As a teen, 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, among whom were Shifty Shellshock of Crazy Town, Evidence of Dilated Peoples and Scott Caan, son of James Caan. They would often hang out in urban areas of Los Angeles and participated in typical teenage rebellious activities like partying, smoking marijuana, and general mischief.
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. When Dilated debuted in 1998, they were an underground sensation creating a huge buzz about the man behind those incredible beats.
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, Illa Ghee, and Nina Sky), which hit number ninety-five on the Billboard Hot 100 in 2005.
Alchemist was the official tour DJ for Eminem on his 2005 Anger Management 3 Tour, replacing the recently-ousted DJ Green Lantern. 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.
The Alchemist is one of the music producers behind the video game Grand Theft Auto: Chinatown Wars released by Rockstar Games. He was also on Tim Westwood TV, when Eminem, Royce Da 5'9" and Mr. Porter freestyled. During an interview with Worldwide Conspiracy Radio, The Alchemist revealed he would be dropping a 2-part project with fellow West Coast producer Oh No entitled Gangrene, the first to be released in July, the second in November, both on Decon. Alchemist was also the DJ for the Eminem set on the BBC1 chat-show Jonathan Ross on June 4, 2010.
Alchemist is Eminem's official DJ, since DJ Green Lantern departed from Shady Records in 2005 because of a dispute related to the feud of 50 Cent and Jadakiss. In 2006, Eminem released a collaboration album with Shady Records called Eminem Presents: The Re-Up. Since the Alchemist is his official DJ, he produced some of the tracks on the mixtape, as well as compiling the album in a mixtape fashion. On December 18, 2013, he was named the runner-up for Producer of the Year by HipHopDX.
6 Five Heartbeats
The Alchemist Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
Lord clearing out like roaches when the light come on
That motherfucker walk out, don't nobody know what happened
He still praying
Yeah, yeah, yeah
Yeah, yeah, ayy
Yeah
Couldn't buy no birds, we fly together, ayy
How is every single rapper been a dopeman
Really tryna kill cuh, lift it up with both hands
Is you pushing for real? Talking rock, Xans
I done slid enough to see a Glock jam
Couldn't take the heat so you bought fan, yeah
Every stream freshwater, limousine tints sparkle
If I can't see you, you got something to hide
Told me all I ever do is fuck you and lie, yeah
At least you happy though, bagged the yo
My momma helped my daddy bag the dope, that's real love
I'm searching for some real love
Someone to set my heart free
Shot him on the eighth block, I hope nobody saw me
When there's problems, call me, they know the way my heartbeat
(They know the way my heartbeat, they know the way my heartbeat...)
I told you, you know how I am
You go and sort him out 'cause he wasn't cool 'round here
The lyrics to The Alchemist's song "6 Five Heartbeats" depict a raw and gritty narrative of street life and the consequences that come with it. The opening lines "Blew-blew-blew-blew-blew, Lord clearing out like roaches when the light come on" suggest a sudden and chaotic event where someone quickly disappears, leaving everyone around in confusion. This is followed by the phrase "He still praying," which could imply that despite the turmoil, this person still has hope or faith in some form.
The subsequent lines highlight the camaraderie among individuals in this environment, with references to having each other's backs and sticking together. The line "How is every single rapper been a dopeman" is an observation on the prevalence of rappers glorifying drug dealing in their music. The lyrics also touch upon the dangers and risks involved, such as violence and gun jams. The mention of buying a fan to cope with the heat metaphorically represents seeking a solution to a difficult situation, though it may not be effective.
Moving forward, the lyrics take a more personal and emotional turn. The line "Every stream freshwater, limousine tints sparkle" suggests that there is something hidden or obscured from view, indicating a lack of transparency or honesty. The artist reflects on a past relationship where he admits to misleading and betraying his partner, but acknowledges that they are at least happy with someone else now. The mention of his parents being involved in dealing drugs adds a layer of complexity to his upbringing and the notion of love within the context of criminal activity.
Overall, "6 Five Heartbeats" depicts the harsh realities of street life, the consequences of one's actions, and the contrasting themes of loyalty and love amidst chaos.
Line by Line Meaning
Blew-blew-blew-blew-blew
The situation escalated quickly and explosively.
Lord clearing out like roaches when the light come on
People scattered and disappeared quickly as soon as they sensed trouble.
That motherfucker walk out, don't nobody know what happened
He left the scene without anyone knowing or understanding the full story.
He still praying
Despite the chaos, he is still hopeful and seeking guidance from a higher power.
You had a blow-up, we had Beretta's
While you experienced a major success, we were armed and ready for any potential threats.
Couldn't buy no birds, we fly together
We couldn't afford luxuries, but we stuck together and supported each other.
How is every single rapper been a dopeman
It's surprising that so many rappers claim to have been involved in drug dealing.
Really tryna kill cuh, lift it up with both hands
They are genuinely attempting to harm someone, lifting the weapon with both hands for maximum force.
Is you pushing for real? Talking rock, Xans
Are you really involved in drug trafficking? Are you just bragging about selling cocaine and Xanax?
I done slid enough to see a Glock jam
I have been in enough dangerous situations to witness a Glock handgun malfunction.
Couldn't take the heat so you bought fan, yeah
Unable to handle the pressure and scrutiny, you resorted to seeking support and validation.
Every stream freshwater, limousine tints sparkle
Every source of income is legal and clean, as shown by the sparkling tinted windows of luxury cars.
If I can't see you, you got something to hide
If I cannot have transparency and trust in a relationship, it implies that you are hiding something.
Told me all I ever do is fuck you and lie, yeah
You accused me of only being interested in having casual sex with you and being deceitful.
At least you happy though, bagged the yo
Even though you found happiness elsewhere, you managed to secure a significant financial gain.
My momma helped my daddy bag the dope, that's real love
My mother actively assisted my father in packaging illegal drugs, which demonstrates their deep love and commitment to each other.
I'm searching for some real love
I am longing for an authentic and genuine love connection.
Someone to set my heart free
I desire someone who can liberate and open up my heart.
Shot him on the eighth block, I hope nobody saw me
I fatally shot him on the eighth street, hoping that no witnesses were present to identify me.
When there's problems, call me, they know the way my heartbeat
In times of trouble or need, people instinctively contact me because they know I am reliable and trustworthy.
(They know the way my heartbeat, they know the way my heartbeat...)
Reiterating that people are aware of and familiar with the dependability and responsiveness of the artist.
I told you, you know how I am
I previously informed you about my personality and behavior.
You go and sort him out 'cause he wasn't cool 'round here
You take care of him and handle the situation because he was not showing respect or behaving appropriately within our community.
Writer(s): Alan Maman, Vincent Staples
Contributed by Kennedy H. Suggest a correction in the comments below.