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.
Some Gangster Sh*t
The Alchemist Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
you couldn't do me if you were doing an impression
Maybe i should just press charges for swagger deaf
you faggots' deaf if you can't hear, i'm hot as dragon's breathe
nah i'm pass hot, im the sun's mascot
When snacks on deck im at your neck like an ass scot.
Its low so, she all ready knows so
I said ok good, tell that other ho so.
I say Wussup son, You wussup son
They say your swagger on viagra keep it up son
Ball'n is key, we start the engine with buttons
This player be limp'n call an injury sturtin
The lyrics to The Alchemist's song "Some Gangster Sh*t" are a reflection of the bravado and confidence of the rapper. The first two lines are a challenge to those who doubt him, saying that even if they were doing an impression of him, they still wouldn't be able to match him. He then goes on to assert his dominance, suggesting that he should press charges for "swagger deaf" - meaning that those who don't recognize his greatness are somehow impaired. He metaphorically compares himself to a dragon, saying that he's "hot as dragon's breath".
The third and fourth lines find The Alchemist boasting even further, saying that he's "pass hot" - meaning that he's so hot that being hot isn't even enough to describe it - and is in fact the "sun's mascot". He then switches to a more confrontational tone, saying that when he has "snacks on deck" - presumably meaning when he is well-prepared and ready for anything - he's at his opponent's neck like an "ass scot". The final lines are a dismissive response to someone who has apparently told others about the rapper's business, telling them to "tell that other ho so" and suggesting that their efforts to spread gossip won't affect him.
Overall, the lyrics to "Some Gangster Sh*t" are a brash and confident proclamation of the rapper's dominance, expressed through a series of clever and boastful metaphors and insults.
Line by Line Meaning
Look's like your memory need refresh'n
It seems like you need to remember who's the best.
you couldn't do me if you were doing an impression
Even if you tried your best, you couldn't copy my style.
Maybe i should just press charges for swagger deaf
I should sue you for not being able to recognize someone with such great style (swagger).
you faggots' deaf if you can't hear, i'm hot as dragon's breathe
You guys must be deaf if you can't hear how amazing I am. I'm as hot as the breath of a dragon.
nah i'm pass hot, im the sun's mascot
I'm not just hot, I'm way beyond that. I'm like the mascot of the sun.
When snacks on deck im at your neck like an ass scot.
When I have my snacks ready, I'm ready to go and ready to take you down.
Its low so, she all ready knows so
I don't have to say much, she already understands what's going on.
I said ok good, tell that other ho so.
Great, tell that other girl who's boss (that I'm the boss).
I say Wussup son, You wussup son
What's up, my friend? How are you doing?
They say your swagger on viagra keep it up son
People are recognizing how great my style (swagger) is and that it's even better than the boosted effect of Viagra.
Ball'n is key, we start the engine with buttons
Playing basketball is the key and it's as simple as pressing a button to start the game.
This player be limp'n call an injury sturtin
The opposing player is injured and this is why they're given a hard time (limping), and I am starting to dominate them.
Lyrics © Universal Music Publishing Group, Sony/ATV Music Publishing LLC, Royalty Network
Written by: JOHN JACKSON, ALAN MAMAN
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind