The Alchemist

Released: June 29, 2004

Featuring: T.I. PSC

Songwriter: The Alchemist T.I. PSC

Producer: The Alchemist

Verse 1 (T.I.)
Below da Mason-Dixon Line, hey, im da best u gon find...
Bottom line, i ain't humble, cuz nigga its bout time...
Rather grind on da corner, hollin, i got dimes
Rather then know that I'm da best in dis shit and not shine
Give a fuck bout a clique if its not mine
Got rhymes, im da sign of da time, I'm not lieing
Nigga plannin on robbin me blind, start tryin
Got sumtin to but a end to 380's and Glock nines
Shit u gotta shoot from ur shoulders, won't fit in holsters
Bid on ur life and force a forclosure..
I can rebuild S.W.A.T.'s all da yay dat i got..
I'm da king it dont matta if i say it or not
It dont matter if da old niggas dont wanna say dat I'm hot..
It dont matter whether my first single was playin or not
Nigga i stay right here, never go gold, shoot nine videos, and drop records every year..
All da fake niggas, feel real niggas'll break..
Young, skinny, wit plenty whores, puttin niggas to play..
Hey talk behind my back, u have me in ur face , wit da PSC in ur safe, while u pee in ur cage!

The Alchemist is a rapper and DJ on top of being one of the most prolific producers in hip-hop who is known for his eclectic beats. Al’s sample-heavy style has been associated with an East Coast sound even though he reps the West Coast, but he has worked with rappers from every region of America—including Nas, Kendrick Lamar, Lil Wayne, and Eminem among others.

At 14 years old, Daniel Alan Maman from Beverly Hills, California entered the rap game as Mudfoot, one-half of The Whooliganz with actor Scott Caan in 1991. He also grew up with Evidence from Dilated Peoples and produced the crew’s debut single “Third Degree” in 1997. Al was mentored by Cypress Hill’s DJ Muggs, who taught him production techniques and later introduced him to Mobb Deep. Al’s early productions on Mobb Deep’s Murda Muzik album in 1999 began to grow his profile, which took off after the popularity of his production on the 2001 Jadakiss hit “We Gonna Make It.”

The Alchemist has been involved in many projects over the years. He released two compilations—2004’s 1st Infantry and 2009’s Chemical Warfare—a number of instrumental albums, mixtapes, as well as collaborative albums with Prodigy and Havoc of Mobb Deep, Curren$y, Freddie Gibbs, Action Bronson, Oh No (as Gangrene), and Evidence (as Step Brothers) to name a few. Al has served as a DJ for Eminem and Action Bronson shows, and Al has also been a frequent guest on Action Bronson’s Viceland food show Fuck, That’s Delicious. Al used vocal samples from the show throughout his 2020 album The Food Villain.

more tracks from the album

In Da Streets, Vol. 1

From the albums

In Da Streets, Vol. 1 (2003)
1st Infantry (2004)

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The Alchemist

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