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.
Abstraction
The Alchemist Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
I am dancing sacrilegiously o' the sound of infectious tunes
There is no sunset, is no sunrise, things on earth don't seem as they are
The opal planet I once called home is now revolving a dying star
Strange, awakening from cryonic sleep, I vacate my homely hemisphere
My soul travels on turbulent thoughts whilst my innards remain here
I feel pity for the ignorant one who leaves the egg but the shell remains
Through the eyes in my head I hear the purple flower's scent
Casting shadows in the shade, lusting for the gates of jade
Through hallucinative wealth I cannot comprehend myself
Sterility, fertility, the life that dwells inside of me
I often stop to wonder whilst gazing to the sky
Is there life beyond the quasars, will I find out when I die?
Is there a being out there who gaze into the night
And see our burning star as a tiny spark of light?
Help me, I am watching atomic warfare from the safety of the moon
I am dancing sacrilegiously o' the sound of infectious tunes
There is no sunset, is no sunrise, things on earth don't seem as they are
The opal planet I once called home is now revolving a dying star
The lyrics to The Alchemist's song "Abstraction" explore themes of alienation, introspection, and the search for meaning in a changing world. The opening lines depict a detached observer, watching atomic warfare from the safety of the moon. This image symbolizes a sense of distance and disconnection from earthly affairs. The singer finds solace in dancing sacrilegiously to infectious tunes, using music as an escape from the harsh reality of a world in turmoil.
The lyrics go on to describe a feeling of estrangement from Earth, as if it is no longer recognizable. The lack of a sunset or sunrise signifies a loss of familiar rhythms and natural order. The opal planet, which was once the singer's home, is now revolving around a dying star. This suggests a sense of impermanence and decay, emphasizing the existential crisis faced by the singer.
The next stanza introduces the concept of awakening from cryonic sleep, metaphorically representing a spiritual awakening or a new perspective on life. The singer's soul seems to transcend physical boundaries, while their inner self remains grounded. The severance of umbilical ties implies emotional detachment and the struggle to find identity outside of familiar structures.
The lyrics further explore the singer's search for understanding and self-realization. They hear the scent of a purple flower through the eyes in their head, suggesting a synesthetic experience where senses merge. They long for the gates of jade, symbolizing the desire for enlightenment and transcendence. However, they also acknowledge their inability to fully comprehend themselves through hallucinative wealth, hinting at the limitations of human perception and understanding.
The lyrics conclude with contemplation about the existence of extraterrestrial life and the insignificance of humanity in the cosmic vastness. The singer wonders if there are beings out there who view our burning star as merely a tiny spark of light. This inquiry reflects a yearning for connection, a desire to find meaning and purpose beyond our own existence.
Line by Line Meaning
Help me, I am watching atomic warfare from the safety of the moon
I am observing the destructive nature of human conflict from a distant place, where I feel safe and detached.
I am dancing sacrilegiously o' the sound of infectious tunes
I am joyfully expressing myself through unconventional forms of music that captivate and influence others.
There is no sunset, is no sunrise, things on earth don't seem as they are
The usual rhythms and cycles of nature are disrupted, causing a sense of disorientation and distortion in the earthly realm.
The opal planet I once called home is now revolving a dying star
The once vibrant and thriving planet I considered my home is now orbiting around a dying star, symbolizing the decline and decay of its existence.
Strange, awakening from cryonic sleep, I vacate my homely hemisphere
In a peculiar manner, I arise from a state of suspended animation, leaving behind my familiar surroundings and embracing a new perspective.
My soul travels on turbulent thoughts whilst my innards remain here
My inner self explores tumultuous ideas and emotions, even as my physical body remains in its current location.
I feel pity for the ignorant one who leaves the egg but the shell remains
I empathize with those who venture into the unknown, only to find themselves trapped by their own limitations and familiar surroundings.
The severance of umbilical ties multiples his deepest pains
The breaking of intimate connections intensifies one's most profound sorrows and struggles.
Through the eyes in my head I hear the purple flower's scent
I perceive the essence of a purple flower not only through visual observation but also through a sensory experience that transcends traditional perception.
Casting shadows in the shade, lusting for the gates of jade
I cast shadows in the darkness, yearning for access to something precious and elusive, symbolized by the gates of jade.
Through hallucinative wealth I cannot comprehend myself
In the realm of distorted reality and altered states of consciousness, I struggle to fully grasp and understand my own identity.
Sterility, fertility, the life that dwells inside of me
Within me, there exists both a void and the potential for creation, a juxtaposition of barrenness and fertility that embodies the essence of life.
I often stop to wonder whilst gazing to the sky
Frequently, I pause to contemplate and marvel at the vastness and mysteries of the universe while looking upwards.
Is there life beyond the quasars, will I find out when I die?
I ponder the existence of life beyond distant astronomical objects and wonder if this profound question will only be answered upon my own death.
Is there a being out there who gaze into the night
Could there be another entity in the universe that also gazes at the night sky, contemplating its wonders and searching for meaning?
And see our burning star as a tiny spark of light?
Would this being perceive our own blazing star as a minuscule, insignificant source of illumination amidst the vast cosmic expanse?
Lyrics © BMG RIGHTS MANAGEMENT US, LLC
Written by: AGIUS, BRAY, HOLDER, TORKINGTON
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind