the alchemist beats Archives - New Hip Hop News

The Alchemist Reveals Backstory Behind His Kendrick Lamar “Meet The Grahams” Beat

September 27, 2024 by newhiphopnews

When the world found out that The Alchemist produced the beat for Kendrick Lamar’s downright terrifying Drake diss, “meet the grahams,” they immediately barraged him with questions about how it came to life. Up to this point, the producer was pretty tight-lipped about the whole situation, only letting off some jokes here and there plus vague remarks on its release. But during a new interview that surfaced online on Thursday (September 26), he went into a little more detail about the haunting song. While there are still plenty of unanswered questions, it’s still exciting to hear this glimpse into one of 2024’s most notable hip-hop moments.

“That was a gospel record. Swear to God,” The Alchemist said of Kendrick Lamar’s six-minute track. “I sent it to him beforehand and he had it for a minute. I heard it when everybody else heard it. It was a trip. Yeah, I was getting a haircut at the studio and it came on the phone. We was listening online, someone was streaming. I thought my phone was bugging. I didn’t know.” We can’t imagine that he knew what that instrumental would become when he sent it to K.Dot.

The Alchemist Speaks On Kendrick Lamar’s “Meet The Grahams”

Elsewhere, Uncle Al had a lot of jokes to respond to incessant questions about the Kendrick Lamar track on Twitter. “Questlove made it known that you weren’t aware Kendrick was going to use your beat for meet the graham’s. Did it bother you that Kendrick did that? Was it okay with you that Questlove gave us that information?” a fan asked. The Alchemist replied with this: “Nah but I was extremely bothered and downright livid when I realized that all these years I did not know that Cap’n Crunch’s full name is Horatio Magellan Crunch.”

What’s more is that we know that The Alchemist feels pretty proud of this beat, and he should. He even played it at a Los Angeles club a couple of months ago, but at least he didn’t let Kendrick Lamar scare us again over it. We can only wonder what other collaborations and possible astonishments they have collecting dust in the vault, only to emerge in unexpected ways.

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The Alchemist Hypes Fans Up With Tracklist & Cover Art For New Album “The Genuine Articulate”

September 16, 2024 by newhiphopnews

The Alchemist is dropping a new album on Friday (September 20), and fans couldn’t be more excited about yet another release in this prolific catalog. The legendary producer led the rollout with the single “Ferraris In The Rain” featuring ScHoolboy Q, indicating that this will boast many lyrical performances from him as an MC. Now, he shared the jagged but slightly regal cover art for the project, as well as the features for it. Across 8 tracks, Uncle Al will spit verses alongside Action Bronson, Big Body Bes, Havoc (all love to Mobb Deep, RIP Prodigy), Conway The Machine, and Larry June.

Moreover, this should make up for the disappointment that many fans expressed when Eminem released the Expanded Mourner’s Edition of his new album The Death Of Slim Shady (Coup De Grâce). Many fans hoped that The Alchemist would lend some production to new deluxe cuts, but this was sadly not the case. Their strong bond has led many to beg for more collaborations, but it looks like they’re saving those for a very special occasion. Hopefully that’s sooner rather than later…

The Alchemist’s The Genuine Articulate: Cover Art & Features

What’s more is that The Alchemist’s prolific streak obviously doesn’t just refer to his projects and releases as a solo or collaborative artist, but also to his production work with other musicians. For example, he recently produced A$AP Rocky’s latest Don’t Be Dumb single, “Ruby Rosary” featuring J. Cole. It was a welcome surprise as a team-up, with the tender, eerie, and languid beat contrasting with Rocky’s typically animated delivery. Of course, Cole does his thing, too. We can’t wait to see what comes next, especially if it’s as new and exciting of a joint effort as that.

Fortunately, we already have a good idea of what that could look like. Big Sean recently revealed that he and The Alchemist are working on a full collab project. The latter just produced the former’s “Together Forever” off of his new album Better Me Than You, and they previously linked on “Palisades, CA” off of the beatsmith’s Larry June joint LP The Great Escape. We can’t wait for Friday and beyond!

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Big Sean Confirms The Alchemist Collab Album

September 6, 2024 by newhiphopnews

With so much content already releasing these days, we wouldn’t blame Big Sean if some of his future plans don’t end up panning out. After all, we already got a great album in Better Me Than You, an upcoming self-help-style book in 2025, and plenty of promotional content, loosies, freestyles, and press runs to boot. That’s more than enough to hold us over. On that last note, though, the Sean Don recently spoke to XXL for an extensive cover story, during which he revealed a whole lot about his new LP, his personal life, and more. But one of the most interesting parts of this conversation for hip-hop fans was when he confirmed that a future plan that he had teased previously is actually panning out one day.

Moreover, Big Sean answered a question about his music video for “Together Forever,” his latest collaboration with legendary producer The Alchemist. At the end of it, a new black-and-white clip plays of a completely new set of beats and bars. “That’s part of a side quest I’m doing with Alchemist that me and him been locked in on,” the Detroit rapper revealed. “So, excited about that. That’s a project that me and Alchemist are working on together, so that’s why that part is not on the album.”

Big Sean & The Alchemist’s “Together Forever”: Stream & Watch The Music Video

So there you have it, folks: Big Sean and The Alchemist are officially working on a joint project together. This is what the former had suggested in a Complex interview from just a couple of days ago, so it’s nice to get this prompt confirmation. “I have been burnt out lately because I have chosen to take so much on by doing multiple music projects,” he had told the outlet. “So what I mean by that is my album and then also cooking up with Alchemist too.”

Of course, there’s a good chance that this collab album won’t end up seeing the light of day. That’s just the way the game goes sometimes. Maybe it’s a short EP instead of a full-length effort, maybe it comes out on an NFT site like VOIR DIRE did, and maybe this is one of those ideas that stays in the drafts. But if Big Sean and The Alchemist follow up their chemistry on “Palisades, CA” and “Together Forever,” we’re in for a true treat.

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Big Sean Suggests The Alchemist Collab Album Is In The Works

September 2, 2024 by newhiphopnews

Big Sean may have just dropped his new album Better Me Than You, but he’s already thinking about the future. In fact, he has a lot more full-lengths where that came from, and he spoke briefly on them during a new Complex interview. Specifically, the Detroit rapper spoke at one point about the struggles of being a famous musician and how it can stress him out. While reflecting on these emotions, he revealed that one of his perceived weaknesses and difficulties is how he works on a lot of different things at a time. It’s here where fans got a hint about a full-on collab project with The Alchemist.

“I have been burnt out lately because I have chosen to take so much on by doing multiple music projects,” Big Sean told the outlet. “So what I mean by that is my album and then also cooking up with Alchemist too,” he said of the legendary producer behind his recent cut “Together Forever.” In addition, they also collaborated on Larry June’s “Palisades, CA,” and surely have more gems in the vault.

Big Sean & The Alchemist’s “Together Forever”: Listen & Watch The Music Video

Also, Big Sean spoke on his current ideas for his TWENTY88 duo with his partner Jhené Aiko, as well as other loosies. He suggested that these two categories and others might end up on Better Me Than You or on a forthcoming project. “Conceptually, I got this song I did with KAYTRANADA called ‘My Life’ as the last song,” Sean stated. “That kind of concludes the album from a conceptual standpoint, and it’s basically more so saying it is the light at the end of the tunnel, and I wanted to end it like that.

“But then, after I had already turned it in and was releasing it, I was like, I kind of do want to go one more step further. Maybe even add an alternate ending, how they do with movies and stuff to the album,” Big Sean explained. “I’ve been looking at [the album] as a living, breathing being because I decided to put it out this week. I was going to keep holding onto it. I had a song with Nicki [Minaj] that I was working on. One of the TWENTY88 songs, I was like, ‘Oh, it kind of fits better on the album’. But it wasn’t all the way done yet.”

