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.

The Cold
The Alchemist Lyrics

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Hot's a hundred degrees and hotter
Hot is stuck 0n rooftops in NO
Four days with no water
Hot's a sold out tour, #1 on Billboard
Hot could be that watch you
Didn't buy from the store
You ain't cold if you got no
Mack and step in the spot

And still leave with a girl who
Drop it like it's hot
Certain words flip, I'm on a roll
If the cops watch you move bricks you hot
If you shoot bricks you cold
Cold is can't get arrested
Cold's alone gettin' old
Cold is too much product on the shelf
Nothin' sold (Sometimes) cats are froze so
Cold they can't melt trust me
Bein' cold's a cold hand to be dealt

Yo I'm hot like the beats
Heart cold like the streets
Hot headed so I never get
Caught with cold feet
Hot is brand-new Benz's
Hot is runnin' from detectives
In the projects
Hoppin' over fences and benches
Hot is camera flashin'
Hot is paparazzi snappin'
Hotter than a chain a
Motherfucker got from snatchin'
I never freeze when I'm in action
Cause if I cool off and hit a cold
Streak then I'll be a wrap then
Cold blooded ice in my veins, fuck the fame
Only cold stares
Cold shoulders in this cold game
Gave me frostbite, I'm numb
I don't feel any pain
It's a cold world, I'm frigid
I don't feel any shame

You either hot, hot, hot
Or you're not, not, not
(What's our motherfuckin' names?
Better get it right
People better get it right)
"Evidence and Alchemist", "keep it hot"
You either hot, hot, hot
"Like the sun burn, burnin' down the block"
Or you're not, not, not "It's so cold"
"I'll leave em froze like ice"
"Hotter than lava", "colder than ever"
"Evidence and Alchemist"

Cold's when the thrill is gone
Cold's the good die young
Cold's the villian
Cold's how wanted the cold chillin'
Cold's no love at the door
Turned away when you roll up
In the cold, cold is no money for cold cuts
Hot and cold, that's opposite extremes
I think
Which way is worse? Burn to death or freeze?
Hot's when you sellin' unit's
Strictly word of mouth
We from the bottom of Cali
That's why the birds fly South
For the winter, copped a new crib
Studio built in
It's hot, hot is not Paris Hilton
Tryin' to breathe, a cold world
Inhale each breath
Still the sun can't chill but
Everyday the West sets

Now who's the hot shot, up in the hot spot
With a big knot from sellin' hot rocks
Duckin' cops on hot blocks
It's hot so you roll in that drop-top
The feds hot on your case
They run up in your place no knock-knock
Word on the street's somebody must
Have turned up the heat
Now you headed for that white cell
And that cold white sheet
Better stay cool as a fan
When that man say freeze
Or get your dome cracked
Knocked out cold and need a Colpac
It's cold hard facts
I'm on the case like Kojak
Cold as a bitch that got a
Pretty face with no back it's cold out
Breath like a smoke cloud when I blow that
When I finish rap I'm quittin'
Cold turkey so quote that

You either hot, hot, hot
Or you're not, not, not
(What's our motherfuckin' names?
Better get it right
People better get it right)
"Evidence and Alchemist", "keep it hot"
You either hot, hot, hot
"Like the sun burn, burnin' down your block"
Or you're not, not, not "It's so cold"
"I'll leave em froze like ice"
"Hotter than lava", "colder than ever"

"Evidence and Alchemist"
"turnin' up the temperature"

Overall Meaning

In The Alchemist's song "The Cold," the lyrics explore the contrasting themes of being "hot" and "cold." These terms are used metaphorically to represent different aspects of life, particularly in the context of the music industry and street life.

The song begins by describing the different aspects of being "hot." It's associated with success, popularity, and being in high demand. Whether it's the scorching heat in New Orleans or the sensation of topping the charts or owning an exclusive item, being "hot" represents a certain level of achievement. However, the lyrics also delve into the negative consequences of being "hot," such as the pressure and scrutiny that comes with fame and the potential for criminal activities. The artist suggests that being "hot" is both a desirable status and a precarious position.

On the other hand, the lyrics dive into the concept of being "cold." This signifies a sense of isolation, lack of success, and being out of touch. It's depicted as a state of being alone, growing old, and being unable to connect with others. Despite the negative implications, being "cold" is also described as a survival mechanism, allowing one to stay on guard and unfeeling, indifferent to the challenges of life. The artist acknowledges that being "cold" often forces individuals to confront harsh situations, but it can also be a defense mechanism that protects them from pain.

Overall, "The Cold" explores the dualities of success and failure, heat and coldness, and the different ways people navigate through the challenges of life.

Lyrics © Universal Music Publishing Group, Royalty Network, Warner Chappell Music, Inc.
Written by: IAN GEOFFREY LEVINE, STEVEN CRAIG WAGNER, CRAIG WAGNER STEVEN

Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind

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