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.
Soul Return
The Alchemist Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
All must die before their rebirth as
Fruit must rot to release its seed
Soul transmigration from divinity to
The mutable world of birth and
Disease, old age and death the breeze
Created by a soul's departure arising
From this dead and lifeless shell we
Not die only change, only change,
Youknow we do not die only change
You know we only change death is the
Dying of the light now the
Imperishable soul begins its journey to
The divine implicit and vague become
Explicit and clear infinitely long
Passage from another world to our
Own the winds of a departing soul
The time of now is slipping away we
Do not die only change, only change
The lyrics of "Soul Return" by The Alchemist are a reflection on the concept of life and death. The song suggests that death is not the end, but rather a transformative process. The opening lines state, "We do not die, we only change," implying that death is merely a transition into a different state of existence.
The song compares this process to the lifecycle of a fruit. Just as a fruit must rot in order to release its seed and bring forth new life, our souls undergo a similar transmigration. The soul moves from divinity to the mutable world of birth and experiences the cycle of disease, old age, and death. However, the departure of a soul is not the end but a continuation of its journey.
The lyrics evoke a sense of mystery and spiritual transformation. The departure of a soul is described as a breeze, suggesting a gentle and inevitable movement. As the soul emanates from the deceased, it is emphasized that we do not truly die; we only change. This idea is reiterated throughout the song, emphasizing the notion that death is not the finality but a stepping stone towards something greater.
Overall, "Soul Return" explores the cyclical nature of life and death, suggesting that death is a necessary part of the soul's journey and transformation.
Line by Line Meaning
We do not die, we only change
Death is not the end, but a transformation into something new
All must die before their rebirth as
In order to be reborn, one must first experience death
Fruit must rot to release its seed
To create new life, the old must decay and pass on
Soul transmigration from divinity to
The soul moves from a divine realm to
The mutable world of birth and
the ever-changing world of birth and
Disease, old age and death the breeze
Disease, old age, and death are inevitable aspects of life
Created by a soul's departure arising
Disease, old age, and death are a result of the soul leaving its physical form
From this dead and lifeless shell we
The soul emerges from the lifeless body after death
Emanate from the deceased we do
We come forth from those who have passed away
Not die only change, only change,
We do not truly die, but undergo transformation
Youknow we do not die only change
It is important to understand that death is not the end, but a change
You know we only change death is the
We should acknowledge that death is a transformative process
Dying of the light now the
As life fades, the light within us dims
Imperishable soul begins its journey to
The eternal soul embarks on a new journey
The divine implicit and vague become
The hidden and unclear aspects of divinity become
Explicit and clear infinitely long
Explicit and understandable, extending infinitely
Passage from another world to our
A transition from another realm to our own
Own the winds of a departing soul
Feeling the effects of a departing soul, like a passing breeze
The time of now is slipping away we
The present moment is fleeting and constantly moving
Do not die only change, only change
Death is not the end, but a transformation into something new
Lyrics © BMG RIGHTS MANAGEMENT US, LLC, Sony/ATV Music Publishing LLC
Written by: ADAM AGIUS, JOHN BRAY, RODNEY HOLDER, ROY TORKINGTON
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
Glenn Snelling
I remember back in the mid nineties I used to tape 3 Hours of Power on triple j and listen to it the next day. This was one of the songs that I remember from then, it's very cool. I wish I could drum like that.
Dan McGirr
Me too!
gavin canning
had this track in my head today, many years since i have heard it last but who could forget! the mid section of this song is just so impressive, in fact the whole composition. reminds me of many good times.
Renton Brax
First band I ever saw live. I would have been 14 or 15. Good times.
Joe Blogs
Seen em live in Perth back in the early 2000s...one of few East coast bands to thankfully play here.. love em then love em now
Адам Захиров
Awesome
Keefmaster
We do not die. - We only change.
All must die before their rebirth. As fruit must rot to release its seed. Soul transmigration from divinity to the mutable world of birth and disease. Old age, and death, the breeze. Created by a souls departure. Arising from this dead and lifeless shell. We emanate from the deceased. We do not die only change, only change. You know we do not die only change. You know we only change. Death is the dying of the light. Now the imperishable soul begins its journey to the divine Implicit and vague become explicit and clear. Infinitely long passage from another world to our own. The winds of a departing soul, the time of now is slipping away. We do not die only change, only change.
NR 13
my god!!!100 views?shit this world must be reallly blind and mostly deaf.LONG LIVE ATHE ALCHIMIST WETHEVER YOU ARE NOW!!!|CHEERS FROM PORTUGAL
mick price
where the fuck are the metal heads at. ?? great old aussie metal.
ayzee666
thanks for the upload! such a great song and album.. and.. 14 views? are you fuckin kiddin? that's a bitter shame for all people who feel addicted to good music. especially if any new manowar-or-whatever-crap get's thousands and thousands of clicks.. shame on all of you out there! ^^