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The Alchemist & Oh No “Heads I Win, Tails You Lose” Review

April 22, 2024 by newhiphopnews

The Alchemist and Oh No first teamed up as Gangrene in 2010, releasing their debut album, Gutter Water, that year. They established themselves as the ultimate duo. Both members excel within the underground scene with their unique approaches to lyricism and beat-making. As rappers and producers, their styles complement each other artistically. The Gangrene sound is defined by experimental production with busy instrumentation.

Alchemist and Oh No’s aggressive and jarringly violent bars reflect the organized chaos in the beats. Gangrene’s subsequent albums, 2012’s Vodka & Ayahuasca and 2015’s You Disgust Me, showed that no matter how much time had passed between albums and their countless solo ventures, they remained true to their sound. Heads I Win, Tails You Lose, their fourth full-length album and first in nine years, picks up right where they left off.

Gangrene’s Filthiest Album Yet

Heads I Win, Tails You Lose immediately places listeners into Gangrene’s mystical world of hard-hitting boom-bap loops. Its opening track, “Congratulations, You Lose,” begins with an ominous bassline and a thumping drum break. Setting the tone for the rest of the album, The Alchemist comes in with a menacing verse. He paints a vivid picture of “chewin a matchstick, I’ll spike the punch and send you on a bad trip.” Oh No matches the aggressive nature of Al’s bars in his verse, making for an exciting beginning of Gangrene’s reunion. The production on songs like “Oxnard Water Torture” and “The Gates of Hell” continues the album’s abrasive soundscape. The former’s screeching melody and off-kilter drums and the latter’s dissonant piano loop and jazzy percussion create an equally unsettling listening experience as it is intriguing.

Throughout its 39-minute run time, Heads I Win, Tails You Lose maintains its momentum. Its 13-song tracklist is quite consistent in its creative direction. The beats are bizarre and adventurous yet unmistakably traditional for The Alchemist and Oh No’s collaborative work. It might be a challenging listen compared to albums like Alfredo or A Long Red Hot Los Angeles Summer Night, but Gangrene is distinct from their other side projects because of its unconventional style.

Undeniable Chemistry

In addition to its cohesive tracklist, The Alchemist and Oh No continue their collaborative chemistry as both rappers and producers. Al handles the beats on eight songs, while Oh No produced the other five tracks. Both artists are versatile musicians, but the production blends together seamlessly as they stay true to their sound. As rappers, their chemistry is on full display. The Alchemist’s choppy flow and Oh No’s unpredictable rhyme patterns complete each other as they create new pockets within their own beats.

They rarely stray away from their signature flows, but the rapping is satisfying because they accompany each other so well. The features on Heads I Win, Tails You Lose also support their vocal and musical chemistry as Evidence, Boldly James, and ANKHLEJOHN specialize in this vein of underground hip hop. They also are known for sounding comfortable over production from The Alchemist and Oh No and when they rap alongside them. Evidence nonchalantly slides across the chill groove of “Magic Dust” while ANKHLEJOHN’s nasal vocal tone stands out on the minimal loop of “The Gates of Hell.” Additionally, Boldy James’s verse on the Alchemist-produced “Just Doing Art” aligns with the sounds of their three collaborative albums. Even with the guest verses, The Alchemist and Oh No do not rely on features. Their individual skill sets as rappers nearly outshine their own production.

The Progression Of The Alchemist & Oh No’s Everlasting Partnership

Nine years removed from their previous album, Heads I Win, Tails You Lose proves Gangrene to be reliable in delivering unorthodox beats and sharp rhymes. As a group, The Alchemist and Oh No may be predictable, but Gangrene remains unique in their sizable catalogs. The slow loops on their latest album are more subdued compared to that of Vodka & Ayahuasca and are more relaxed than You Disgust Me. Still, Heads I Win, Tails You Lose is Gangrene at their most refined, displaying each member’s artistic strengths. Between their solo ventures and countless collaborations, The Alchemist and Oh No always manage to tap into the sound they established long ago. Heads I Win, Tails You Lose assures that their everlasting partnership has not dwindled in the slightest.

