![]() Many kids start out as childhood prodigies or are predicted for success, but few fulfill their promise and represent their mentors as Al did.Īlchemist maintains one of the longest-running and successful careers in Hip-Hop, one that is at a new peak in 2020. Perhaps the only thing that outdistances his unique come-up is his ridiculous amount of skill and the respect he warrants among his peers. The Alchemist’s career and journey in the music business has been nothing short of exceptional, at times unbelievable, and 100 percent original. It was all a far cry from basic teenage shit. To summarize: He was in a rap group signed to the same label as De La Soul, got envelopes of unmarked cash from one of Hip-Hop’s best producers, and missed school to go on a nationwide tour. He would have crazy records for me to go through, he always had weed, he would give me $1,000 cash in little envelopes - money from the label - once a week, and we would eat at Benihana’s every day. ![]() “I would go to Muggs’ crib after school,” he says. What followed is far from typical: Alchemist signed a record deal with Tommy Boy Records, missed a year of high school touring with Cypress Hill, and learned how to make beats by DJ Muggs, but his description of what transpired makes it sound as mundane as eating a hotdog at a baseball game. That led Al to form a band with individuals such as Scott Caan, whose famous father, James, appeared in The Godfather, among numerous other films.ī-Real, Sen Dog and DJ Muggs, of Cypress Hill / Photo by Lynn Goldsmith/ Corbis/VCG via Getty Images The acquisition marked a turning point: He was hooked on rap music. The 12-inch vinyl for “The Show” with B-side “Lodi Dodi” soon followed as the first record he remembers purchasing. “Like, what is this? Some aliens singing? I remember hearing that as a kid and being blown away.” “That whole shit was mind-blowing,” he says during a phone interview. It happened upon hearing “Jam on It” by Newcleus. Like most kids that ended up pursuing music, Alchemist can remember his holy-shit moment. 1 on Billboard’s Hot 100 year-end chart in 1979. Fun fact: His piano teacher was the keyboard player in the Knack, whose song “My Sharona,” was No. His mother forced him to take piano lessons, and like a lot of boys growing up in the late ’80s and early ’90s, he abandoned them to play sports and chase girls, but not before learning to play “Mary Had a Little Lamb” with one finger. As a young child, he wasn’t a music fan, but maybe a casual listener. He remembers that the first concert he attended was U2 at the Los Angeles Memorial Coliseum, and he was taken there by his older brother. Here’s some insight.ĭaniel Alan Maman, The Alchemist, grew up in Beverly Hills, California. He may describe his journey as typical, however, it’s anything but. The Alchemist’s career trajectory tells a remarkable story that reflects smart career choices and a strong work ethic. The Alchemist has been behind some of Hip-Hop’s most beloved productions.
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