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The Alchemist “Flying High” EP Review

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Flying High is the latest project from super-producer The Alchemist. He’s been quite busy recently but he’s truly always working. He released a collab project with Larry June titled The Great Escape and did a song with Hit-Boy in March. Last year he did collab projects with Curren$y and Roc Marciano. He also produced “We Cry Together,” the most polarizing song from Kendrick Lamar’s most recent album. He’s also worked multiple times with Griselda, Freddie Gibbs, Action Bronson, and many more.

Listeners of underground rap music are well acquainted with The Alchemist and this project is a sampler of sorts of his work in that realm. It’s eight songs, with the last four tracks being instrumental versions of the first four. Featured artists on the project include Earl Sweatshirt, Boldy James, billy woods, Larry June and more.

The Alchemist Crafts Unique & Eeerie Soundscapes

The Alchemist’s Flying High showcases a glimpse of the various production styles he has in his bag. The opener, “RIP Tracy,” is unique on every front. Earl Sweatshirt’s trademark monotone slides like syrup over the production. Lines like, “Same time I’m out here tryna change and stay solid / Take care, Bruce Lee say to be water,” blend accessible punchlines with semi-niche references. Billy Woods (stylized “billy woods”) has a stream-of-consciousness flow that takes these qualities to the next level while adding more character to his delivery. “Trouble Man” shifts the tone. T.F and Boldy James tell street tales over an eerie horn and bass loop with no drums – a common practice in underground rap today. Boldy James drops bars that combine modern and classic references with lines like, “Trappin outta state in Louis V Supreme / Slappin’ all this base, I show you why they call me B.B. King.”

The Alchemist Brings Luxury & Soul

“Bless” is easily the most elegant-sounding song on the project. A dreamy piano sample is paired with an equally smooth guitar loop. Underground artists MIKE and Sideshow share stories of personal feelings and reflection which pairs well with the production. Closer “Midnight Oil” is truly a standout track because it features a verse from The Alchemist himself. This is his third verse this year, which has been a treat for those only familiar with his production. This one features Larry June and Jay Worthy on this one. Like the other two artists, Alc’s verse combines luxury and aggression over a soulful loop. He raps, “I clutch a pump / Dump it and jump a country / Might be in Paris speaking bluntly” with ease.

The Alchemist Lets His Music Speak For Him

Flying High by The Alchemist offers production lovers a treat: instrumentals. This has become more common these days as it was the standard for past generations. The Alchemist has been around since the late ’90s and has seen this return in real time. With the instrumentals on this project, listeners can focus on just how creative The Alchemist was with his sample usage. Those who play instruments can try replicating the loops he uses on the project.

The Alchemist’s Flying High is a project with several purposes. These songs are likely leftover from his sessions with the featured artists based on their length and a few lyrics. This doesn’t mean their quality is low; it makes them stand out. The Alchemist has given listeners a peak at his ever-expanding hard drive of music.

This project also is a good teaser for anyone curious about what’s happening in the world of underground rap right now. The Alchemist has been integral in shaping the myriad of soundscapes today. Every underground artist is not represented on this project, but considering who The Alchemist has worked with most people in that lane, going to his Spotify page is a good place to start. Flying High is just an appetizer for the seven-course (and beyond) meal that is his discography. 

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The post The Alchemist “Flying High” EP Review appeared first on HotNewHipHop.

The Alchemist Announces The Release Date For ‘Flying High’ Featuring Earl Sweatshirt, Larry June, And More

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Earl Sweatshirt and The Alchemist are once again teaming up for a release, with both artists sharing the cover art for something called Flying High dropping this Friday, June 30. While fans appear to be speculating that it’s a joint album from Earl and Al with the latter on production, the two have given few details, although clicking on the cover art on Alchemist’s post pulls up the names of some of their frequent collaborators like Billy Woods, Boldy James, Jay Worthy, Larry June, and MIKE, suggesting that it could be The Alchemist’s project with all those rappers featured.

The Alchemist has worked with most of the artists listed above as recently as early this year. He and Boldy James have released four projects together to date, with the most recent being Super Tecmo Bo in 2021, while he and Larry June dropped The Great Escape this March. Billy Woods appeared on the album Haram as part of the duo Armand Hammer with Elucid, while MIKE teamed up with Al and Wiki late last year for the EP One More.

Of course, Earl has perhaps the most storied history with Alchemist; they infamously released a “secret album” to YouTube under a fake name and supposedly have another with Vince Staples recorded, although there appears to be some disagreement on its existence even among themselves.

