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.

Worlds Within Worlds
The Alchemist Lyrics

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Like creatures within the deepest oceans, you are existing unaware of
Worlds outside your own.
Disregard what is believed and fantasy shall enter
Begin to think of concepts that are slightly left of centre
Begin without beginning and conclude eternally
A mass infinite cycle I am in and is in me.

The not yet born and dead may know

Where we've been and where we go
What's to come and why where here
But when I look it's most unclear.

At times I'm lost with things I find
Is god creator or image if mind?
A macroscopic universe - a microscopic view
Variety of astonishment I can't see thought.

Imagine places I've not been
Picture sights I've never seen
Believe in worlds I cannot see
Those I'm in and those in me
Though life's torment I now find
Life may be a state of mind
Disregarding the impossible
We believe in what is tangible

We feel the warmth of one in a trillion starts

Ethereal continuation - thoughts beyond infinite cycles
Are we just a chemical equation that reached consciousness
Though evolution?

Earth's nature confines itself. But within cosmology - infinity

Overall Meaning

These lyrics in The Alchemist's song "Worlds Within Worlds" explore the concept of existence and perception. The first verse suggests that there are vast worlds and realities beyond our own, yet we remain unaware of them. By disregarding conventional beliefs and opening our minds to new ideas, we can tap into fantasy and explore concepts that diverge from the norm. The lyrics propose a cyclical nature of existence, where there is no true beginning or end, and this cycle is both within us and surrounds us universally.

The second verse delves into the uncertainty of our knowledge and understanding. It questions whether those who have not yet been born or have passed away possess wisdom about our origins, destinations, and reasons for being. Despite searching for clarity, the singer finds themselves lost amidst the things they encounter. The contemplation of God as either the creator or an image in the mind provokes a larger existential pondering. The singer reflects on the vastness of the universe, emphasizing the wonder and variety that they are unable to fully comprehend.

The bridge of the song suggests the power of imagination and belief in unseen worlds. By picturing places they have not been and believing in the existence of these unseen realms, the singer expands their perception. They contemplate that life may be nothing more than a state of mind and encourage a dismissal of the impossible, focusing instead on the tangible aspects of our existence. The closing lyrics highlight the awe-inspiring feeling of being connected to the vastness of the cosmos, with the mention of feeling the warmth of even one in a trillion stars.

Lyrics © BMG RIGHTS MANAGEMENT US, LLC
Written by: AGIUS, BRAY, HOLDER, TORKINGTON

Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind

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