"The Right Chemistry" By Kem Poston

    Back in the day, alchemists were the cats who poured, mixed and researched elements in search of the mythic recipe for gold. That job description isn't too different from that of the modern record producer-though instead of gold, they're concocting formulas for platinum records. The Soul Assassin affiliate known as Alchemist professes to have chosen his name because of its similarity to his government handle (Alan), but assesses, "It's kind of ill sometimes when I think about the idea of alchemists being people trying to make something of nothing."

    Alchemist has had the Midas touch ever since flipping a dead-in-the-water career as an MC into pay dirt by learning the sweet science of studio production. He first started rhyming with the Whooliganz-a Cypress Hill subgroup. When their debut project stalled, Alchemist wasn't discouraged. He regrouped by taking an informal apprenticeship with Cypress's DJ Muggs, who schooled the young'un in the laboratory arts and took him on the road to tour with the group. Reminiscing about his dues-paying days, Alchemist notes, " When we were on the road, Muggs and I would just bring our gear on the bus and make beats in our free time. " As comfortable a situation as that was, he came to the realization that " no one's going to put it there on a plate for you, not even your own peoples." So he went for his. " I saw I had to get my name out there if I wanted any credit," Alchemist explains. "Instead of working under Muggs and getting little bits of money, I saw that we could be passing work to each other, which is what we do now."

    Alchemist started his production career putting out joints for Cali indie champs Buc Fifty and Dilated Peoples-producing three songs on Dialted's recent debut, The Platform - but since moving from LA to Manhattan some years back, he's developed a long and diverse client list. It includes New York heavyweights Mobb Deep, Tony Touch, Capone-N-Noreaga, as well as highly regarded independent acts like Defari and Royce the 5'9." DJ Premier is among his biggest boosters, recommending him for work with Group Home, Freddie Foxx and the Infamous Mobb, who have adopted Alchemist as an honorary "dunn." His partnership with the Queensbridge crew promises to get considerably tighter with the upcoming release of "Keep it Thorough," the first single off Prodigy's solo album.

    And he's already guaranteed himself some shine just around the corner. Songs for Eminem, Cormega, Nas and Shabam Sahdeeq are all in the chamber, awaiting release, while- thanks to Foxy Brown's claws-out, Kim- dissing verse-C-N-N's "Bang Bang" looks like a mixtape classic. In the coming year, Al looks to produce his first full album with his Westside Partna, Buc Fifty, and expects to play a significant role on the solo album by Mobb Deep's Havoc ( The two have discussed the possibility of forming a production team for the effort)

    But his popularity cuts both ways. With a growing reputation for crafting tracks with the real street appeal, his chances to really be experimental may diminish. The exposure that working with the higher profile artists brings also welcomes narrower expectations. See, producing for both true-school independent acts and thugged-out gangstahs often confuses listeners , who assume he's only capable of working in one genre. " People say my style is Sinister, but I don't understand that," he explains. " Maybe it was one beat that you heard that you like, but now I gotta make every beat like nighttime? I want to do lots of styles of beats and not be pigeonholed."

    Shattering limitations placed upon a beatmaker by satisfied public is an important step for any up-and-coming producer. For Alchemist, such a step is a sign that it won't be long before finds himself ranked among the A-list production crowd. " Most of my music has been album cuts-meat and and potatoes," he says " I'm starting realize if you want to be successful, you have to be able to make singles. I love respect from the underground, but I want to be the dude whose beats everybody's following."