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The Alchemist Teases J. Cole Collab

February 26, 2024 by newhiphopnews

One of the best Twitter pastimes for any hip-hop head is whenever The Alchemist hosts open Q&As with fans on the platform. Not only does he get pretty funny with a lot of his responses, but he could actually manifest some big collaborations. For example, the producer linked up with Kid Cudi after tweeting at each other about a potential joint album. As such, his most recent response as a part of these fan back-and-forths has Dreamville stans particularly hyped. On Saturday (February 24), the California legend responded to a fan asking about a J. Cole collab with zipped-up mouth emojis.

As such, it stands to reason that he can’t say too much yet, but that they’re probably working on something together as we speak. Fans wonder whether The Alchemist will provide production on J. Cole highly anticipated upcoming album, The Fall Off, or perhaps another team-up. After all, when the former produced and the latter featured on Benny The Butcher’s “Johnny P’s Caddy,” they all crafted one of the best hip-hop songs of the decade so far. Given that Benny and Cole have a really tight relationship following this, it’s likely that Uncle Al also has a lot of love for the North Carolina MC.

Read More: J. Cole’s Best Productions

J. Cole Collab Might Be On The Way, The Alchemist Suggests

Of course, this also follows J. Cole’s own teases and build-up to The Fall Off while on his tour with Drake, which he ramped up recently. Furthermore, if you didn’t catch it, he dropped a Smack DVD-style vlog including studio sessions, a new song tease, and some other antics. As such, fans can’t wait for the “Kevin’s Heart” lyricist to provide even more details and information about his next moves, but they’ll be patient for them. After all, he’s one of the few MCs today that can prove his dominance through guest verses and longevity without having to drop every year.

Meanwhile, as for the Alfredo producer, a new leak surfaced of a collaboration between him, Kanye West, and Freddie Gibbs. Unsurprisingly, fans are loving how it sounds, and they hope they’ll get to hear it in some form in the future. But with this new tease in mind, they won’t have to wait long either way for some great new music. For the latest news and updates on The Alchemist and J. Cole, log back into HNHH.

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Hit-Boy & The Alchemist “THEODORE & ANDRE” Review

February 5, 2024 by newhiphopnews

Last year, Hit-Boy and The Alchemist teamed up for “Slipping Into Darkness,” a song that saw the two rhyming over the other’s production. Both California producers sounded comfortable, highlighting their underrated skills as lyricists. Since the turn of the decade, Hit-Boy and The Alchemist reached new levels in their careers by releasing prolific full-length collaborations at a high volume. Hit-Boy has worked closely with Nas, Big Sean, Dom Kennedy, The Game, and his father, Big Hit. The Alchemist teamed up with Boldy James, Freddie Gibbs, Armand Hammer, Curren$y, Roc Marciano, and Earl Sweatshirt for stellar collaborations.

Most recently, Hit-Boy and The Alchemist teamed up to produce the entirety of Benny The Butcher’s latest album, Everybody Can’t Go. Known for being skilled beat-makers and collaborators, their lyrical skills should not go unnoticed. Hit-Boy and The Alchemist’s latest 3-song EP, Theodore & Andre, makes sure of that. Their bars are at the center of attention while blending their production styles.

Hit-Boy & The Alchemist Blend Production Styles

On Theodore & Andre, Hit-Boy and The Alchemist expand their chemistry as they rhyme over each other’s production together. This time, there’s a clear-cut intention to create memorable records that build off of a combined sound rather than flexing their lyrical muscle. Hit-Boy’s contemporary soul blends seamlessly with The Alchemist’s vintage loops. The EP’s opening track, “Morrissey” is quintessential Alchemist with its cinematic sample chop and downbeat boom bap. Next, Hit-Boy showcases the versatility of his production, handling the beats on the EP’s other two songs.

“The Main Event” starts as an upbeat trap banger. Hit-Boy raps before transitioning into a traditional drum break over which Alchemist rhymes. The two rapped over distinct beats on “Slipping Into Darkness,” but here, they rhyme over one melody that varies in percussion. The beat switch gives them each their own moment to shine whereas they shine together on the closing track. The Hit-Boy-produced beat on “Don’t Be Gone” is reminiscent of something one might hear on the King’s Disease trilogy. In this song, Hit-Boy and Alchemist rap over a beat that fits both of their styles perfectly. It spotlights not just their synergy as producers, but their lyrical chemistry as well.

