The Alchemist (producer)

Infobox musical artist 2
Name = The Alchemist
Birth_name = Alan Maman


Background = non_performing_personnel
Origin = Beverly Hills, California
Occupation = Rapper, record producer
Genre = Hip Hop
Religoun = Judaism
Label = Shady Records
ALC
Koch
Decon
Years_active = 1993–present
Associated_acts = Prodigy, Mobb Deep, Infamous Mobb, Evidence, Dilated Peoples, Nas

Alan Daniel Maman, better known as The Alchemist, is one of hip hop's leading producers. He hails from affluent Beverly Hills, California. After rising to prominence in the late 1990s as a close associate of Dilated Peoples and Mobb Deep, he went on to produce for many of hip hop's leading artists in the 2000s.

Career

Early

As a teenager, Al began to identify strongly with the rebellious lyrics and urban sounds of hip-hop, and he began writing his own lyrics as a creative outlet. He joined up with other like-minded artists who wrote lyrics and rebelled strongly against their "uptight" suburban surroundings. He was also associated with Shifty Shellshock of Crazy Town, Evidence of Dilated Peoples and Scott Caan, son of James Caan. Al and Scott decided to become a duo named The Whooliganz. While rhyming at a party in L.A., they attracted the attention of B-Real of Cypress Hill. He invited the teens to join his crew, The Soul Assassins, which also included the groups House of Pain and Funkdoobiest. In 1993, the Whooliganz released their first single, "Put Your Handz Up." The song received little radio airplay and their record label, Tommy Boy Records, decided to shelve their album. Rejected, Scott focused his creative energy on acting while Al became interested in process of making hip-hop beats

DJ Muggs took Al under his wing and taught him how to use a sampler and mixing board. After helping to produce a few tracks for Cypress Hill, Al became the main producer for his childhood friend, Evidence and his group Dilated Peoples.

Late 1990s-Present

When Dilated debuted in 1998, they were an underground sensation creating a huge buzz about the man behind the beats. Alchemist also produced several tracks on the debut album Focused Daily by Defari, another Dilated and Alkaholik affiliate. In 1999, Muggs introduced Al to his good friends, the popular hip-hop group Mobb Deep. Al produced two songs for their Murda Muzik album. Impressed by his production skills and street smarts, Mobb Deep took him under their wing, using his beats on all their subsequent albums. As Alchemist's profile increased, he went on to produce for many of hip hop's most successful and prominent artists, such as Nas, Fat Joe, Jadakiss, Ghostface Killah and Snoop Dogg. He has also remixed songs for bands and artists in other genres such as Linkin Park and Morcheeba. Al stayed loyal to his old friends, continuing to produce for Dilated, Cypress Hill, Everlast (formerly of House of Pain) and Crazy Town. He also enjoys producing for lesser-known underground rappers, often giving them some of his best beats. In 2004, 11 years after his rapping career folded, The Alchemist returned with his long-awaited debut album, "1st Infantry." The album yielded the hit single "Hold You Down" (featuring Prodigy, and Nina Sky), which hit number ninety-five on the Billboard Hot 100 in 2005.

Alchemist has been ed by underground rapper Ras Kass on the track "Kiss U". The producer of Ras Kass' "Home Sweet Home" was the Alchemist. The track was to be the lead single, yet the Alchemist resold the beat to Jadakiss, of The Lox fame. Jada proceeded to release his version (We Gon' Make It) first, beating Ras to the punch. Ras attempted to stop the release to no success. [ [http://www.altrap.net/reviews/history/raskass/vg.html top 40 pop music hip at altrap.net ] ]

Alchemist was signed on as the official tour DJ for Eminem on the 2005 "Anger Management 3 Tour", replacing the recently-ousted DJ Green Lantern. [http://www.allhiphop.com/hiphopnews/?I=4380] However on July 13 2005, the tour bus carrying Eminem's entourage (including rapper Stat Quo as well as Alchemist) swerved off the road and turned over. Alchemist was treated for broken ribs and a collapsed lung. [ [http://www.vh1.com/news/articles/1505729/07142005/stat_quo.jhtml Anger Management Tour Bus Crashes; Stat Quo, Eminem's DJ Among Those Injured | News | VH1.com ] ]

