Beverly Hills producer, DJ and rapper The Alchemist follows the Flying high EP with his 12th EP. Starting out as 1/2 of the duo The Whooliganz in 1993 with Scott Caan, they would disband only a year later after recording a debut album that was eventually shelved and Scott started playing like his father. Mudfoot on the other hand has quickly established himself as one of the biggest producers in hip hop history with a resume that includes names from Mobb Deep & Eminem to Travis Scott and even Drake. The gangrene came together again this spring for Heads I Win, Tails You Lose & The Original Articulated refuses to slow down.
“Ferraris in the Rain” featuring ScHoolboy Q is this jazzy, drumless opener with the two asking for the rain to wash them away from all the pain in their lives, while front 3 Uncle Al solos the ” Something Light” delivers it hard over a futuristically robust self-produced instrumental. Action Bronson's “Minnesota Fats” finds the pair over a rock specimen pledging allegiance to the partnership, while Havoc's “Scientology” shows just how tough it is.
Alchemist's penultimate solo track 'Everybody's Favorite Uncle' strips down the drums once again, reworking the nickname Uncle Al Earl Sweatshirt gave him a decade ago Doris until “Diego Mardona” with Conway the Machine talks ominously about the landscape becoming more intense and darker. “Details” featuring Larry June hops over this bare-bones soul brag that anyone can do that, but then “Seasons Change” was a notable Father's Day single from this summer and the best that can be imagined.
Unlike Alchemist's previous solo material I've covered in the past, this is probably the most I've heard him vocally since he's on every track, including guests and I welcome that since he was tearing up the mics before he even made the top 10 my producer He maintains his signature sound and holds his own weight lyrically with a cast of high profile MCs.
Rating: 8/10