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.
Lose Your Life
The Alchemist Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
Yeah, what up? Snoopie D-O Dub
West coast kings, what's up, Alchemist?
I wanna holla real quick, man
'Cause see a lota these niggas got the game
Fucked up, man, they don't know, man
It's real seriously, it's heavy out in those streets, man
You wanna lose your life
Play me, got a pocket and mah cock it and you might
You wanna lose your life
Niggas getting dropped and popped on the block every night
You wanna lose your life
Money is the key in the street life
You wanna lose your life
Walking 'round gang banging betta keep that thang hanging
20 lil missiles in the clip of the 5-7
I'm like navigation if you trying to find heaven
You already know I'm a rare breed
Sitting on a nice amount of acres and square feet
Yeah, see even the best die respect my
Colombian neck tie, you just can't pass death by
You can be homie 'cause neutral god body, neita, king Zulu
One thing about death it ain't gonna fool you
No reason to lie for nothing to prove too
Why you still here? Though the devil will use you
Closed casket is how I know the bullets abused you
Even though I'm a boss I like to eat food too
Spray a nigga block up when I'm in the mood too
Blow a blunt get a drink whatever soothes you
'Cause if it ain't the street the system will lose you
You wanna lose your life
Play me got a pocket and mah cock it and you might
You wanna lose your life
Niggas getting dropped and popped on the block every nightt
You wanna lose your life
Money is the key in the street life
You wanna lose your life
Walking 'round gang banging betta keep that thang hanging
Homie, listen to the flow let it take you where you're going
Billy Jean step over the track till it's glowing
You thinking I'm the O N E metaphors are no win
Avalanche P pushed powder till you snowed in
Open sesame unveil the recipe cocaine cook up, heroin and ecstasy
Got me locked in the coupe like the lambos arresting me
Gun play necessity war fare, none spared
Duffel bag money ain't all there we sick 'em all morning victim
He who test P just begging for the death walk with devilish me
Sit back kick back knowing that there's none hotter
Graduated from a drug dealer's alma-mater
Magna cum lauder, the kitchen I'm so jada
You niggas got no worries, hakuna matata
You wanna lose your life
Play me got a pocket and mah cock it and you might
You wanna lose your life
Niggas getting dropped and popped on the block every night
You wanna lose your life
Money is the key in the street life
You wanna lose your life
Walking 'round gang banging betta keep that thang hanging
[Incomprehensible]
Niggas getting dropped and popped on the block every night
Chemical warfare
The lyrics of The Alchemist's "Lose Your Life" talk about the dangers of living a gang-banging street life. Snoopie D-O Dub, the legendary West Coast rapper, starts the song by sharing his insights on how the streets can be unforgiving and how one wrong move could cost your life. The rest of the song features The Alchemist and Prodigy's verses that talk about their experiences with gang violence, drugs, and street life.
The chorus repeats the phrase "you wanna lose your life" as a warning to those who choose to live dangerously on the streets. The Alchemist shares how he keeps himself safe and how he's learned to navigate the dangerous world he lives in. He talks about carrying a gun to protect himself and his property and how money is key to surviving on the streets. He also shares how death is something that can't be avoided and how one wrong move could end up being the end of your life.
Overall, the song is a warning to those who choose to live a dangerous life on the streets. The lyrics paint a bleak picture of the reality of gang violence and drug use, highlighting the dangers and consequences that come with it.
Line by Line Meaning
Yeah, what up? Snoopie D-O Dub
Introduction to the song
West coast kings, what's up, Alchemist?
Acknowledging the West Coast rap scene
I wanna holla real quick, man
Addressing the audience
'Cause see a lota these niggas got the game
Critiquing the state of the rap industry
Fucked up, man, they don't know, man
Calling out the ignorance of some rappers
It's real seriously, it's heavy out in those streets, man
Commenting on the danger and violence in the streets
You could lose your like that
Emphasizing the ease with which one can lose their life
You wanna lose your life
Reinforcing the idea that certain actions can lead to death
Play me, got a pocket and mah cock it and you might
Threatening those who cross him
Niggas getting dropped and popped on the block every night
Describing the reality of violence in the streets
Money is the key in the street life
Implying that crime and violence often stem from financial struggles
Walking 'round gang banging betta keep that thang hanging
Encouraging the carrying of weapons for protection
20 lil missiles in the clip of the 5-7
Referencing his powerful weaponry
I'm like navigation if you trying to find heaven
Comparing himself to a guide to the afterlife
You already know I'm a rare breed
Asserting his uniqueness
Sitting on a nice amount of acres and square feet
Boasting about his wealth
Yeah, see even the best die respect my
Acknowledging that even the successful can fall victim to violence
Colombian neck tie, you just can't pass death by
Referencing a gruesome method of murder
You can be homie 'cause neutral god body, neita, king Zulu
Alluding to various cultural and religious affiliations
One thing about death it ain't gonna fool you
Reflecting on the inescapability of death
No reason to lie for nothing to prove too
Questioning the motives behind lying
Why you still here? Though the devil will use you
Implying that staying alive can lead to negative consequences
Closed casket is how I know the bullets abused you
Referencing the violent nature of death
Even though I'm a boss I like to eat food too
Asserting his humanity
Spray a nigga block up when I'm in the mood too
Admitting to engaging in violent acts
Blow a blunt get a drink whatever soothes you
Commenting on the coping mechanisms used in the streets
'Cause if it ain't the street the system will lose you
Implying that society fails to support those in poverty
Homie, listen to the flow let it take you where you're going
Encouraging listeners to absorb the message of the song
Billy Jean step over the track till it's glowing
Referencing Michael Jackson's iconic dance
You thinking I'm the O N E metaphors are no win
Asserting his lyrical skill and dominance
Avalanche P pushed powder till you snowed in
Describing his history as a drug dealer
Open sesame unveil the recipe cocaine cook up, heroin and ecstasy
Describing the process of creating drugs
Got me locked in the coupe like the lambos arresting me
Referencing his time spent in jail
Gun play necessity war fare, none spared
Implying that violence is a necessary aspect of survival in the streets
Duffel bag money ain't all there we sick 'em all morning victim
Referencing the emptiness of wealth obtained through crime
He who test P just begging for the death walk with devilish me
Warning those who cross him
Sit back kick back knowing that there's none hotter
Boasting about his success
Graduated from a drug dealer's alma-mater
Alluding to his history as a drug dealer
Magna cum lauder, the kitchen I'm so jada
Boasting about his intelligence and cooking abilities
You niggas got no worries, hakuna matata
Implying that he is superior to his competition
Niggas getting dropped and popped on the block every night
Reiterating the theme of violence in the streets
Chemical warfare
Ending the song with a powerful phrase that references the production and use of drugs
Contributed by Brooklyn V. Suggest a correction in the comments below.
@semird615
This song is such a classic, it shouldn't be forgotten, ever.
@ast3077
it wont be as long as im around in the mix to bumb when my neigh hores call the cops and ill play it even louder when im correctin the corrupt officials with there nonsense, tired of bein vi 0 lated
@ast3077
bump*
@Jiggidy
This early internet animation & this one of Alchemist best most simple beats.
@SolidSnake240
The Alchemist is crazy with those beats! Snoop and pusha killed it.
@Buelli3
Watching while i am.high.... Sgit funny as hell
@jibrillndny9126
This comment aged like fine wine my guy 💯👌
@phenomena17
jadakiss killed it
@ast3077
dont forget jada another cold verse from him as well mad on point tho fursure
@succesbryant3604
Still watching this video 2023