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.
Brother Jedidiah
The Alchemist Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
To commemorate a very good man (I believe in you) Brother Jedidiah
He stands about 5'8″ (I believe in you, tell 'em brother)
Two hundred and thirty seven thousand pounds of pure speed (tell 'em brother)
From the northern coast, he's comin'
I wear the yamaka to court to try to gain some sort of leverage
My lawyer puts a little molly in the judge's beverage
I'mma buy him a motherfucking Nissan Murano
Rabbi Rodriguez did the brisk
Then a little piece of fish fell on the dish that he sniffed
Like a dog that's his dick that he split
So he could go pick up his kids in a brand new whip (well)
What the fuck
Oh pardon me
I was out here busy living your lies
You been dead your whole life
Oy Alfonzo, pull up the car
Rikers Island runway show, better than Yeezy season
This year the color green is in
Dog I'm fucking crazy like velcro sneakers
I'm playing with shit
Dog, I ain't playing with shit
Your frame will lay in ditch
My chick is Asian with a twist
I'm so hard you could cook a piece of bacon on my dick (on my dick)
Better be turkey though
So if these turkeys try to murk me, Mo
I let these turkeys know that I'm in Turkey hoe, shit
We was forty-seven and a half deep on the strip
You was in front of the store with Team Jordan's and yellow pajama pants
That's a big no no
That's a big no no!
The lyrics to The Alchemist's song "Brother Jedidiah" tell the story of a gathering to celebrate and honor a man named Brother Jedidiah. He is described as a formidable figure, standing at 5'8" and weighing 237,000 pounds of pure speed. The song begins with a playful and humorous tone as the lyrics mention wearing a yamaka (a Jewish religious head covering) to court in an attempt to gain leverage. The singer's lawyer even resorts to drugging the judge in order to aid their case. This unconventional approach extends to the point of buying the lawyer a Nissan Murano as a gesture of gratitude.
The song takes a sudden shift in tone as Rabbi Rodriguez performs a circumcision (a procedure known as "the brisk"). However, there is a comical incident where a piece of fish falls on the rabbi's dish, likened to a dog sniffing its own split penis. This leads him to pick up his children in a brand new car. The exaggerated and absurd nature of these events adds to the song's humor.
Amidst the humor, The Alchemist also makes references to incarceration, fashion, and his own self-proclaimed insanity. He mentions a runway show at Rikers Island, suggesting that it surpasses Yeezy season (referring to Kanye West's fashion line). He declares his own madness, comparing it to velcro sneakers and asserting his lack of interest in playing games. The lyrics take a more serious turn as the singer discusses encountering adversaries on the streets and asserts his dominance and resilience.
Line by Line Meaning
We are gathered here today, way-oh-way-oh
We have come together in this momentous occasion, celebrating with joy and enthusiasm
To commemorate a very good man (I believe in you) Brother Jedidiah
In honor of Brother Jedidiah, a truly admirable individual (I have faith in your goodness)
He stands about 5'8″ (I believe in you, tell 'em brother)
His physical stature is approximately 5'8″ (I have faith in your abilities, express it, brother)
Two hundred and thirty seven thousand pounds of pure speed (tell 'em brother)
His sheer quickness is comparable to a weight of two hundred and thirty seven thousand pounds (share this fact, brother)
From the northern coast, he's comin'
He hails from the northern coast and is approaching with determination
I wear the yamaka to court to try to gain some sort of leverage
In a strategic move, I wear a yamaka to court hoping to acquire an advantage
My lawyer puts a little molly in the judge's beverage
To further our cause, my legal counsel discreetly adds a small amount of a powerful substance into the judge's drink
As a team player, you know what
Being a conscientious collaborator, you understand
I'mma buy him a motherfucking Nissan Murano
I will generously purchase him a Nissan Murano, without hesitation
Rabbi Rodriguez did the brisk
Rabbi Rodriguez performed the religious rite of circumcision
Then a little piece of fish fell on the dish that he sniffed
Subsequently, a small portion of fish accidentally dropped onto the plate that the rabbi examined
Like a dog that's his dick that he split
Similar to a dog licking his own genitals, the rabbi licked the portion with delight
So he could go pick up his kids in a brand new whip (well)
This allowed him to retrieve his children in a stylish new car (well)
What the fuck
Expressing surprise, confusion, or disbelief
Oh pardon me
Apologies for the interruption
I was out here busy living your lies
I have been preoccupied with living a life dictated by the falsehoods you have embraced
You been dead your whole life
You have existed in a state of spiritual death throughout your entire existence
Oy Alfonzo, pull up the car
Hey Alfonzo, bring the car closer
Rikers Island runway show, better than Yeezy season
The fashion display at Rikers Island surpasses the renowned Yeezy season
This year the color green is in
During this period, the color green is highly fashionable
Dog I'm fucking crazy like velcro sneakers
I possess a level of madness akin to the fastening mechanism of velcro sneakers
I'm playing with shit
I am engaging in risky and unpredictable behavior
Dog, I ain't playing with shit
My dear friend, I am not engaging in any games or trivial matters
Your frame will lay in ditch
Your physical body will be left abandoned in a ditch
My chick is Asian with a twist
My romantic partner is of Asian descent, with a unique and intriguing aspect to her personality
I'm so hard you could cook a piece of bacon on my dick (on my dick)
I am remarkably tough, to the extent that you could use my penis as a surface for cooking bacon (on my penis)
Better be turkey though
However, it would be preferable if the bacon were made from turkey
So if these turkeys try to murk me, Mo
In the event that these individuals attempt to harm or kill me, Mo
I let these turkeys know that I'm in Turkey hoe, shit
I make it known to these lowly individuals that I am present in Turkey with a strong conceit, damn
We was forty-seven and a half deep on the strip
We were an extensive group of approximately forty-seven individuals gathered on the street
You was in front of the store with Team Jordan's and yellow pajama pants
Meanwhile, you were standing in front of a shop wearing some Jordan shoes and bright yellow pajama pants
That's a big no no
Unfortunately, that is a major mistake or violation
That's a big no no!
Emphasizing the gravity of the previous statement, it is indeed a significant mistake or violation!
Lyrics © Universal Music Publishing Group, Royalty Network
Written by: Arian Asllani, Besnik Sadikay, Daniel Alan Maman
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind