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.
Universal Studios
The Alchemist Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
Can't smoke weed to it
I don't wanna listen to it yeah
Started this shit in '97 nigga, Pittsburgh
Real niggas who like real rap born in 1987
Damn I don't want no trouble
I just wanna kick back with my Taylors on
Learn the game
Man there's levels to this shit
Angels and all kinds of devils
Fighting and scratching to bring you down
When you gone want you back around
In my '62 'cause I love the sounds
Remember copping eighthy’s now we
Rolling up from pounds
Regular weed, now it's loud
No bullshit I do this shit for my child
All this weed rolled up now
We got the lights low champagne popping off
Living good like we supposed to
Tell your girlfriends they can leave
You ain't ready to go
You can think what you want but now you know
Hopping out the flight
Tryna find what bad one I'ma scoop tonight
I really live the dream so
I'm getting in between money over everything
Whatever's best for my team
We travel all over the world
Not at all sober
Know some bad bitches, call 'em
My niggas actually balling
And we all do it naturally
Rich and famous and glad to be here
It's all part of the plan
For us to get ours and you get yours
Bouncing up the street in a '64
Smoking weed thanking God that things ain't
How they used to be
You smell it, you ain't smoking it
Lost a pack on the road
Hope they ain't opened it
We film movies like Universal Studios
Six rolled, four smoked, two to go
Y'all niggas know what the fuck it is, man
All this weed rolled up now
We got the lights low champagne popping off
Living good like we supposed to
Tell your girlfriends they can leave
You ain't ready to go
You can think what you want but now you know
This shit ain't never gon' stop
Drew on them boards alchemist on the beat
KK in a Raw cone excuse me, I rolled this J
Khalifa papers vincent in the booth
The Alchemist's song Universal Studios is an ode to the high life and the power of weed. The opening line "Nigga's so fucking stoned" sets the tone for the rest of the song. The Alchemist then points out that he doesn't want to listen to the music when he's stoned, indicating that he is more focused on enjoying the high and the moment than the music itself. He talks about the origins of the rap game, claiming that it started in Pittsburgh in 1997 with real rap born in 1987. This could be a reference to the artist's own origins or a nod to the broader hi-hop community.
The Alchemist then reflects on the levels of life and the angels and devils that are always fighting and scratching to bring you down. He talks about how he tries to live his life like a player and stay out of trouble, despite the struggles. He also talks about how he does this for his child. The song takes a turn towards the end as The Alchemist reflects on his life and how it has changed. He reflects on how he travels all over the world and knows some bad bitches: "My niggas actually balling, and we all do it naturally, rich and famous and glad to be here."
Line by Line Meaning
Nigga's so fucking stoned
We are so high on drugs that it's difficult to comprehend and enjoy this song.
Can't smoke weed to it
The song is not suitable for smoking weed to.
I don't wanna listen to it yeah
The singer is not interested in listening to the song.
Started this shit in '97 nigga, Pittsburgh
The songwriters began their rap careers in Pittsburgh in 1997.
Real niggas who like real rap born in 1987
The songwriters consider themselves 'real' rap enthusiasts who were born in 1987.
Damn I don't want no trouble
The singer does not want to get into any kind of trouble.
I just wanna kick back with my Taylors on
The singer wants to relax with his Converse shoes on.
Smoke my weed, live life like a player
The artist wants to imbibe drugs and live life like a womanizer.
Learn the game
The artist wants to learn the basics of rap music.
Man there's levels to this shit
The artist believes that there are several levels to the rap music industry.
Angels and all kinds of devils
There are both good and bad people in the rap music industry.
Fighting and scratching to bring you down
People will do anything to bring those in the music industry down.
When you gone want you back around
People will only appreciate you once you're gone.
In my '62 'cause I love the sounds
The singer loves his 1962 car and the music that comes from it.
Remember copping eighthy’s now we
The singer remembers the time when he could only afford a small quantity of drugs and could not afford to buy them in bulk.
Rolling up from pounds
Now that they are successful, they can afford to purchase drugs in bulk.