In any case, Flying High is due 6/30 via Alchemist’s own ALC Records.

Boldy James Said He’s ‘Almost Back, Baby’ During The First Show Since His Traumatic Car Accident

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In January, Boldy James survived a terrifying car accident that left him in “critical condition, suffering from broken vertebrae in his neck and orthopedic injuries,” as confirmed in a statement at the time. Shortly after the crash, the burgeoning rapper still released his Indiana Jones album but still had a long road to recovery ahead of him.

James took a huge step toward functioning at full force last Saturday, June 12, when he started his six-date Back Outside Tour at The Shelter in his hometown Detroit, Michigan.

According to a show review by Eli Day of the Detroit Metro Times, James was in good spirits, saying, at separate points during his set, “Feels good to be back, man, I swear to God” and “I’m almost back, baby.”

“Throughout the show, Boldy takes time to thank those who never left his side and kept the hope of his full recovery alive when doing so himself perhaps felt like flying too close to the sun,” Day wrote.

James announced the Back Outside Tour on May 6. His next stop is June 22 at The Roxy in Los Angeles. The remaining four dates are June 29 at Racket NYC in New York, New York, July 18 at Antone’s Nightclub in Austin, Texas, July 19 at Warehouse Live in Houston, Texas, and July 21 at Ridglea Room in Fort Worth, Texas.

After this run, James will join The Alchemist for The Six Million Dollar Man Tour in Europe. See those dates below.

Boldy James Top 5 Most Streamed Songs

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The output of songs from Boldy James deserves to be celebrated. The Detroit rapper dropped four projects in 2022 and has already released one this year. All of these projects were also producer-exclusive collaborations. This showcases his chemistry with various producers and range as an artist. Each project has a unique sound, and Boldy adapts to them all.

His signature monotone delivery and bleak subject matter bring many listeners in because it helps his stories stick. Boldly was involved in a car accident this year but has since fully recovered. Interestingly enough, he actually dropped a project the week this happened. For many, this was a testament to his work ethic. However, Boldly seems to be on a well-deserved break at the moment. We highlighted some of his most popular songs before he kicks into high gear again.

5. “Long Live Julio” (2020)

This Boldy James song is from his debut Griselda project. Appropriately titled The Versace Tape, it was entirely produced by Jay Versace. With 3.2 million streams, it’s safe to say people were curious about his production skills and chemistry with another artist. This one finds Boldy rapping over a looped soulful sample. The horns have an easygoing feel, and the drums even drop out during Boldy’s verse.

However, there’s a bass line that remains the entire time. Boldy’s verse is unique because he uses the same end rhyme for every bar. His subject matter begins with a focus on his past and, by the verse’s conclusion, has shifted to his present. During the former, he namedrops some people from his upbringing and includes more notable figures in punchlines later in his verse.

4. “Level Tipping Scales” (2021)

This Boldy James song is from one of his projects with producer The Alchemist. The record is titled Super Tecmo Bo, and this song is one of the shortest tracks on the project. It’s also the project’s opening track. Considering this, the song overviews one of the central topics: drug trafficking. Boldy details his various methods of storing and delivering his product.

Meanwhile, The Alchemist’s production provides an eerie soundscape for Boldy to tell his tale. There’s a looping piano paired with a bass line and a subtle sound, almost like a siren. Furthermore, dusty boom bap drums fit well with the other vintage-sounding sampled instruments. With 3.8 million streams, this one certainly drew many listeners into this entry in the duo’s multiple collab projects. 

3. “Brickmile to Montana” feat. Benny The Butcher (2021)

This Boldy James song has a feature from one of his Griselda labelmates, Benny The Butcher. However, this was not their first time on a song together. Additionally, someone who they have both worked with is on production – The Alchemist. He provides eerie synths and grimy bass for the duo, elements both rappers have performed well over in the past. This song comes from another collab project with Alchemist and Boldy, Bo Jackson.

Both Benny and Boldy reference each other in their verses. Boldly uses an internal rhyme-packed rapid-fire flow during his verse before switching to his trademark slower flow by its end. The closing moments of it praise his relationship with Benny. With 6.1 million streams, it’s safe to say the cross-section of listeners of both artists immensely enjoyed this collaborative track.

