Here, you can hear Al exploring a new style, where his drums become less of the core of his beats, and more of a compliment to his loop collaging. But its production gives off a superior ethereal quality.
Blu, Planet Asia, & Killa Ben - “Doo Wop” (2011)Īn offering from one of Alchemist’s own tapes, The Cutting Room Floor 3, “Doo Top” fell a bit under the radar because of bigger name features on the tape. The beat feels like a victorious reflection. This song feels like Noyd is looking out from a balcony in a newly-purchased apartment in NYC that is high enough he can see his old hood in the distance. Arik Einstein and Miki Gavrielov’s 1980 composition, “ Arik Einstein’s היא יושבה לחלון (She Sits by the Window),” is the sample at the core, but it’s complimented by Al’s driving percussion pattern, resulting in a beat that makes you rock with it.Īs the standout track off Rawkus Records’ second installment of their Lyricist Lounge series, Mobb Deep affiliate Big Noyd dips and weaves over Alchemist’s production, the rapper sounding just as powerful and triumphant as the horn samples that accompany him. The main difference is how much more anthemic and clean it feels. The instrumental has a lot of the same elements as “Dead End Street:” grimy piano, horror movie-esque transitional strings, and hitting drums. Joey Crack, Big Pun, and the Terror Squad brought The Alchemist aboard for their self-titled debut, with the producer crafting the beats for “ 99 Live” and “Bring It On.” Although both were breakout placements for Al in his early career, “Bring It On” is the standout, the beat more reflective of Al’s distinct sound and approach to producing. The sampled voice is from Camel’s “A Heart’s Desire,” which Al morphs into an alien-like sound that fits within the aesthetic of Mac’s album like a ball in a glove.
Here, Alchemist masters the warped vocal effect to match the tone of Mac Miller’s most interesting and experimental project he had released up until that point - 2013’s Watching Movies With The Sound Off. These are the 17 best Alchemist beats of all time. Most importantly, each soundscape had to give “that feeling” - from the first noise to the final expression. Also, the production could only be credited as solo. No album could have more than one entry, and no main artist on a track could be repeated unless it was Alchemist himself. When tasked with breaking down 17 of his best beats, some ground rules had to be set. From having started in the mid-’90s touring with Cypress Hill and learning to make beats from DJ Muggs to being a Grammy-nominated producer for his work on Freddie Gibbs’ 2020 Alfredo album, Alchemist has conquered production in more eras of hip-hop than most legends. The most impressive part of Alchemist’s output, however, is his longevity. He finds the most magical and meditative moments in the samples he flips, manipulating older musical pieces into new mosaics of sound.
He is a tactician in finding the symmetry between the technical and chemical elements that structure an instrumental. A fusion of the words alchemy and chemistry, Alchemist brings both of these fields of study together as a producer. Legendary producer The Alchemist has conquered production in more eras of hip-hop than most legends. Photo Credit: Brad Barket/Getty Images From Buc Fifty’s “Dead End Street” to Jadakiss’ “We Gonna Make It,” these are the 17 best Alchemist beats of all time.įor his multi-decade-long career, Daniel Alan Maman, better known as the Alchemist, has balanced the philosophies of craft and instinct in his production.