Alchemist Interview Pt. 2
Author: William Ketchum III

The medieval philosophy of alchemy consisted of turning basic minerals and metals into gold. While the original idea of this is impossible to execute, uber-producer The Alchemist works magic with every track. Using the simplest samples to create flawless audio jewels, the Californian has created a grimy trademark sound that's been called upon by everyone from LA's Dilated Peoples to NY's Mobb Deep, and from heavyweights such as Nas or Mobb Deep to newcomers like Saigon. Even alternative acts Linkin Park and Morcheeba have enlisted his talents.

Now, The Alchemist is putting a face with his name. Previously known for his Zorro-like approach of making his mark without leaving picture ID, he doubles from behind the boards and steps up to the mic with his debut album, 1st Infantry. In Part 2 of a two-part interview with RapReviews.com, The Alchemist talks about his migration from the west coast to the east, the formula for his memorable street bangers, and letting the world hear his voice.

"The new album, it feels like ten years coming full-circle for me."

WK3: Who all do you have on it?

Alchemist: I got down with a lot of people I've been down with since day one, a couple new heads who I have new relationships with. But I really just wanted to reach out to my family, get back the love that I've given. Everybody's shown that. I've got Mobb of course, the LOX, Lloyd Banks, Nas, Cypress Hill, Devin the Dude gave me a crazy song man, shout outs to Devin and his man Rico. M.O.P.'s on there, Dilated, from the west coast my man Game, T.I. did a joint with his clique. We reached out to a lot of demographics. And it wasn't even on purpose; at the end of the day we were like ‘wow, we just covered a lot of different angles,' being that music is really regional these days. I just wanted to show my versatility but still do me.

WK3: There are rumors that you're rapping on this album. Is that true?

"So there are two songs on the album that I rhyme on, and I think they're both relevant."

Plus, I've got the LOX on my album, Jadakiss, Mobb Deep, Cypress Hill, Nas, Lloyd Banks. I've got heavy hitter rappers that I respect, so I wouldn't want to disrespect them and what they do best and get on mad songs just because it's my album. I really wanted to make it something that people appreciate, to still do what I've been doing but also let people know who Alchemist is. If anything, it'll leave the listener like, "We want to hear more from him!" That's what the album does—it shows you that I can do what I've been doing with the beats, but also that I'm relevant as an artist, I've got a point of view and my life is different. Especially in the era of rap where everyone's talking bout killing, busting their guns, fuckin' mad bitches. That's dope that I kept it real on the album. There's this song "Different Worlds," with me and my man Twin, it basically tells my story of how I grew up. I didn't grow up in the hood—I grew up in a more well-off neighborhood where I wasn't fucked up—versus my man Twin, who's like a brother to me now, his lifestyle is totally different. But we're the same age, so I'm like, "Where were you when you were 12?" He's like "I was busting my gun, selling crack;" I'm like "wow, I was riding a bicycle (laughs)." I just kept it real, and I think a lot of people respected me for that, because they know I'm down with Mobb, so they're like, "he's gonna be trying to murder everybody in the song." Nah, man. It's even doper to me in the era where you don't know who's real or who's fake with the shit they're saying. But you know I'm keeping it real, because who would want to say shit (like I say) and be lying? So I think across the board, I've been getting respect for the fact that I kept it real when I rhymed. People are like "that's dope, he didn't try to front." Me and Twin are like a contrast, and I think it was brotherhood because it shows the strength of this music. Rap music can bring together every different bark of life, it's not just about the money and how the industry just exploits rap to get paper off of it. Rap is a strong culture, and it raised me and my brother—we weren't from the hood, but we still cliqued with people and respected each other because the music is a mutual love that we have. But definitely, I don't want to turn people away, and have them think "oh, how is he going to rhyme on every song?" I do write a lot, but (I won't rhyme a lot) until my shit is just incredible; I lay it down now and then, but I'm hard on myself. But I definitely want people to know, this is my album. The first single, I'm on. It's a song called "Hold You Down." It's got me, Prodigy, this new guy Illa Ghee who's down with the Mobb camp, and Nina Sky singing on the hook. It's about loyalty, and I think that's something that's missing in movies and music—you've got movies where people are fuckin' their man's girl, all this grimy shit. I want people to remember loyalty, that's something I live by.

WK3: You're one of the game's most sought after producers. Who do you like as far as producers go?

"I like a lot of cats who aren't really shining yet, who I know on the low. My man Scram Jones, my mans 8-Off Aguilar..."

WK3: Now, when does the album come out?

Alchemist: The album drops officially, in stone, September 21st. I know there's been a lot of dates that it was promoted (to release), and it didn't drop, but everything is done and turned in, the video is shot, the single hit radio. September 21st, the album's called "1st Infantry," and it's The Alchemist album that people have been waiting for for a long time. Those that don't know me, they'll hear it, they're going to realize why there's been a small fan base of mine who's been waiting for this. It's just good music; it's not catering to anything, I didn't go out of my realm and do what people wanted me to do. There's no A&R whispering in my ear making me do something particular, it's going to be something special.

Originally posted: September 14, 2004
source: RapReviews.com