It’s always interesting, exciting, and sometimes mind-blowing to see two artists who you never thought would team up in a million years get to work together. Of course, that’s just the boundary-pushing, collaborative, and ingenious spirit of hip-hop at work. When you think of The Alchemist’s woozy, cavernous, and often abstract beats, Lil Yachty might not be the first person you think could ride them well. However, following a recent collab between the two along with Draft Day, “SUMMER SUPERSTARS,” we now know that they actually have a lot of chemistry. In fact, they’ve had it for a while, as the Atlanta rapper recently took to Twitter to hint at more to come.
“i’ve for many years secretly enjoyed recording on alchemist beats..,” Lil Yachty wrote along with the visualizer for the track. “i think it’s time to drop a couple of them now..” However, for some die-hard fans of the “Strike” MC’s recent material, this is actually an obvious and cheeky link-up. After all, on his most recent album Let’s Start Here, Yachty has a song titled “The Alchemist” on it, so maybe sone listeners saw this one coming.
Furthermore, it’s nonetheless exciting to think of what the two could’ve cooked up together despite their differing styles. For example, maybe Uncle Al tackled more bubbly and synthetic production styles, or Yachty put on his old-head lyrical cap and spit absolute fire over some grimy boom-bap. Either way, their creativity and vision is key to their artistry, and so a successful result shouldn’t be too surprising. Regardless, it signifies them stepping out of their comfort zone and finding common ground. Even if it doesn’t result in the most amazing songs ever, it’s a commendable effort.
Meanwhile, maybe we’ll hear Lil Boat on Al’s next release, the last of which was the Flying High EP. That also boasted plenty of guests that, while not too similar to Yachty, showed that anyone working with the legendary producer gets that spark of inspiration in them. All we can do now is wait to see what’s in store. With that in mind, stay logged into HNHH for the latest news and updates on Lil Yachty and The Alchemist.
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.
Listening to an Alchemist beat is unlike anything else in hip-hop. The boom-bap icon’s beats convey pure happiness and freedom, ranging from his works with Boldy James to Freddie Gibbs. Raised in Beverly Hills, California, he quickly identified with the rebellious nature of hip-hop. By the mere age of 14, The Alchemist, born Alan Daniel Maman, decided to spearhead hip hop duo The Whooliganz in 1991 alongside Scott Caan, who went by the moniker Mad Skillz. They initially grabbed the attention of B-Real of Cypress Hill. While the two recorded an entire album for Tommy Boy Records, the label would decide not to release their project in 1993 after their debut single failed to reach commercial success. Eventually, Caan would venture into acting to great success. However, The Alchemist fell further in love with the creative process of hip-hop.
While The Alchemist’s first musical initiative had failed, hip-hop contemporaries noticed his hunger. He would quickly become fascinated with the production aspect of rap. Under DJ Muggs’ guidance, he learned the functionalities of using a sampler and a mixing board. By the late 1990s, The Alchemist had become the go-to producer for Dilated Peoples. This opened the gates for his work with Mobb Deep and eventually, collaborations alongside Nas, Ghostface Killah, and Snoop Dogg. He became a household name in hip-hop, and by 2005, Eminem recruited him to be his official DJ under Shady Records. While he had reached the pinnacle of hip-hop production by the 2000s, his heart remained in the rugged sounds of underground hip-hop. On top of his production credits, he also released several solo projects, including 2004’s 1st Infantry and 2022’s The Alchemist Sandwich.
The Alchemist’s Beats Have Revived New York Rap
The Alchemist’s production style attempts to unite the sound of the underground with radio. Polished yet rugged, his golden-age sampled loops attracted a wide range of elite MCs from New York to Los Angeles. However, his reputation is most associated with the long-lasting trait of hard work. There’s seemingly an announcement of a new Alchemist-produced album every few weeks. So far, 2023 has seen the release of Larry June’s The Great Escape. The project features mellow beats entirely created by The Alchemist that pair perfectly with June’s laid-back California flow. In addition, he contributed to an astounding 17 hip-hop albums in 2022 alone.
While The Alchemist grew up in Southern California, his beat-making days have most heavily influenced the revived boom-bap sound of New York. He’s played a crucial role in reviving the East Coast underground through his many production credits with artists such as Earl Sweatshirt, Navy Blue, Wiki, and the Griselda crew. He told Complex, “My process is to become friends first, or just to get to know a person and like them. When I think back on a lot of the good music I made with people, when we first met, there was a moment when I was like, ‘I like this guy.’” That perspective is a fresh one in hip-hop, especially as many producers work with artists for underlying financial motivations.
The Alchemist Supports Smaller Artists
That focus on creating great music has been more apparent as The Alchemist has continued to develop as a producer. Rather than work with the biggest MCs in the game, many of his recent records have been with underground and independent artists who are carving out their legacy. However, that hard work would culminate with a Grammy nomination for Freddie Gibbs’ Alfredo in 2020. Combining Italian mafia themes and electrifying guitar strings, many hold Alfredo as the best album in Gibbs’ deep discography. The Alchemist continued that classic streak since then, releasing critically acclaimed projects such as Roc Marciano’s The Elephant Man’s Bones and Curren$y’s Continuance.
Many modern-day beat lovers wouldn’t know it, but The Alchemist is also a talented verse-dropper. While he briefly ditched his pen game after his teenage project wasn’t deemed entertaining enough to hit the charts, he’s still dabbled with creating his own verses during his spare time. Take 2012’s Russian Roulette, a project that he expanded on with Tidal. “At first it was instrumental, then I filled it in with some rhymes and just wanted to spread my wings a little bit as far as the stuff I was accustomed to making. I wanted to subvert what people were expecting and just go left a little bit.” Most recently, he traded bars with Hit-Boy on “Slipping Into Darkness” off of Surf Or Drown.
Only Getting Started
Now approaching the halfway mark into 2023, The Alchemist has yet to announce another project for us to look forward to. However, Vince Staples recently expressed frustration regarding the leak of his unreleased Alchemist-aided tracks. If the past is any indicator, we’ll be hearing much more from one of boom-bap’s most iconic producers by the end of the year. The Alchemist has garnered a reputation as hip-hop’s hardest worker throughout a career that now surpasses three decades. Impressively enough, it looks as if the 45-year-old is only just getting started.
