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.
New Beginning
The Alchemist Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
A new beginning from the difficult past.
A smarter way for us to live out our dreams,
And every move we make is better than it seems.
It's a new beginning.
A new beginning and it's starting right now.
It's a new beginning and may all our deeds be done.
There's a new uprising coming for us.
A smarter way for us to live out our dreams,
And every move we make is better than it seems.
We've been through all of it, the good and the bad.
We just get over it, we know the best is yet to come.
We deal with every type, the exploiters and the true,
We don't rely on hype, quality always pulls us through.
Sometimes it seems shrouded,
Like we will never break through.
On other times, the sun it shines, on all that we do.
No matter what were dealt, were staying true to the cause.
Breaking down the misconceptions, make our own laws.
Today
Right now.
The Alchemist's song New Beginning is a celebration of change and the promise of a better future. The song speaks to the idea that despite difficulties in the past, we can start anew and create a smarter, more meaningful way of living out our dreams. The lyrics acknowledge that life isn't always easy, but every move we make can be better than it seems, leading us to a brighter tomorrow. The repetition of the phrase "it's a new beginning" drives home the message that the future is full of promise, and that we can create the world we want to live in.
The second verse speaks to the idea that we have experienced both good and bad in our lives, but with each hurdle, we grow stronger and more resilient. Rather than relying on hype, the song encourages us to focus on quality-- quality of the relationships we build, the work we do, and the actions we take. The lyrics acknowledge that the path to a new beginning may seem shrouded at times, but we must stay true to our cause, break down misconceptions, and make our own laws. The final words of the song-- "Today, right now"-- are a call to action, reminding us that the new beginning we seek can only be created through intentional, purposeful action.
Line by Line Meaning
There's a new uprising coming for us.
We are anticipating a great change that will come soon.
A new beginning from the difficult past.
We are leaving our struggles behind and stepping into a fresh start.
A smarter way for us to live out our dreams,
We have discovered a more efficient method to achieve our aspirations.
And every move we make is better than it seems.
We realize our progress is more significant than it originally appears.
It's a new beginning.
We are embarking on something completely new.
A new beginning and it's starting right now.
Our exciting journey is beginning immediately.
It's a new beginning and may all our deeds be done.
We hope for success as we embark on this new path.
We've been through all of it, the good and the bad.
We have experienced both triumphs and hardships.
We just get over it, we know the best is yet to come.
We persevere through challenges because we believe greater things are ahead.
We deal with every type, the exploiters and the true,
We navigate interactions with both manipulators and authentic individuals.
We don't rely on hype, quality always pulls us through.
We prioritize value over empty promises and buzzwords.
Sometimes it seems shrouded,
Occasionally, our path forward is unclear.
Like we will never break through.
We may feel stuck or unsure of how to proceed.
On other times, the sun it shines, on all that we do.
At other moments, everything aligns perfectly and our hard work pays off.
No matter what were dealt, were staying true to the cause.
Even when faced with adversity, we remain committed to our mission.
Breaking down the misconceptions, make our own laws.
We challenge unfounded beliefs and forge our own paths.
Today
This present moment holds great promise.
Right now.
We are living in the midst of this significant moment of change.
Lyrics © O/B/O APRA AMCOS
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