JAŸ-Z In 8 Episode 3 releases Friday, September 25, 2026, on HBO Max in the US. It arrives with Episode 4, continuing the two-episode weekly rollout that began with the premiere on September 18. Viewers therefore get the next pair together rather than waiting an extra week between chapters.
The subject of Episode 3 had not been officially detailed in the material available at publication time. The first two chapters move through Jay-Z’s catalog by using songs as prompts for memory, so the next installment should continue that format. Any specific track list circulating before release remains unconfirmed. That uncertainty is intentional, because the series treats each selection as the start of a new conversation.
- Release date: September 25, 2026
- Episode: Episode 3 of 8
- Title: Episode 3
- Genre: Music documentary
- Streaming on: HBO Max in the US
Episode 3 arrives as part of a double drop
The eight-part series is built as an extended conversation between Jay-Z and director Rick Rubin. More than 25 songs provide the structure, allowing each episode to connect lyrics with childhood, business, friendship, performance and the practical choices behind a recording.
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Episode 1 establishes the foundation. Jay-Z discusses Gloria Carter’s record collection, writing and rapping from age nine, hearing an early rap single at home and realizing that music could become a business after seeing Jaz-O secure a major deal.
The first episodes establish the format
Episode 2 shifts toward choices listeners cannot see in a finished song. It covers his doubts about The Black Album rollout, the freeplay sessions that let him release stored rhymes, and the decision to remove a California reference from the Notorious B.I.G.’s “Brooklyn’s Finest” verse.
Those chapters create useful expectations without confirming Episode 3’s topic. The series is not moving through a simple album-by-album chronology. Rubin can follow a lyric backward to childhood or forward to a later performance, which means the next selection may jump across several periods.
The full release schedule is now clear
After September 25, the remaining pairs are scheduled for October 2 and October 9. That gives the docuseries a four-week run: Episodes 1 and 2 on September 18, Episodes 3 and 4 on September 25, Episodes 5 and 6 on October 2, and Episodes 7 and 8 on October 9.
The important date is September 25, and viewers should expect two new hours in the next drop. Episode titles and an exact song lineup remain unavailable, so the music itself will reveal the direction. The paired release also gives each discussion space while preserving momentum across the larger career story for returning and new viewers. Which part of Jay-Z’s catalog do you hope Rubin reaches next? Add your pick in the comments.
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