Rap Radar: Alchemist & Roc Marciano

at least ten years coming for me. I mean, I think some of the first records we did was probably at least ten years old easily, and you know, we could speak forever about how great he is, you know. But I feel like from the first days that we linked, I always had a goal, like yo, I felt like, if we could make a whole plate, you know what

I'm saying. And over the years we've done a lot like you could actually pull them together and make a nice compilations, you know, craft singles and a lot of like because I feel notable, but I always felt like, man, if we could put this together, and I feel like where it landed is to me like I feel our best and that says a lot, because you know, his discography is insane, So I I just feel for us.

And I told and I told him when we were making it, I said, once we finish it, we won when we get it to where it needs to be. And he and I are feel like, Yo, this meets the mark or how we feel we should be at right now, and our covers are like making it once you finally got into trenches and was working on it.

I mean, for me, it was fun, you know what I'm saying, But it was also a challenge because you know, he makes some of the best beats, So for me, it was also like to try to find a way where I could make a soundscape for it that's worthy for what he does, but also bring something else to the table, you know what I'm saying. So, but we just once we buckle down. I mean, do you have a law for duction on this one? Yeah? This was I felt like I had to do that and let

rock for one project, right, It's only right. And you mentioned it to sound like like what was the goal? Like what was you trying to achieve sonically with this project? I was I wasn't thinking too much about our past stuff for like our sound. But I was like I listened to both our discographies and I was just thinking about first and foremost. I gotta give him stuff that makes him want to write, you know what I'm saying. So no matter how you know, have a certain idea

of a color or or style. We really just started because it just my brother, so we hang out. We don't just make music. So once we finally put in motion and we were going to make a record, I just started throwing a lot of music at him. I

mean a lot, you know what I'm saying. And I could trust rock too, So it was like I threw the sync Adam because he told me, you don't just send me what you think I'm gonna like, and so and I and I touched everything then not every somewhere around there the close to forty tracks some reason and someone like that moment for the ind ofnet go crazy that I didn't they could ever hear these records, because you know, we had a bunch of music that we

already had from like older music that we already we're talking about. We did damn there forty new joints. I had records over the years that we didn't release either that we were considering that we could have, you know, matched together, but we was like for the for the fans, and for what we feel we deserve, keep it fresh. Yeah, because even Rocks sometimes like he'll have a joint and he cooks, and then maybe a couple of years later he'll send me a new version with a new verse

that's better. So when records sit around, sometimes he might recook it where the beat is right, but he'll have because you know, this music, it's our life. So it depends software like up you know what I'm saying, that update the software. But Rock your producer as well, Like, was it less pressure to allow alchemists to like take the reins or did you have like the itch to kind of oh not, hell yeah, it was. Um, I just knew with al on the boards and all I had to do was be the best rapper that I

could be, you know what I'm saying. So it was like, all right, I ain't gotta worry about production and ship like that. It was like a vacation, you know what I'm saying. I mean, okay, twisted, we butted heads like you know what I'm saying like, you know what I'm saying, like we do it your way, it's gonna be a rock massy album. And I'd be like, that's not a bad thing, you know what I'm saying, Like, yo, I gotta have my flavor. So it's like, you know, but

it was still all a pleasure, you know what I'm saying. Nonetheless, like you know, we were making music, so it's there's no one way it could be done, you know what I'm saying. His way is right sometimes my way is right sometimes and we just come together the song of a session that stands out that you clicked like, oh this is this definitely feels right? Which one? I mean? We always worked together, so once we started just cooking, it was already the first batch was already magic, you

know what I mean. So but I think once we started, I felt like the first batch that he finally went in on felt more along the lines I can I can never do what he does, but it felt more like along the lines of something he might be even potentially produced. And that's when we came like halfway in and we had a nice batch and I was like, yo, I want to try to bring a couple of the sounds to the table, and he you know, we respect each other so much that I didn't feel like I

wasn't nervous to say it. I was more like, yo, let me, let me pick a couple of beats. But first of all, if you don't feel it, I don't want you to force it. So but at least pick a couple of sounds that because at first I just wanted him rock is a type just get out of his way. That's how I like to produce for him. It's like make something and get out of his way. So maybe they call it minimal or whatever it is.