Discography

Albums

*"1st Infantry" (2004)
*"Return of the Mac" (with Prodigy) (2007)
*"Chemical Warfare" (2008)

Mixtapes

*"The Cutting Room Floor Vol. I" (2003)
*"No Days Off" (2006)
*"The Chemistry Files Vol. 1" (2006)
*"The Cutting Room Floor Vol. II" (2008)

Instrumentals

*"Action/Drama" (2001)
*"Gangster Theme Music" (2000)
*"The Ultimate Music Machine" (2002)
*"Lab Tested" (2004)
*"Rapper's Best Friend" (2007)

ingles

*"Block Value/ More Like Us" (Feat. Mobb Deep & Big Noyd) (2001)
*"We Gonna Make It" (Feat. Jadakiss, Styles P, Eve)
*"The Man: The Icon" (Feat. Big Daddy Kane) (2001)
*"Different Worlds/ B.I.G. T.W.I.N.S." (Feat. Twins) (2001)
*"Bangers" (Feat. Lloyd Banks) (2004)
*"Hold You Down" (2004)

Production credits

* 1999: "Build & Destroy" (Royce Da 5'9" album) : "I'm the King"
* 1999: "Focused Daily" (Defari album) : "Focused Daily"
* 1999: "A Tear for the Ghetto" (Group Home album) : "Stupid Muthafuckas (30 Minutes to War)"
* 1999: "Home Field Advantage" (The High & Mighty album) : "Top Prospects" & "Open Mic Night (Remix)" (featuring Thirstin Howl III & Wordsworth)
* 1999: "Balance" (Swollen Members album) : "Front Street", "Circuit Breaker", "Strength", & "Horrified Nights"
* 1999: "Murda Muzik" (Mobb Deep album) : "Thug Muzik" (featuring Infamous Mobb & Chinky) & "The Realest" (featuring Kool G. Rap)
* 1999: "Internal Affairs" (Pharoahe Monch album) : "No Mercy" (featuring M.O.P.)
* 2000: "The Platform" (Dilated Peoples album) : "The Platform", "Guaranteed", "The Main Event", "Annihilation", & "The Last Line of Defense"
* 2000: "The Reunion" (Capone-N-Noreaga album) : "Queens" (featuring Complexions) & "Bang Bang" (featuring Foxy Brown)
* 2001: "H.N.I.C." (Prodigy album) : "Keep It Thoro", "Three" (featuring Cormega), "Trials of Love" (featuring B.K.), & "Veteran's Memorial"
* 2001: "Endangered Species" (Big Pun album) : "Mama"
* 2001: "The Realness" (Cormega album) : "Fallen Soldiers (Remix)"
* 2001: "Baldhead Slick & da Click" (Guru album) : "In Here" (featuring Timbo King, Killah Priest & Black Jesus)
* 2001: "He Think He Raw" (Casual album) : "I Gotta (Get Down)"
* 2001: "Kiss tha Game Goodbye" (Jadakiss album) : "We Gonna Make It" (featuring Styles P) & "Feel Me (Skit)"
* 2001: "Jealous Ones Still Envy (J.O.S.E.)" (Fat Joe album) : "Definition of a Don" (featuring Remy Martin)
* 2001: "Expansion Team" (Dilated Peoples album) : "Live on Stage", "Worst Comes to Worst" & "Panic"
* 2001: "Bad Dreams" (Swollen Members album) : "Bad Dreams"
* 2001: "Bulletproof Wallets" (Ghostface Killah album) : "The Forest", "The Juks" (featuring Trife) & "Street Chemistry" (featuring Prodigal Sunn & Trife)
* 2001: "Infamy" (Mobb Deep album) : "Get at Me," "Home Sweet Home"
* 2002: "A Gangster and a Gentleman" (Styles P album) : "A Gangster and a Gentleman" & Black Magic" (featuring Angie Stone)
* 2002: "The Lost Tapes" (Nas album) : "My Way" & "No Idea's Original"
* 2002: "The True Meaning" (Cormega album) : "The Legacy"
* 2002: "Loyalty" (Fat Joe album) : "Bust at You" (featuring Scarface & Baby)
* 2002: "Reanimation" (Linkin Park album) : "Frgt/10" (featuring Chali 2Na)
* 2002: "God's Son" (Nas album) : "Book of Rhymes", "Mastermind" & "Revolutionary Warfare" (featuring Lake)
