Nas recently appeared on SiriusXM’s The Infamous Hour with Havoc to reflect on his collaboration with Mobb Deep and the deep respect he has for the legendary duo’s influence on…
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Iconic hip-hop duo Mobb Deep returns with their highly anticipated album Infinite, out today on all streaming platforms via Mass Appeal Records. This marks the first full-length release since the…
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Erykah Badu is set to release her first project in a decade, titled “Abi & Alan,” produced entirely by The Alchemist. The album is scheduled to drop on August 29,…
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Yes, the 6th studio LP from Indiana emcee Freddie Gibbs has finally arrived. Blowing up initially over 2 decades ago with his debut mixtape Full Metal Jackit, he would sign to Interscope Records for a brief period of time until he left without dropping an album with them. This was made up for with the mixtapes The Miseducation of Freddie Gibbs & Str8 Killa No Filla, which would catch the attention of Jeezy & land Freddie a contract with CTE World in 2011. However, Gibbs eventually left CTE the following year after releasing the tapes Cold Day in Hell & B.F.K. (BabyFace Killa). In 2013, he decided to form his own label E$GN Records & finally dropped the full-length album E.$.G.N. (Evil $eeds Grow Naturally). He & iconic Oxnard producer Madlib would drop their MadGibbs debut Piñata the year after that, which is EASILY one of the greatest hip hop albums of the previous decade. Gibbs continued to grow his profile after that with Shadow of a Doubt, You Only Live 2wice, Freddie & the Curren$y collab EP Fetti & who can forget MadGibbs’ sophomore effort Bandana or Alfredo produced by The Alchemist? $oul $old $eparately made for a valiant major label debut under Warner Records & You Only Die 1nce returned to his independent hustle, recapturing the magic ofAlfredo for a sequel of it’s own.
“1995” opens with a jazzy, drumless 2-parter picking up exactly where “1985” left off talking about being ok regardless of haters & bitches snaking whereas “Mar-a-Lago” swaps out the drumless elements in favor of boom bap making it clear that the feds ain’t gettin’ nothing after tryna hit his shit. “Lemon Pepper Steppers” turns the jazz influences up a bit talking about people tryna block his blessings prior to the silky “Ensalada” pleading to get away from this place he’s in.
Gibbs advises for all these detectives who’ve been pissing him off to get a job at the FBI during “Empanadas” stripping the drums once again just before “Skinny Suge II” talks about being the last don & looking to body every last person whenever he’s in the middle of a job. “Feeling” featuring Larry June chops up a soul sample for both of them to keep it trill leading into “I Still Love H.E.R.” homaging the テリヤキ・ボーイズ single of the same name featuring & produced by Ye or the Nazi formerly known as Kanye West.
“Shangri La” soulfully airs his grievances towards a woman that he deems to be “sneaky”making better use of an unused verse recorded during the Vultures sessions when ¥$ was still together at the beginning while “Gas Station Sushi” addresses his falling out with Curren$y not too long after Fetti was released. I found both the “Pee on city girls like P. Diddy” line & the DJ Akademiks diss not even a minute into “Lavish Habits” to be pretty funny while “Gold Feet” featuring J.I.D. finds the pair getting together talking about feeling great.
The song “Jean Claude” gets the final 7 & a half minutes of Alfredo II started with a drumless jazz rap track comparing life to the 1988 martial arts film Bloodsport & recommending to take the role of Frank Dux in that situation as a way of survival while “1,000 Mountains” closes the album with 1 last boom bap cut arguing that the only person who he feels can outrap him is André 3000, taking it a step further by contemplating taking a flute & hiding out similarly to what the Prince of hip hop did.
Don’t want to take away from the highlights $oul $old $eparately & You Only Die 1nce both have even if I lean more $oul $old $eparately, but Freddie Gibbs reunites with one of my top 10 producers of all-time for a successor to make an Alfredo successor that takes it back to what made that original LP the most beloved solo effort in the E$GN Records founder’s discography as he prepares for his next project fully produced by KAYTRANADA.
Score: 9/10
Source: UndergroundHipHopBlog.com
Freddie Gibbs and The Alchemist are back with Alfredo 2, the long-awaited sequel to their critically acclaimed 2020 album Alfredo. Officially dropping July 25, the new project comes with a…
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Erykah Badu is back with “Next To You,” her first lead single of the decade. The track is a self-produced collaboration with acclaimed hip-hop producer The Alchemist, released on her…
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Vallejo, California rapper & songwriter Larry June joining forces with Atlanta, Georgia rapper, actor & songwriter 2 Chainz for a brand new collaborative studio LP. Both of whom have already crossed paths with one another a couple times in recent years on the tracks “Still Boomin’” & “Ocean Cuisine”, ultimately deciding to get together with one of my top 10 producers of all-time The Alchemist to entirely produce Life is Beautiful after being teased on Twitter a couple months ago sparking interest even further by letting off a couple singles the previous month.
