N3on has already made his mark as one of the internet’s most unpredictable streaming personalities, but now he’s shifting the spotlight onto music. The viral creator just announced his debut album with EMPIRE, with Grammy-winning producer Hit-Boy signed on as executive producer.
The rollout is anything but traditional. Per a press release, on October 13, N3on launched a two-day livestream giving fans an unfiltered look at his studio sessions. Millions tuned in to watch the early stages of the album take shape in real time. The event closed with a massive carnival on October 14, and featured live filming, performances, and surprise guest appearances.
“This album is a way for me to share the journey with the people who’ve been with me from the very beginning,” the said. “It’s more than just making music; it’s about creating a moment for my community.”
The project, titled N3on x Hit-Boy Presents The Camp, will be rolled out in three stages. The first four-track EP arrives on November 5 and sets the tone for what fans can expect from his sound. A second set of four songs will expand the story, followed by a deluxe edition with the final four tracks. Each chapter represents a different stage of N3on’s growth as an artist.
Hit-Boy, whose production credits include Jay-Z and Kanye West’s “Ni**as in Paris,” Travis Scott’s “Sicko Mode,” and six full-length albums with Nas, is leading the album’s creative direction.
For the whizz behind the boards, the collaboration with the young up-and-comer marks a new chapter. “It’s a chance for me to really be creative and flex my producer muscle,” he told Complex. “I’m looking forward to reaching a whole new generation.”
The move to team with Hit-Boy came naturally, according to N3on. “The collaboration happened organically,” he explained. “I can’t wait for everyone to hear it.”
The activation is also powered by Meme House, the Los Angeles creator collective that merges internet culture with music and real-time entertainment.
N3on, who first gained attention by streaming NBA 2K and Fortnite in 2016, made headlines earlier this year when he partnered with Iggy Azalea on MOTHERLAND, an online casino platform fusing streaming, crypto, and celebrity-driven entertainment.
“Streaming taught me how to read an audience and create moments that people can feel they can be a part of,” he told Complex at the time. That instinct for creating live experiences is at the heart of this latest rollout.
Hit-Boy’s involvement brings decades of hip-hop credibility to the table, but the veteran producer isn’t limiting his creativity to the past. “I feel like I just got out of prison with this new music,” he said, referring to the recent release from his predatory 18-year publishing deal.
For N3on, the future is wide open. When asked if the album might eventually expand into other spaces, his response was just as unfiltered as his streams. “I haven’t thought about taking it into the multi-verse, but that might be a great idea!” he said.
With the energy of his streaming career, the cultural weight of MOTHERLAND, and Hit-Boy’s pedigree guiding the sound, N3on’s debut project is shaping up to be one of the year’s most ambitious crossovers between digital culture and music.