* 2003: "Walk Witt Me" (Sheek Louch album) : "Turn It Up"
* 2003: "Only the Strong" (Big Noyd album) : "Only the Strong", "Shoot 'Em Up (Bang Bang) Part 1", "Noyd Holdin' It Down" (featuring Havoc), "Shoot 'Em Up (Bang Bang) Part 2" (featuring Mobb Deep), "Air It Out" (featuring Havoc), & "N.O.Y.D."
* 2003: "The Awakening" (PMD album) : "The Awakening"
* 2004: "Neighborhood Watch" (Dilated Peoples album) : "Marathon", "Neighborhood Watch", "Poisonous" (featuring Devin the Dude), & "World on Wheels"
* 2004: "Till Death Do Us Part" (Cypress Hill album : "Latin Thugs" (featuring Tego Calderon)
* 2004: "Amerikaz Nightmare" (Mobb Deep album) : "Win or Lose", "Got It Twisted", "When U Hear The", & "Got It Twisted (Remix)" (featuring Twista)
* 2004: "Sweat" (Nelly album) : "Playa" (featuring Mobb Deep & Missy Elliott)
* 2004: "" (Snoop Dogg album) : "(Intro) I Love to Give You Light"
* 2004: "Kiss of Death" (Jadakiss album) : "Still Feel Me"
* 2005: "The Diamond Mine" (Diamond D album) : "Y'all Niggaz Need to Know"
* 2005: "After Taxes" (Sheek Louch album) : "Movie Niggas" (featuring Ghostface Killah)
* 2005: "Who's Hard?" (Big Shug album) : "Who? (Got My Back)" & "Who's Hard?"
* 2005: "Witness My Growth" (Elzhi album) : "The Alchemist"
* 2006: "Street Music" (Defari album) : "Make My Own" (featuring Evidence)
* 2006: "Black Magic" (Swollen Members album) : "Weight" (featuring Ghostface Killah & The Alchemist)
* 2006: "Time is Money" (Styles P album) : "I'm Black" (featuring Marsha Ambrosius)
* 2006: "Blood Money" (Mobb Deep album) : "The Infamous" (featuring 50 Cent)
* 2006: "Killa Season" (Cam'Ron album) : "Wet Wipes"
* 2006: "20/20" (Dilated Peoples album) : "Back Again" & "20/20"
* 2006: "You Already Know" (Agallah album) : "Ride Out (O.G.G.G.)" (featuring The Alchemist) & "On the Ave"
* 2006: "The Re-Up - Eminem Presents : "We Ride For Shady" (Obie Trice & Cashis); "There He Is" (Bobby Creekwater); "Tryin' Ta Win" (Stat Quo)
* 2006: "The Medicine" (Planet Asia album) : "Over Your Head"
* 2006: "Eat or Die" (Ras Kass album) : "Get It In"
* 2007: "Return of the Mac" (Prodigy album) : All songs
* 2007: "The Death of Tragedy" (Tragedy Khadafi album) : "Milk Murder"
* 2007: "Desire" (Pharoahe Monch album) : "Desire"
* 2007: "The Weatherman LP" (Evidence album) : "Letyourselfgo" (featuring Phonte), "Chase the Clouds Away" (featuring Kamilah), "Evidence is Everywhere", "Line of Scrimmage" (featuring Slug), & "Born in LA" (featuring Chace Infinite & Sick Jacken)
* 2007: " Super Gangster (Extraordinary Gentleman)" (Styles P album) : "Green Piece of Paper" & "All I Know is Pain"'
* 2008: " Kiss My Ass" (Jadakiss album) "From Now Til Then'"
* 2008: " The Elephant in the Room" (Fat Joe album) : "My Conscience" (featuring KRS-One)
* 2008: " H.N.I.C. Pt. 2" (Prodigy album) : "The Life", "Young Veterans", "Illuminati", "Veteran's Memorial Part II" and "Dirty New Yorker"
* 2008: "Deified" (Keak Da Sneak album) "That Go (Remix)"
* 2008: "Tha Carter III" (Lil Wayne album) "You Ain't Got Nuthin'" (featuring Fabolous & Juelz Santana)
* 2008: "I.A.Dap" (Lil' Dap album) : "Intro I.A.Dap" & "Get It"
* 2008: "Politics As Usual" (Termanology album) : "Hood Shit" (featuring Prodigy)
* 2008: "Channel 10" (Capone-N-Noreaga album) : "Follow The Dollar"