“Munyon Canyon” is a drumless intro with both of them talking about needing everything whereas “Colossal” works in a reversed sample to admit they find it therapeutic counting it up calling it exactly the way they see it. “I Been” continues to strip the drums as they discuss minding their own business leading into “LLC” talking about how there’s so much money to get bringing a boom bap flare to the table instrumentally.
The jazzy, drumless & boom bap lead single “Bad Choices” was one to begin the rollout perfectly wanting to know where all the good women who make bad decisions are at in the building while the title track has a flute sample that I really enjoy as they discuss the beauties of life. “Generation” dabbles with trap again talking about being the ones getting kids doing drugs, but then “Any Day” strips the drums to talk about giving their all.
“Epiphany” begins the final leg of Life is Beautiful on a mellow note flexing that their cribs be looking exactly like an Airbnb & “Tru Organics” continues to keep the drums out the equation talking about money being the motivator. “Jean Prouvé” wraps up the collaborative LP that I never thought that I’ve needed psychedelically coming to the realization of them getting their minds right.
Larry has brought the best out of 2 Chainz in the past throwing it back to his Tity Boi days & even though I initially thought that Jay Worthy was gonna be on here a couple months ago, the former Playaz Circle member taps in with The Freeminded Records founder to take their chemistry to the next level. Alchemist’s production is mostly drumless other than some hints of boom bap & trap for both of them to drop their signature luxurious raps.
Score: 9/10
Source: UndergroundHipHopBlog.com
Larry June, 2 Chainz, and The Alchemist have joined forces for an unexpected yet fire new track, “Bad Choices,” out now via EMPIRE. Backed by one of Alchemist’s signature menacing, soulful beats, the track sees June and 2 Chainz flexing their lyrical chemistry as they trade bars with effortless style.
The music video complements the vibe perfectly, staying true to Larry June’s signature aesthetic. Expect a fleet of luxury cars—an iconic presence in his visuals—as the trio delivers smooth, hard-hitting rhymes that pair perfectly with the ominous instrumental. If you’re a fan of top-tier production and seamless collaborations, this one’s definitely worth your attention.
Source: UndergroundHipHopBlog.com
Yasiin Bey is getting ready to deliver new music, partnering with The Alchemist for a joint album, Forensics. According to HipHopDX, the first listen of the album will occur at a live event in Paris. The event is set to occur on January 25.
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This is the 12th full-length studio LP from Long Island emcee/producer Roc Marciano. Beginning in the very late 90’s as a member of the Flipmode Squad, he then went solo in 2008 to drop classic albums that would pave the way for those like Griselda such as Marcberg & Reloaded. He would begin focusing on producing projects for other artists like Flee Lord & Bronze Nazareth following Mt. Marci & of course returning to enlist The Alchemist to fully produce The Elephant Man’s Bones, which I gave a perfect score. However coming off a Marciology lesson, he & Uncle Al present to you The Skeleton Key.
The opener “Mystery Gawd” takes us to the basement instrumentally showing these lil muhfuckas what grown men do comparing him & Alchemist to gatekeepers whereas “Street Magic” goes for a bit of jazz rap direction suggesting that y’all should check the score. “Chopstick” brings a more morbid atmosphere to the table rightfully talking about embodying hip hop culture while “Knock It Off” wants to know why some of these cats be looking devilish yet angelic.
“Acid” hooks up these prominent piano chords flexing that they still drawing him even though he’s sketchy warning the pipsqueaks that shit really ain’t sweet leading into the soulful “Rauf” talking about running up a tab to receive himself a decent vehicle. “Chateau Josué” goes completely drumless to discuss doing it his way & that his hoe has no say whatsoever, but then “Skirt Streak” keeps the drums out of the equation once more advising how dirty the game is.
The track “Cryotherapy” hooks up this psychedelic beat feeling like he’s running out of hands to count & refusing to give handouts while the closer “Make Sure” symphonically talks about how he should be doing his own thing. The first of 2 bonus tracks “Hard Drugz” brings the soul samples back boasting that squares don’t fit into his circle whatsoever & finally, the other “Bleu Mouson” rounds it all out with a mafioso flare showing off his genius & status as a boss in all regions.
Merging all of Roc Marciano & The Alchemist’s individual qualities together, The Skeleton Key offers hip hop a collection of tracks that blend innovation with authenticity & also highlights their shared philosophy of creating art that stands the test of time while cementing their legacy as leaders & trendsetters in the field of communication through music. It’s additionally a thank you to their fans above all else & came from a place of gratitude for their continued support further solidifying themselves as undisputed trailblazers & tastemakers.
Score: 10/10
Source: UndergroundHipHopBlog.com