrupted around the 0:59 mark.
The version Travis Scott presumably played for Hit-Boy would have found both rappers exchanging verses over the same beat, something they don’t do until the Tay Keith-produced third part on “SICKO MODE.”
Sadly, fans may never get to hear what Hit-Boy heard the morning after that session. “I know it’s for sure a longer version part, but it’s probably not gonna ever come out,” he told DX.
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This isn’t the first Drake near-miss the Grammy-winning producer has spoken about recently.
As fans commemorated the 10-year anniversary of A$AP Rocky‘s debut album Long.Live.A$AP, which was released on January 15, 2013, conversations turned to one of the album’s standout tracks: the Hit-Boy-produced ‘1Train.’
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The high-octane posse cut features verses from Kendrick Lamar, Joey Bada$$, Yelawolf, Danny Brown, Action Bronson and Big K.R.I.T. However, according to its producer, the beat was originally offered to Drake who turned it down because he already had something similar on the album he was working on at the time.
Hit-Boy later revealed the track Drizzy was referring to was the JAY-Z-assisted “Light Up” from 2010’s Thank Me Later.
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“First person i sent this beat to was drake,” Hit-Boy tweeted on January 15. “He said he already had a joint on his album with a similar sound. So at the end of my session wit rocky for ‘goldie’ i played 1train instrumental and he took it and made it what is it.”
While he’s always open to taking a stroll down memory lane, Hit-Boy has plenty to look forward to in 2023 as well. Following the Grammy Awards last weekend, he was spotted in the studio with Benny The Butcher, and the Griselda rapper took to social media to tease more heat between the lethal duo on the way.
“It’s almost my turn again…Me and @hitboy undefeated,” Benny captioned the post featuring a clip of him freestyling to a booming Hit-Boy beat. The two previously teamed up for their Burden of Proof joint effort in 2020 and fans, as well as their celebrity friends, are looking forward to what’s to come next.
Meanwhile, 50 Cent let it slip in a new Billboardinterview that Nas and Hit-Boy have already begun working on the fourth installment in their King’s Disease series. The publication noted that in addition to working on a new solo album with Eminem and Dr. Dre, the G-Unit general is set to feature on Nas’ forthcoming King’s Disease 4 LP. Further details about the project, however, remain scarce.
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Hit-Boy has also confirmed a pending joint album with Musiq Soulchild. The project was first announced by the R&B legend in a recent interview on comedian Bill Bellamy’s Top Billin’ podcast, where he revealed the title — Victims & Villains — and hinted at a February release.
