The Alchemist Wants To Work With Jay-Z: 'He's Always Been On My List'

During one conversation with fellow producer Cardo for Clear Monday Cover, The Alchemist said he still wants to work with Jay-Z.

“Jay has always been on my bucket list. I've been saying this for 100 years,” the producer said, after claiming that there aren't many artists left on his list. “At this point, I hope it would be a mutual thing, as I would like to work with someone who would want to work with me. There's a couple coming up that's kind of like a bucket list for me that I'm hoping will happen. I still have such hopes.”

While he admitted that Jay Electronica indirectly made the dream come true when he featured Jay on the Alchemist production song “The never ending story,” has yet to make a beat specifically for the Brooklyn legend.

However, this collaboration almost happened in 2001. During a podcast appearance Waste of time In 2015, the Los Angeles producer told the ItsTheReal hosts that he played the “We Gonna Make It” beat for Jay, but passed on it. “I actually played him the 'We Gonna Make It' beat,” he said. “I was playing it for Hip-Hop and then he told Jay to come in the room and he was like, 'Yeah, it's dope' and as soon as he left, he just stuck his head in.” The beat was also offered to Nas, but ultimately ended up in the hands of Jadakiss.

He then said he ran into Jay at a popular New York nightclub after Jada's version blew up and the rapper had a message for him. “He leaned in my ear and said, 'Hey, when are you going to stop wasting their hits?' he remembers. “And it was sick because he was so confident and he wasn't trying to be funny, he was dead–. That was the first thing he said to me. I looked at him and he was serious, he put me in a loop.”

The Alchemist then said he suggested they go to the studio after the club Jay agreed to meet at Baseline, but he never showed up. “I got my drum machine, it went to Baseline… it didn't show up.” However, this session ended with a placement on State Property's second album The Chain Gang Vol. 2 with the song “Still valid” with Freeway and Neef.

Watch an excerpt from The Alchemist's interview with Cardo below: