Harbor Studios: A Sanctuary for Icons Like Nicki Minaj, Doja Cat, and Jack Harlow—Now Lost in the Flames
REPORTED By @Rapalert2.0
The devastating loss of Harbor Studios in Malibu to the Palisades Fire has left a hole in the hearts of many in the music industry.
This residential recording studio, once a creative sanctuary for artists like Nicki Minaj, Doja Cat, and Jack Harlow, was a space where musical freedom thrived. For these artists, Harbor Studios wasn’t just a place to lay down tracks—it was an essential part of their creative process, a place where their music came to life in its purest form.
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Harbor Studios may have started as a haven for jazz legend Joe Zawinul’s Weather Report and later served as the workspace for Hollywood film composer Paul Dinletir, but it was in recent years that it truly became a magnet for some of the brightest stars in contemporary music.
When Harbor was rebranded in 2021, it quickly became one of the most sought-after recording spaces, attracting artists from various genres most notably hip-hop and pop.
Among the most famous projects recorded at Harbor was Nicki Minaj’s Pink Friday 2, her highly anticipated 2023 album that marked her return to the industry in full force.
Nicki is known for her fearless creativity and, Harbor was more than just a studio to her. It was a space that allowed her to push boundaries and embrace artistic freedom.
The intimate and serene environment, with its wood-panelled rooms and panoramic views of the Pacific Ocean, offered her a sense of tranquility and inspiration that helped fuel the bold sound of Pink Friday 2.
Source: Radio One Digital / @Stretchd_34 for Radio One Digital
Doja Cat is another modern-day musical icon who also found a home in Harbor Studios.
The Grammy-winning artist is known for blending genres and experimenting with sounds recorded parts of her highly anticipated Scarlet 2 CLAUDE project there.
For Doja, the studio was the perfect space to experiment and embrace her ever-evolving musical persona.
In Harbor’s peaceful, open-air environment, she could explore new sonic landscapes without limits, giving birth to some of the most innovative music of her career.
Source: John Nacion / Getty
Even Jack Harlow, one of the leading voices in the new wave of hip-hop, spent time recording at Harbor, drawn to its blend of luxury and creativity.
For an artist whose music reflects both introspection and energy, Harbor provided the perfect backdrop—a quiet space where Harlow could dig deep into his emotions and simultaneously create tracks with the kind of swagger that has made him a household name.
Studio owner Zach Brandon’s emotional tribute to Harbor’s loss resonated deeply with artists and fans alike.
As he wrote on Instagram,
“It was a place of musical freedom… a sanctuary in the most literal sense of the word.”
And this sentiment couldn’t be truer.
Source: NDZ/Star Max/GC Images / NDZ/Star Max/GC Images
For Minaj, Doja Cat, and Harlow, the studio was a place to not only record but to bond with other artists, producers, and creators.
They could bring their visions to life in a way that felt personal and authentic, away from the pressures of the mainstream industry. The memories and connections made at Harbor will live on, even as the physical space is lost to the flames.
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