Regular weed, now it's loud
The quality of the weed has improved over time, and it is now stronger.
No bullshit I do this shit for my child
The singer is doing all of this for the betterment of his child's future.
All this weed rolled up now
They have rolled up a lot of drugs at this time.
We got the lights low champagne popping off
The mood is lively and celebratory with the lights low and champagne popping.
Living good like we supposed to
They are enjoying the fruits of their labor.
Tell your girlfriends they can leave
The artist doesn't want any additional people interfering with their fun.
You ain't ready to go
The singer believes some people might not be comfortable with the high lifestyle they are leading.
You can think what you want but now you know
They are aware that others might have a negative opinion of their lifestyle, but they don't care.
Hopping out the flight
The singer is getting out of the plane.
Tryna find what bad one I'ma scoop tonight
The singer is looking for attractive women to spend the night with.
I really live the dream so
The singer believes he is living his dream life.
I'm getting in between money over everything
The artist believes that earning money is more important than anything else.
Whatever's best for my team
The artist wants to ensure that his team is always being catered to.
We travel all over the world
The singer and his team travel internationally for their music careers.
Not at all sober
They are under the influence of drugs and alcohol while traveling.
Know some bad bitches, call 'em
The artist knows some attractive women who welcome his advances.
My niggas actually balling
The artist's friends are also very successful in the music industry.
And we all do it naturally
The artist and his friends attain their success naturally without resorting to any illegal or immoral means.
Rich and famous and glad to be here
The singer and his friends are content with their luxurious and prestigious lifestyle.
It's all part of the plan
Their success was a result of the long-term plans they laid out.
For us to get ours and you get yours
The singer wants everyone to achieve their dreams.
Bouncing up the street in a '64
The singer is riding around in a 1964 car.
Smoking weed thanking God that things ain't
The singer is grateful for their success.
How they used to be
The artist thinks life has improved significantly for them over time.
You smell it, you ain't smoking it
The artist claims that smelling the drugs isn't the same as smoking them.
Lost a pack on the road
The singer lost some drugs while traveling on the road.
Hope they ain't opened it
The singer is concerned that the drugs may have been discovered by someone.
We film movies like Universal Studios
The artist and his team create music videos of the highest caliber.
Six rolled, four smoked, two to go
They have smoked six joints, four of which are already smoked, and two remaining.
Y'all niggas know what the fuck it is, man
The artist believes that everyone is aware of what they are up to and what they are achieving.
This shit ain't never gon' stop
The singer believes that their success will go on forever.
Drew on them boards alchemist on the beat
The songwriters are giving credit to the producers and composers who made the song possible.
KK in a Raw cone excuse me, I rolled this J
The songwriters acknowledge that they have used high-quality drugs in their joint.
Khalifa papers vincent in the booth
The songwriters are using specific types of papers and are recording the song in a sound booth.
Lyrics © Universal Music Publishing Group, Royalty Network
Written by: ALAN MAMAN, CAMERON JIBRIL THOMAZ
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
@scarface1290
Here Alc is giving a lesson to all the producers about how to use a sample in the most accurate way , take a bow legend
@YesMaxCan
THIS IS GOOD MUSIC! I feel the whole track!!!❤️
@tlyt1676
Wiz definitely did the beat justice 🔥
@17thwonder
Alchemy at its finest....this is the way science is supposed to be made
@BLAZEWON414
Dope AF!!!! ALC got them beats!!!
@805coastlife6
Got my head head banging to the beat. Wiz you are the king if new generation hip hop, you created a new genre ! At the same time you gave hip hop life again!
@friendswitdadealer
Proof we need a Wiz & Alc tape to bring that 09 Wiz back.
@dig9787
Took me 5 years to listen to this legendary song
@jazzo23va
🔥🔥🔥🔥 INFAMOUS ALCHEMIST!!! This my new smoking joint!!😎💨💨💨 Classic Shit WIZ!!! SALUTE!!!
@elmagico3225
This intro tho 👽 Got me feeling like in the 60s 70s