It's not for everybody, but for me when I work with him, I'm like, okay, let me get something that when he calls me and it's like put the heart emoji on the beat in the Texas Like I say, it depends moving. He said, I only want to see fire emojis when it comes out. What are you making? Like this? Being like on the dnet? Like the whole how records come out now and there's so much social media fuel consumption of the music, Like what do you guys make of that? I mean, it's all good to me.

I just feel like it's beautiful that the people. We get to hear it directly from the people, and there's no company in the middle saying Okay, well you know you're doing good in this area. Listen, you know over here they're feeling you. Well, we're not so much here. Like no, I'm getting the feedback live from the people, so you can't beat it, you know what I'm And why is this project called The Elephant Man's Bones, Like

what's the meaning behind that title? I mean, you know, I guess to a certain extent, feeling like you know what I'm saying, like the outcast in the game, like you know, man making this this raw music for a long time and stuff like that. So it's like, you know, they kind of like treated us like the bad step kids in the game. So it just like, you know, the Elephant Man's And it's about revealing. If you listen

to the album, I'm revealing things. So it's almost like your skeletons also in your closet and stuff like that. So you know, it's it's it's you know, multidimensional as far as the meaning speaking of multidimensionals, this is count as a double album because it's like a side day and the side B that was just uh when we put out the original track list, and that was for

the vinyl art. So I think some people thought it was and you know, if they appreciate and they listened to it that way, Hey, you know what I'm saying. But I don't think that was intentional. Yeah, but I think like the song Elephant Man's Bones, you know what I mean, when we made that record, I felt like he had never wrote a record like that before, and I felt like to be to write a record like that, you kind of gotta go through the steps he went

to be the place he is vulnerable. I'm just getting better. I'm getting better, particularly like because you admitted on that particular song you got wounds not even a doctor can heal. Like what are some of those wounds that you were talking about, you know, like your pain and trauma from the past, Like you know what I'm saying. Like, I guess they say doctors can heal them, but you know what I'm saying, I don't feel like that, you know

what I'm saying. So a lot of stuff you just never get over, you know, death of close friends and you know, you know, just your your your life story. We all got pain and stuff like that, did you probably never get over. Even towards the end of the song, you can kind of reiterate I always always was being tested, Like what are some of those things that you feel like you've been tested on? I mean, um, are we

all being tested? I feel like during this journey of life, um, you know, everything is you know to make you become a better man or you know, a better person. So that's how I felt like a lot of things like you know that happened or whatever it didn't happen or whatever the case, maybe it just pushed me to be greater, you know what I'm saying. So that's pretty much like

put this away. If I was say, um, if the first album whatever or the second one was just like oh greatly accepted, I might have let off the gas and probably not have been as ill as I am. But being that, you know what I'm saying, that you know Castle still fronting, I got Ella and illa, you know what I'm saying. So you even addressed on the DJ VU you said, I feel like I'm often slided.

You know, as much as you revere, you still feel like there's still the side of you that's not talking about stuff like that, like, Okay, even though it don't because I've never been a famed person, I don't really care about them damn fame. But um, you know, like if you think about what I've done in this game for me not to be on like Coachella or something like that, it's like, what do y'all know? Y'all y'all know the history of what's going on or what what

I'm contributing to the culture and stuff like that. So you feel like you get slided by little stuff like that, But it just feeds the fire, that's all. Even on Quantum Lead, you talked about how you at the top of the heap actually coll leagues. I mean, it feels like you've been going feel a little bit rock So how have you been able to stay on your A game? Um? I love what I do. You know I'm saying. I love what I do. Um, you know, when you love what you do, you you know you don't cheat the game.

So that's pretty much all it is. I just don't cheat it, you know what I'm saying. I take time out to live and get better, like I said, updating software, like making sure that I come back a better A better MC than I did last time. That's how I feel like I'm still getting better and better about self improvement. Like I saw that you tweeted once a couple of weeks ago, like this rap ship is the lazy river at the water park. He said, let's talk about it.