References

*cite web|url=http://remixmag.com/artists/remix_popular_science/|title=The Alchemist—Popular Science|author=Winning, Brolin|publisher="Remix"|date=2004-12-01|accessdate=2007-10-03
*cite web|url=http://wm06.allmusic.com/cg/amg.dll?p=amg&sql=11:fjfqxqyhldse~T1|title=The Alchemist: Biography|author=Brown, Marisa|publisher=Allmusic|accessdate=2007-10-03

External links

Official websites
* [http://www.alchemistbeats.com The Alchemist Official Site]
* [http://www.myspace.com/thealchemist The Alchemist] at MySpace
* [http://www.mtv.com/music/artist/alchemist_1_/artist.jhtml The Alchemist] at [http://www.mtv.com MTV.com]

Interviews
* [http://www.worldstarhiphop.com/videos/video.php?v=wshh2caeC01Nu35jFbo8 The Alchemist speaks on his upcoming second LP 'Chemical Warfare']
* [http://www.complex.com/CELEBRITIES/My-Complex/The-Alchemist Interview with The Alchemist] at Complex Magazine
* [http://www.ballerstatus.com/article/features/2008/01/3833/ Alchemist: Mixing Dangerous Chemicals]
* [http://www.lijn5.com/page/popupplayer/162499/01:02:05 Radio interview with The Alchemist]
* [http://www.freshflixx.com/channel/sohh-tv/index.php?bcpid=376530222&bclid=192880054&bctid=443670645 60 Seconds With... The Alchemist]
* [http://www.hiphopdx.com/index/features/id.413 The Alchemist: Eminem's Official DJ]
* [http://www.onestopbeats.com/alchemist.html OneStopBeats.com: The Alchemist]
* [http://www.dubcnm.com/videos/alchemist-dubcnn_interview_sept_06-(dubcnn).wmv Dubcnn.com Video Interview]
* [http://www.dubcnn.com/interviews/alchemist/ Dubcnn.com Text Interview]
* [http://smokingsection.uproxx.com/TSS/?p=635 TSS Presents SMoking Sessions With Stat Quo & Th Alchemist | The Smoking Section]
* [http://www.undergroundhiphop.com/video/detail.asp?=Alchemist-Interview-Pt.-1-Live-At-Rock-The-Bells-2007--New-York-NY--72907&ID=1037 UGHH: Alchemist - 'Interview Pt. 1']
* [http://www.undergroundhiphop.com/video/detail.asp?=Alchemist-Interview-Pt.-2-Live-At-Rock-The-Bells-2007--New-York-NY--72907&ID=1038 UGHH: Alchemist - 'Interview Pt. 2']
* [http://indie2industry.com/havoc-alchemist-interview/ Havoc & Alchemist Interview]
* [http://www.brightcove.tv/title.jsp?title=1125874510 HipHopGame Interview - The Alchemist]