Don’t Sleep On Their Lyricism

While they are certainly skilled producers, both Hit-Boy and The Alchemist have shown that they’re equally stellar MCs. Theodore & Andre shows that the two excel at both skill sets and traverse between them quite easily. Hit-Boy’s flow is smooth while Alchemist’s is choppy, which is fitting for their respective styles of production. They find their own pockets, no matter the production similar to how they can cater a particular sound to an artist they’re producing for.

The way Alchemist starts rapping on “Morrissey” makes one wish that he would spit over his beats more often. His bars are sparse as he emphasizes the end of each line. Hit-Boy then comes in at the end with a short yet smoothly executed verse. Throughout Theodore & Andre, both of them flex their lifestyles in their rhymes. The Alchemist raps about outdoing his competitors, making references to his studio and touring life with plenty of food metaphors. Hit-Boy embraces his success, attributing it to his work ethic and divine timing. Their collaborative chemistry really comes together on “Don’t Be Gone,” where they trade celebratory bars over a soulful saxophone loop.

Overall, Theodore & Andre is a lean 3-track EP that displays the chemistry between two artists at the top of their game as rappers and producers. As such a short listen, it is enjoyable for what it is—a quick victory lap. It may not contain their best material ever, but it is something new and exciting for Hit-Boy and The Alchemist. Hopefully, this EP is just the beginning of a fruitful partnership.

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Chuck Strangers & The Alchemist Get “Ski’d Up” On New Single: Stream

January 28, 2024 by newhiphopnews

Pro Era’s own Chuck Strangers is gearing up for a new album very soon. Moreover, his next project A Forsaken Lover’s Plea is set to drop on March 15 of this year via Lex Records, and we already have some singles to tease how great this LP will likely come out. This newest one, “Ski’d Up,” sees the Too Afraid To Dance MC pontificating on family over a buttery smooth beat from none other than The Alchemist. Overall, it’s exactly the kind of reflective, measured, and grounded boom-bap that the Joey Bada$$ fronted Pro Era collective burst onto the scene with over a decade ago. Fortunately, the rapper proves that it’s still as captivating as ever.

Furthermore, that’s largely due to Uncle Al’s simple but ridiculously effective beat here, which is a bit more calm and woozy than Chuck Strangers’ usual output. For example, the woodwind loop here is an ethereal and meditative melody for the “Regular Season” artist to flow over, and one that lends itself well to spontaneous and focused flow switches. In addition, The Alchemist’s percussive treatment slightly mutes the kick and snare to make them small details which still loom large over such a minimalist beat. As the Brooklyn lyricist delves deeper into family relationships, his day-to-day, and his motivation to keep finding success, subtle pads and echoes give “Ski’d Up” more atmosphere.

Chuck Strangers’ “Ski’d Up” With The Alchemist: Stream

Meanwhile, the California beatsmith has works of his own to look forward to and celebrate, such as his Westside Gunn and Conway The Machine collab tape Hall & Nash 2 and his (presumably) upcoming link-up with Kid Cudi. As we wait for A Forsaken Lover’s Plea, we can’t imagine Chuck Strangers failing to engage listeners with his rhymes and perspective. As such, we’re glad “Ski’d Up” points in that direction. If you haven’t heard the song yet, find it on your preferred streaming service and peep standout bars below. Also, stay logged into HNHH for more great hip-hop releases around the clock.