So let's talk about it, like we feel like, what do you mean by that? Let's talk about it, like what does that mean to you? I feel like we in a lazy rivers, like you know at Action Park or one of those places, and you're just like in

an inner tube and just kind of coasting. Yeah. I just had the thought one day, like you know, I feel like the rap game kind of moves like the lazy river, Like you know in the park, you got to ye goes around the wall to park you're sitting in into If you get out of it and go get an ice cream or something and get back in, you're back. You gotta swim back up to get to where you're at. And I was saying it to more of a testament of people who staying on the ball.

So if you let off the gas, this ship is a lazy river. So when you want to get back in, you gotta get back in position. You gotta swim back up to get back to where you were because the ship keeps moving. It's constantly. That's how I took it, like it doesn't wait for nobody. The game moves, and when you get out of it, you want to jump back in. You gotta get back in position. They not.

They may not just be with open hands because um, swipe swipe, swipe, and you know your your attention span is less and you you come, you, you fall back, and somebody gives a little lesser quality product that they can all right, fuck it, you don't got that. Let's

go here. And I was just thinking about that. That to me too, I was like, I feel like even more you shared, You shared your love of the culture and your lifestyle with it, not just the music I put the pop up shops, the Yeah Immedition vinyl, like the you know, the baseball cards and things like that. Talk about how it seems like the things you just love a passion about has become as much about that as it's about the music. Yeah. I mean, I think if I had known this twenty years ago, I would

have did it. Then. That's life, you know. I kind of had to go through my stages of you know, I think Rock and I both had our versions of messing with major labels, messing with a small company and just kind of going down the pole until you're like, damn, what's behind our number two? Man? That what they Let's just go see what's behind oh ship? Okay, this is cool, all right, and I can just do what I want to kind of implement my ideas. And I feel like, m hm, when you lock in with the core people

who really funk with you, you're good. You know what I'm saying and what I really do. And I think both of us we kind of create products that is something we like. Like if I'm gonna do a merch line, there's something in there that I'm gonna wear, even if they tell me this is gonna sell better, and even to my own detriment, I have to do things that are true to me that I love because you know, then I feel like the people will it'll it'll reciprocate,

you know what I mean as far as products go. Man, you worked with almost everybody like Boli, James, Action, Bronson, Currency Freddy gives on these you know, exclusively produced projects.

Project of course, Why do you think rappers. Like working with this guy so much on these full length projects as a damn dog man, She's always got fired, always sitting on ship, you know what I mean, like our delivers Like you know what I'm saying, you want some ill ship if you if you rusty or whatever the case, maybe it's like, you know, go to the training course. You know what I'm saying, get what I get some of that nasty ship and you know, get you know,

get back right right. How you had a hell of a year too. Man Appreciate started off earlier this year with Bennie the Butcher and j Cole Johnny Peace Caddy. Yeah, and you posted he said, a good song grows legs and run run on its own. Yes, Like, how impressed were you with that execution? I mean I was really

happy that happened, you know what I'm saying. Happy to see Benny, you know, do his thing and just that, you know, even that alone made me think of in the earlier days of my career, when it was like records that like like we're gonna make it or something like that, what you would see the months and months that it would take. And I was thinking in my

mind of grinding remember how long they worked. Remember it was like four or five months, and then it took and then I always realized like a hit record, not saying oh, this is a hit record that they made, just saying I saw the effect, so that it was that how it was moving. And I remember my memory of how records move. It's like they grow, and it's like it's pretty incredible when you see a record like that happened. So I was happy for him for that.

I remember hearing you with that. He was like, I was like, what's the sample? Was like, there's no samples,

no sample? How did you do it? You little helped a little too, Yeah, just recreated some magic basically the career also um on the vocals that just to try to challenge this off like that you don't have to always, yeah, you know, sometimes you approach that obstacle, you know, and and you work your way around it, but never to like destroy the integrity of a record, like I'll probably take the l if it didn't come out right, like let's just lose the record, you know. And that's happened

before too. So that your first time work with J Coole, we did a song called gladi Here, a long time ago. It was like a mixtape time but that was like the first time. But yeah, he had come by a couple of times prior to that to the studio and we chopped it up. But yeah, I was what you got sound together? Man? Who knows? You know what I'm saying? You speak with the phone, you Maine, you know that it maybe we heard you on Kendrick Lamar's album, missed

