Alan Daniel Maman (born October 25, 1977), better known as The Alchemist, i… Read Full Bio ↴Alan Daniel Maman (born October 25, 1977), better known as The Alchemist, is a hip-hop producer and MC. The Alchemist has been an active producer since 1991. He hails from affluent Beverly Hills, California. After rising to prominence in the late 1990s as a close associate of Dilated Peoples, he went on to produce for many of hip-hop's leading artists in the 2000s.

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.

Massacre
The Alchemist Lyrics

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Yeah

In Polo and diamond
The cause of the cloud lining (cause)
A life full of crime is the cause of the foul rhyming (yeah)
Scale talk, jail talk
Smoking what the bail costs
Overnight hustler package in the mail, dawg

Cigar rooms, hand shakes, whispers at your man wake
Connect on the internet, re-up on the fan page
Block party, yacht party, wonder if your mans safe
Talks to the feds so you wonder if the plan's straight
Lunch with the lawyer, dealing with the under boss (word, yeah)
and none of y'all are speaking on the money that you come across (none of y'all)
Wifey wants you to quit, team wants you to go hard
Looking at the beam and the block you can bogard
You looking at the sky like, "oh, God"
Mad high, hit your man like, "Yo, god"
But he ain't give you no nod (uh-uh)
And you wonder why the fast life's so hard (yo)

It ain't a war 'til you wear a vest
Masked up, airing TECs (doot-doot-doot-doot)
That barrel whistle like a clarinet (yeah)
They say "Griselda" and they hear respect
I worked my kitchen in my spot
And up top I had to wear a net
To get here took blood, tears, and sweat
Stressed on that prison tear I set
Can't walk a mile in this pair of 'Seppes (nah)
Fendi belt with the red F's
Bulldog tucked down in it and it's barking like DMX
Rappers wanna make friends with us
I'm only close to this plate
And this blender and I shake grams in it
It only take ten minutes
And I come back with a bag
Full of Fetti, so heavy
think there's paint cans in it
These rappers never had a half-ounce (lying)
So why they rap about racks?
And act out these war stories on Vlad's couch (I don't know)
Stove and the cooker (what else?)
The dope for the pushers (uh-huh)

It feels like Halloween
It's the Ghost and The Butcher, uh

Overall Meaning

In the song "Massacre", The Alchemist, Styles P, and Benny The Butcher paint a vivid picture of the dark side of the drug game, full of danger, paranoia, and death. They describe the lifestyle of successful drug dealers, who may enjoy the luxuries of expensive clothing, cigars, and parties, but also face the constant threat of arrest, rivalries, and betrayal. The rappers highlight the hypocrisy of people who glorify their illegal activities in their music, but don't dare to speak about the real risks and consequences. They also delve into the psychological toll that this lifestyle takes on the dealers and their loved ones, who may have to live in secrecy, fear, and guilt. They suggest that despite the allure of quick money and power, the fast life is ultimately unsustainable and doomed to end in tragedy.

Through their vivid imagery and wordplay, the rappers paint a very bleak and realistic picture of life in the streets. They use a variety of techniques to create a sense of urgency, danger, and drama, such as onomatopoeia, metaphors, repetition, and subtle allusions to real-life events and figures. The Alchemist's haunting beat, built around a sample of a string section and distorted drums, adds to the eerie atmosphere of the song. Overall, "Massacre" is a powerful commentary on the consequences of crime and the toxic culture of trap music.

Line by Line Meaning

In Polo and diamond
Wearing designer clothing and jewelry

The cause of the cloud lining (cause)
Experiencing success and wealth

A life full of crime is the cause of the foul rhyming (yeah)
Having a criminal lifestyle leads to negative consequences, even in one's music

Scale talk, jail talk
Discussing drug sales and prison experiences in conversation

Smoking what the bail costs
Spending large amounts of money on drugs

Overnight hustler package in the mail, dawg
Receiving shipments of drugs to sell

Cigar rooms, hand shakes, whispers at your man wake
Participating in secretive, exclusive events with high-powered individuals

Connect on the internet, re-up on the fan page
Using social media to resupply drugs

Block party, yacht party, wonder if your mans safe
Attending parties but being concerned for the safety of friends in the criminal lifestyle

Talks to the feds so you wonder if the plan's straight
Being paranoid about law enforcement surveillance and the trustworthiness of associates

Lunch with the lawyer, dealing with the under boss (word, yeah)
Having to handle legal and criminal issues simultaneously

and none of y'all are speaking on the money that you come across (none of y'all)
Keeping wealth and profit made from illegal activities hidden and confidential

Wifey wants you to quit, team wants you to go hard
Balancing pressure from romantic partners and criminal associates

Looking at the beam and the block you can bogard
Feeling confident and powerful due to one's success and wealth

You looking at the sky like, "oh, God"
Being grateful for one's success but also acknowledging the potential consequences and dangers

Mad high, hit your man like, "Yo, god"
Being under the influence of drugs and texting a friend

But he ain't give you no nod (uh-uh)
Not receiving a response from the friend

And you wonder why the fast life's so hard (yo)
Questioning the difficulties and risks of living a criminal lifestyle

It ain't a war 'til you wear a vest
Being prepared for danger and violence

Masked up, airing TECs (doot-doot-doot-doot)
Armed and ready for combat

That barrel whistle like a clarinet (yeah)
The sound of gunfire

They say "Griselda" and they hear respect
The brand name Griselda is associated with success and admiration

I worked my kitchen in my spot
Cooking drugs in one's own home

And up top I had to wear a net
Wearing protective gear while cooking drugs

To get here took blood, tears, and sweat
Achieving success through hard work and sacrifice

Stressed on that prison tear I set
Reflecting on the difficulties of serving time in prison

Can't walk a mile in this pair of 'Seppes (nah)
Understanding that one's level of success and wealth is unique and unattainable for others

Fendi belt with the red F's
Wearing high-end fashion items

Bulldog tucked down in it and it's barking like DMX
Carrying a gun and being prepared to use it

Rappers wanna make friends with us
Being popular and successful in the music industry

I'm only close to this plate
Being focused on the lifestyle of drug dealing and not being interested in fame or friendships

And this blender and I shake grams in it
Mixing and preparing drugs for distribution

It only take ten minutes
Quickly making large profits through selling drugs

And I come back with a bag
Receiving a large amount of money from drug sales

Full of Fetti, so heavy
Having a large amount of cash on hand

think there's paint cans in it
Joking about the weight of the cash-filled bag

These rappers never had a half-ounce (lying)
Calling out other rappers for pretending to be involved in drug dealing when they really have no experience with it

So why they rap about racks?
Questioning why other rappers focus so much on material wealth in their lyrics

And act out these war stories on Vlad's couch (I don't know)
Appearing on television shows to tell exaggerated stories about their criminal experiences

Stove and the cooker (what else?)
Preparing drugs for sale

The dope for the pushers (uh-huh)
Providing drugs to other dealers

It feels like Halloween
The exciting rush of drug deals and criminal activity

It's the Ghost and The Butcher, uh
Reference to themselves as successful and powerful drug dealers

Lyrics © Universal Music Publishing Group, Royalty Network
Written by: Daniel Alan Maman, David Styles, Jeremie Scorpio Pennick

Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind

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