Quotable Lyrics
“Auntie, can I roll this weed up?” (Of course you can),
‘Cause when I twist the last spliff of the ounce, we piled in the suburban to bounce,
We fixed on getting larger amounts,
F**k what you made on the job, it’s what you take to the house

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Kid Cudi Dismisses Retiring, The Alchemist Links With Him After Joint Album Talk

January 20, 2024 by newhiphopnews

Kid Cudi is really manifesting all of his wishes within the creative world, because he recently linked up with The Alchemist for a studio session. Of course, the two previously worked together about 15 years ago, but Cudi had tweeted last year how he wanted to do a full album with the legendary producer. Uncle Al responded with enthusiasm, and it looks like those wishes are coming to fruition. Moreover, fans can’t wait to hear what the two could craft together, even if they don’t make a full project. What’s more is that this excitement ramped up thanks to the Cleveland creative walking back his retirement announcement from last year.

Furthermore, Kid Cudi expressed as such during an interview with Zane Lowe discussing his new album INSANO, his creative path, and so much more. “I was kind of out of it,” he remarked concerning his commitment to hanging it up. “I was just in this place where I was thinking about my future. It just didn’t seem like there was really an appetite for my music in the ways that it used to be.

Kid Cudi & The Alchemist Cooking Up In The Studio

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“I finally got through that whole retirement thing because I talked to my friend Brian,” Kid Cudi went on. “The world knows him as KAWS. He was like, ‘Hey man, I don’t mean to get in your business, but I think that you should rethink this retirement thing. I think you could be around for a long time.’ And to see Brian come to me real, like -– and he’s never approached me about my music or talked to me about my music ever before -– it hit me in a different way. And literally after that message, I was like, s**t man, he’s right. I’m just getting warm.“

Meanwhile, elsewhere during this conversation, the two briefly touched down on his beef with Lupe Fiasco. Given the Chicago rapper’s response to all this, it seems unlikely that this rift will heal anytime soon, which is unfortunate for fans of both. Regardless, it’s still exciting to see where Mr. Rager will go from here, and how he continues to become happier, healthier, and more at peace throughout his endeavors. Stick around on HNHH for more news and the latest updates on Kid Cudi and The Alchemist.

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The Alchemist Reacts To Billboard’s “Best Hip-Hop Producers” List Snub

December 30, 2023 by newhiphopnews

The Alchemist keeps proving himself as one of the game’s best producers year after year, but it seems like not everyone’s caught up. Moreover, Billboard recently put out their list of the 25 best hip-hop producers of all time, including Dr. Dre, The Neptunes, J Dilla, and many more. However, Uncle Al didn’t make the list, something that many hip-hop fans lamented online despite the incredibly steep competition across the culture’s 50 years. Via Twitter on Thursday (December 28), he suggested that he was pretty unbothered by the lack of mention while maintaining that the important thing is to focus on proving yourself right every single time.

“but my mommy said i’m the best!!! lol,” The Alchemist joked along with a praying hands emoji in response to Billboard‘s ranking. “Just keep going cr*zy,” he added about an hour later on the social media platform, seemingly continuing his train of thought. “Ignore the scoreboard. By the time they do the math you’ll be so up that it won’t even matter.” Given the California native’s incredible and prolific run of projects and credits in the 2020s decade alone, it’s clear that he’s not slowing down at all in this regard.

The Alchemist Responds To Billboard Omitting Him From Best Rap Producers List

Just keep going crazy. Ignore the scoreboard .
By the time they do the math you’ll be so up that it won’t even matter .

— Alchemist Type Beat (@Alchemist) December 29, 2023

Most recently– in fact, just yesterday at press time– The Alchemist released Hall & Nash 2, a collaborative tape with Conway The Machine and Westside Gunn. This was originally meant to be a sequel mixtape to the original Hall & Nash by the Griselda duo over half a decade ago. Alas, they used some of these tracks like “Ray Mysterio” for other projects, but they now released the original version of the record for fans to enjoy. Not only that, but apparently they’re coming through with an revamped version later in 2024, which should be very exciting.

Meanwhile, the 46-year-old also has some new music with Yasiin Bey coming soon, of which he previewed some at a recent show. As his collaborations expand and his status further cements itself in the contemporary game, he becomes much more than just a legend. LeBron’s still putting up spectacular numbers… why can’t beatmakers do the same? For more news and the latest updates on The Alchemist, log back into HNHH.

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