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.
Loose Change
The Alchemist Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
Yo, yo, yeah
Uh, uh, yeah, yeah
You be with the boys and I'ma be with the dawgs
Blood on the Travies, it serve as a challenge coin
I'm the voice, I had to speak for the org', passed the preacher
Smashed up weed on the organ, master teachings
I was hungry
Mama made her son read, so I'm hunting glances 'til the peak
That still didn't feed me
I had to get a feel for the whole thing
Peeking the orbs, speak on what I absorb
Reserved boundaries, I found a different route to explore
And run around deep
I told you 'bout the reaching, you found out and screamed
That sound to me like a loss
I had a bad 'bout with grief and I tossed a match on it
Kerosene, burned the ring down to ashes
And memories, feather feet behind
And ahead of the beat, throwing 'em off
Arriving in the nick of time, these niggas nickel and diming
I'm giving 'em five and sliding, my way up the street
Pretty penny, you my luckiest find, skin copper
Titties bouncing, save a generous slice for me
Please (yeah, I need a piece of this 'bout this small)
Please, save a generous slice for me
Change jingling in my pocket
These niggas nickel and diming
I'm giving 'em five
Pretty penny, you my luckiest find, skin copper
Titties bouncing, save a generous slice for me
(Please)
The Alchemist's "Loose Change" is a contemplative and introspective song that touches upon the rapper's personal struggles and experiences. The song is a blend of vivid imagery, metaphors, and introspective musings, all woven through the lens of Alchemist's personal experiences.
The opening lines of the verse, "You be with the boys and I'ma be with the dawgs/ Blood on the Travies, it serves as a challenge coin," set the stage for the rest of the song. The Alchemist talks about choosing to stay loyal to his people and the importance of staying true to oneself, even when faced with difficult choices. The lines "I'm the voice, I had to speak for the org', passed the preacher/ Smashed up weed on the organ, master teachings" highlight the rapper's position as a leader and his desire to impart knowledge through his music.
The chorus features the repetition of the line "These niggas nickel and diming/ I'm giving 'em five," indicating the rapper's frustration with the rap scene's commercialization and his refusal to sell out. The references to "pretty penny" and "skin copper" paint a picture of the rapper's hard-earned success and his appreciation for the life he has built for himself.
In conclusion, "Loose Change" is a nuanced and introspective song that showcases The Alchemist's lyrical prowess and his ability to impart meaning through his music.
Line by Line Meaning
You be with the boys and I'ma be with the dawgs
You can hang with your friends, but I'll stick with my crew.
Blood on the Travies, it serve as a challenge coin
Our scars and experiences are a badge of honor and a motivator.
I'm the voice, I had to speak for the org', passed the preacher
I am the representative of my community and I have to speak up for them, even if it means going against traditional leaders.
Smashed up weed on the organ, master teachings
I found inspiration from unconventional places and used it to become a master of my craft.
Actually couldn't hold me (who's gonna stop me?)
I am unstoppable and no one can hold me back from achieving my goals.
I was hungry
Mama made her son read, so I'm hunting glances 'til the peak
That still didn't feed me
I had a hunger for knowledge and success, but even reading and learning wasn't enough to satisfy it.
I had to get a feel for the whole thing
Peeking the orbs, speak on what I absorb
Reserved boundaries, I found a different route to explore
and run around deep
I had to learn and explore every aspect of my craft, push my limits and find my own path.
I told you 'bout the reaching, you found out and screamed
that sound to me like a loss
I shared my insights and ideas, but people reacted negatively, which felt like a setback to me.
I had a bad 'bout with grief and I tossed a match on it
Kerosene, burned the ring down to ashes
And memories, feather feet behind
And ahead of the beat, throwing 'em off
I had a painful experience that I used as fuel to burn away the past and move forward with my creative vision.
Arriving in the nick of time, these niggas nickel and diming
I'm giving 'em five and sliding, my way up the street
Pretty penny, you my luckiest find, skin copper
Titties bouncing, save a generous slice for me
Please (yeah, I need a piece of this 'bout this small)
Please, save a generous slice for me
Change jingling in my pocket
Despite the challenges and setbacks, I persevered and received the recognition and success I deserved. Now, I am enjoying the fruits of my labor and asking for my fair share.
Lyrics © Universal Music Publishing Group, Royalty Network
Written by: Daniel Alan Maman, Thebe Kgositsile
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
@EukoVet
[Intro: Earl Sweatshirt]
(Back with my people)
Uh
Yo, yo, yeah
Uh, uh, yeah, yeah
[Verse: Earl Sweatshirt]
You be with the boys and I'ma be with the dawgs
Blood on the Travies, it serve as a challenge coin
I'm the voice, I had to speak for the org, pastor, preacher
Smashed up weed on the organ, master teachings
Actually couldn't hold me (Who's gonna stop me?)
I was hungry
Mama made her son read, so I'm hunting glances 'til the peak
That still didn't feed me
I had to get a feel for the whole thing
Peek in the orbs, speak on what I absorb
Reserved boundariеs, I found a different route to еxplore and run around deep
I told you 'bout the reaching, you found out and screamed, that sound to me like a loss
I had a bad bout with grief and I tossed a match on it
Kerosene, burned the ring down to ashes
And memories, feather feet behind
And ahead of the beat, throwing 'em off
Arriving in the nick of time
[Chorus]
These niggas nickel and diming
I'm giving 'em five and sliding, my way up the street
Pretty penny, you my luckiest find, skin copper
Titties bouncing, save a generous slice for me
Please (I need a piece of this, about this small)
Please, save a generous slice for me
Change jingling in my pocket
These niggas nickel and diming
I'm giving 'em five, pretty penny, you my luckiest find, skin copper
Titties bouncing, save a generous slice for me
(Please, please, please, please)
@cstarcrusher
we need an EarlChemist album 🙌
@earlx3n666
Exactly 🔥🔥
@earlx3n666
That should actually be the name of da album like "Alfredo"
@SecondWizards
Hell yeah
@24karatHAMSTER
Please Lord make Earlchemist happen
@Choppercity843
Noo change the name that sounds horrible
@Your3rdBETRAYAL
Round of applause for Na-Kel
Round of applause for Earl
Round of applause for Alchemist
Round of applause for Lonewolf
@LILSEMEN-rx3mh
Why na kel? Lol
@natedog314mo
@@LILSEMEN-rx3mh He was in the beginning of the video
@spaghetti9671
@@natedog314mo i didn't even notice that wtf