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.
Keep on Trying
The Alchemist Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
To see us smiling
I know just how good it can be
Baby we gotta keep on trying
To say how I feel
Let me prove to you my love's for real
To say how I feel
Let me prove to you my love's for real
In these lyrics, The Alchemist expresses the importance of persistence and effort in a relationship. He begins by acknowledging that seeing his partner smile is more than enough to make him happy. This suggests that their happiness is a significant factor for him, and he values the positive emotions they share together.
He goes on to state that he knows how good their relationship can be. This implies that he believes in the potential of their love and the happiness they can create for each other. By emphasizing the phrase "how good it can be," he further emphasizes his optimism and determination to make their relationship thrive.
The Alchemist then emphasizes the need to keep trying in order to express his genuine feelings and prove his love. This implies that he understands the importance of consistent effort in nurturing and strengthening their relationship. He wants to assure his partner that his love is not just words but something he is willing to demonstrate through his actions.
By repeating the line "let me prove to you my love's for real," he highlights his desire to not only express his feelings but also demonstrate their authenticity. This further emphasizes his commitment to his partner and his intention to prove his love through continuous effort.
Finally, the phrase "keep on trying" is repeated, serving as a mantra for the couple to persist in their efforts to make their relationship work. It suggests that they should not give up easily, but rather continue to put in the necessary work and dedication to sustain their love and happiness.
Overall, The Alchemist's lyrics in "Keep On Trying" delve into the significance of consistent effort and determination in a relationship. They emphasize the importance of mutual happiness, expressing genuine feelings, and proving one's love through continuous action. The repetition of the phrase "keep on trying" serves as a reminder for the partners to persevere, indicating the artist's belief in the power of resilience and dedication in maintaining a successful relationship.
Line by Line Meaning
It's more than enough for me
I am content with the current situation and do not require anything more
To see us smiling
The sight of both of us being happy brings me joy
I know just how good it can be
I am aware of the immense potential for happiness in our relationship
Baby we gotta keep on trying
My dear, we must persevere and make continuous efforts to strengthen our bond
To say how I feel
I want to express my emotions sincerely
Let me prove to you my love's for real
Allow me the opportunity to demonstrate the authenticity and depth of my love
Keep on trying
Continue putting in effort and not give up
Lyrics © Universal Music Publishing Group
Written by: WALIOU JACQUES DANIEL BADAROU
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
@MCcheck97
The flipside to this track can be found here; https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=nfBiuXnbm24
Alchemist and Fade - "Power of Hypnosis"
@saullayton4476
a trick: you can watch movies on flixzone. Been using them for watching all kinds of movies during the lockdown.
@eremiteghost1572
aged well. i think this can be considered a classic
@andywilkinson4635
I’ve aged well. Bring back our days. Not stupid flags
@CinnamonToastCrunch546
The best version, that breakdown then the piano priceless 💥🔥❤👍
@tommyball1863
It’s such an amazing record. It’s got a perfect introduction, a well timed middle and an excellent outro. 10/10
@Miller83Andy
What a TUNE. THE ONE THAT TAKES YOU BACK TO ALL THEM SPECIAL MEMORIES. 👍🎶 CHEERS
@philipjacques2272
What a tune, loved this one 👌
@JigjagjugXyz
It's more than enough to say that this tune is a classic.
@drummonbass
21 years i have been hoping that one day i would find this tune. you have made my fuckin day pal. always wanted to get this tune for my vinyl collection. amazing time for tunes. hardcore totally peaked in 96. dj sy mc man paris,helter skelter 96....oh yes! thanks for the upload! :)