Hits don’t write themselves — it takes discipline, artistry, luck and perhaps most of all, passion. But what awakens that passion in the hitmakers? That’s the question at the center of Idolator’s new video series, Digging, which follows emerging producers such as Jeff Bhasker (Kanye West, Jay-Z, Alicia Keys) and Brian Kennedy (Rihanna, Jennifer Hudson, Chris Brown) as they travel home, explore their past influences and discovernew inspiration.

View the first installment featuring Brian Kennedy below and be sure to head over to Idolator to see the rest.