2. “Carruth” (2020)

This is a song from Boldy James’ discography that was a part of many listeners’ introductions to him. It comes from his album The Price of Tea in China – or TPOT in China for short. Once again, tried and true producer The Alchemist handled the production on the entire album. Additionally, this is the first song on the project, too. In this track, Boldly gives listeners a more sentimental recap of things he’s been through. Once again, he incorporates real names of people he’s known, validating the stories he’s telling.

The Alchemist provides a soulful sample loop, whose volume is lowered during Boldy’s verse. Further, the sentimental piano loop enhances the emotional feeling of the verse. The minimal, almost inaudible drums hone in focus on the song’s melody. With over 7.6 million streams, this one served as a well-received opener to the world Boldy took his listeners into. 

1. “Great Adventures” (2021)

This Boldy James song is another track from his collab album with The Alchemist, Super Tecmo Bo. Instead of sounding borderline or straight-up eerie/menacing, this song has a luxurious sound. Considering it dropped years ago, some may see it as a glimpse of what The Alchemist favored on his latest collab album, The Great Escape. The production on this track combines a bass guitar, piano keys, and/or a synthesizer and even chimes. Boldly’s comfortable monotone delivery fits well among these sounds as he cuts through them while maintaining the song’s atmosphere. Basketball and pop culture references are a staple in Boldy’s verses, and he offers some of his most accessible yet creative lines here. This could be one reason it has over 11 million streams, as listeners enjoy it and may use it to show someone just how talented Boldy James is.

As our list proves, Boldly James has created much of his music with The Alchemist. However, he also has other collab projects with different producers that deserve recognition. Perhaps his output will inspire even more artists to release special collaborative projects. These records are more common in underground rap, but producers like Metro Boomin have also collaborated with chart-topping rappers. These projects help bring new listeners to everyone involved with the project. Rappers should just note if they choose to collaborate with The Alchemist, they will have a high bar to reach. 

What are some of your favorite songs from Boldy James? Let us know in the comments section. 

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Boldy James Delivers Surprise Album ‘Indiana Jones’ Less Than Two Weeks After Serious Car Accident

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Boldy James Delivers Surprise Album 'Indiana Jones' Less Than Two Weeks After Serious Car Accident

While recovering from a serious car accident, Boldy James has dropped off a new album.

Titled Indiana Jones, Boldy’s new album is 17 tracks long and brings in Sir Michael Rocks, Jonathan Chapman, Detroit King Tape, Cassie Jo Craig, Ann One, CHUCKSTAAA, Jai Imani, Sammy Haig, and Gue Wop for features.

On Jan. 9, Boldy James was involved in a serious two-car accident. His publicist released a statement confirming the accident and revealing he had broken vertebrae.

On Monday, January 9th, Boldy James was involved in a serious two-car accident in the Detroit metropolitan area. I can confirm that Boldy arrived at the hospital in critical condition, suffering from broken vertebrae in his neck and orthopedic injuries. After undergoing extensive surgery on his neck, Boldy has been removed from the intensive care unit and is now in stable condition.

Boldy and his family would like to express their gratitude to the incredible doctors and nurses that are taking care of him, and also to the communities’ emergency medical personnel and first responders.

The post Boldy James Delivers Surprise Album ‘Indiana Jones’ Less Than Two Weeks After Serious Car Accident appeared first on The Source.

Boldy James Didn’t Let His Car Accident Stop Him From Releasing A New Album, ‘Indiana Jones’

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Detroit rapper Boldy James has had a remarkable breakout in the past few years after spending much of the early part of his career out of the spotlight. Yet, just as things were finally coming together for him, he almost lost it all, even his life, after a “serious” two-car collision in his hometown. He racked up a truly scary number of injuries, including broken vertebrae, requiring “extensive surgery” on his neck.

But the hustle never sleeps and if nothing else, Boldy James is a hustler’s hustler. Although he’s already dropped a slew of projects in 2022, each with a different producer, and even an EP earlier this week (ADU with Real Bad Man), he’s still going, surprising fans with another new album today, Indiana Jones with producer RichGains. Consisting of 17 tracks with multiple appearances from longtime collaborator Sir Michael Rocks of The Cool Kids, Indiana Jones continues Boldy’s tradition of quality, stuffy-nosed street-centric raps.

The album’s release bodes well for the future, even as fans await news of Boldy’s updated condition. The Detroiter received well wishes from the likes of Eminem, a hometown hero, and other rap peers. Even with Indiana Jones out today, there’s still more to look forward to from Boldy James, including his long-awaited J Dilla-produced album. For now, you can listen to Indiana Jones below.