Cali producer Exile introduced the world to rapper Blu on their 2007 collaborative album Below The Heavens, one of the year’s best. Next up, Exile is producing Boy Meets World, the debut from Fresno, CA MC Fashawn, which drops on October 22. If Exile on the beats doesn’t sell you, then how about this: Alchemist reportedly called 20-year-old Fashawn a “West Coast Nas.” Oh, and he recently went on a European tour with Evidence, who also appeared in his last video. Phew! Okay, enough producer co-signs, we believe you. This kid is dope! [DJ Booth via NahRight]
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SOUNDS LIKE: Spooky chopped samples x pounding drums x Cali Kush
FUN FACT: Alchemist claims, “I’ve been smoking so long, I’m probably higher when I don’t smoke. It has reverse effects.”
WHY COMPLEX IS CO-SIGNING IT:Chemical Warfare (out today) picks up where 1st Infantry left off five years ago. Al thoroughly chops both odd and well-known samples to match his trademark sound filled with cynical melodies and boom-bap drums, with a set of guest appearances by a wide range of artists from Lil Fame to Juicy J.
Kicking it off with the Kool G Rap-assisted “ALC Theme,” followed by the menacing “Lose Your Life,” and the Eminem-featured “Chemical Warfare,” the L.A.-bred beatsmith flexes his forte early. The uptempo bounce of “That’ll Work” doesn’t boast a catchy hook, but the experimental loop rapped over by Juvenile and Three Six Mafia has the bounce of a South record with griminess of an East Coast banger. Besides the addictive single “Smile”—featuring a show-stealing Twista and a soulful Maxwell— the album’s standout track is the guitar-riff-heavy “Therapy.” Yes, we’re aware that the track’s been out for some time, but with Evidence, Blu, and Talib dropping rewind-worthy bars, and a blazed-out hook from Kid Cudi, it’s hard to ignore the song’s dopeness. Also dope is the fact that the ALC has several joints (the aforementioned Em song, “Lights Cameras, Action,” with Fame and “Some Gangster S***” with Fabolous) that are under two minutes each; the quick-hitters serve to pace the album like Primo’s little segueway tracks on classic Gang Starr LPs.
After traveling the world with Em, Al was in town for a breather. In addition to the album review, check out our hilarious interview with the producer/rapper (below) where he talked to us about a possible Whooliganz reunion, how he almost got locked up abroad, and his challenge to Spencer Pratt…
Now this is how you make a video. In “Under Siege,” two of Cali’s dopest producer/rappers travel back in time to the 1992 LA Riots, where they play gun-toting local newscasters (look for cameos from Evidence and Scott Caan spliced into the old school footage). Alchemist’s new album Chemical Warfare drops on July 7, but this joint is actually the first taste of the upcoming album by GANGRENE, a group comprised of Al and Stones Throw’s Oh No.