him around. The big step is how did we cry together? Land on that project? We had that record for a minute really like before the pandemic. We we had linked in I game a Batchel Beats and uh, I knew that he had worked on it, but I didn't hear the song at first, and then time kind of went but they said, yo, that's a keeper, and you know how things go. We all make a lot of music, and you know, years had passed, and I remember keeping in touch with Dave or whoever over there like you,

and they were like, NAA, it's in the mix. It's it's it's not going anywhere. And I didn't really get to hear it yet, so I didn't know what it was. But I guess the record, like like that type of record, I guess with something. You know, when you got a guy like God, He's probably making a hundred songs, and I was like, ah, this ain't gonna make it. You know, He's gonna make some new hot ship, but it's stuck. And then later on before we mix it, I got to hear the records and I was like, damn, what

was what was your reaction? Someone's going on like didn't mind you a little bit? Domestic violence record? I mean, you know what I'm saying. And I think people had touched on. I mean the way he did it was so unique that I think that in it it was so poignant, you know, and like strong. When I heard it, I was just like, Okay, I see why it was staying on the record because one of those records that

they must have built around it. I don't know when any of the records, because you know, I wasn't in the studio when he accorded it, but yeah, I was really happy with how it came out. He had a strong connection. Also the last time when you did Fear for the album, you have lost your father at that time, and that was an important thing to like, yes, kind of keep you going and keep you keep dead. It did and gave me a lot of strength and I always told him that, and so that record was like

close to me, you know what I mean. But I to be able to show beats to a person like him, and you know, still be this far in the game doing the music I'm doing. I'm I'm just happy and I feel like I could get better. So that's why I still They're like, why do you still do? I still enjoy it. I feel like we're turning the corner, like even you know, bringing it back to this project. I feel like this is where we need to be

as far as how the music sounds. And that's what I said, Like he wouldn't he had to come to where he is to write that song Elephant Man's Bones and I'm Hiding from the mirror and certain things you have to live through experience. This album is like it's cold, but do you know what I'm saying. It's cold, but it's also like it's hard for me to explain it,

but in the way it's like emotional. I've actually cried a couple of times listening to the ship like dead A's like damn, not like tears, but just like you know how you get emotional and don't know why. I like because I feel like it was a long time that we put into making this ship. So how do you feel? How do you feel when you listen back on the album? What comes to your mind? Um? When I'm when I finished albums, I'm kind of like done with him at that point, you know what I'm saying.

I'm like, I'm because I'm still recording. I got so much ship to do. I can't just like really sit and enjoy. I'm enjoying them while I'm making them. So by the time that people heard Eat, so I've heard each song a thousand times. What I'm saying like, I've heard each song a thousand times. I'm actually writing them. So it's like yeah, so but yeah, when we when we finished it and I heard the full body of work together the way I'll put it together, I was like, oh, yeah,

this is like this is it. I'm like, we're going to the Grammys, baby, We're going to Grammys, baby, and get a suit. Time to go, get some time to get fitted for some Texes. Man, when you show a lot of love to a big daddy cane on the album gets a lot of love, I mean, what's not the love about Kane. What I'm saying, it's not the love about Kane, Like, yeah, you know I love That's my error. You know what I'm saying, that's the error.

I fell in love with Hip Bob, you know, Big Daddy Cane, rock him, but I was in to say, rock him is a big inspiration making this album. I was looking up a lot of absolute video every album

for me, I'm a rock cam baby. Yeah. It's funny because I was thinking Big, because I was noticing, like on the end of Think Big, you know, you say, you're challenging Big with the spiritual without spiritual channeling Big without a spiritual meaning, that was wondering how much of an influence he was in general just making this project. You know I always say, Biggie smalls the list. You know what I'm like, You know what I'm saying, so um yeah, Big Big Big is always a big you know,

inspiration for me. Like you know what I'm saying, I get you know what I'm saying, Like inspired by Big still to this day, I still be listening know his lyrics, like yeah, how do you go there? Like I can't come behind that now? Like you know what I'm saying, like no man, like for real the other day, how like, you know, obviously people try to make the big double album, but like it's still hard to beat like all eyes

and be in life after death. Like a bunch of people be trying to make big albums and double albums. It's like his ship was so hard to be simple to your heartbeach sound like sasquatche. It was so simple. I got a theory about that. Part of me. I got a theory about that. I feel like, um, obviously big and pop didn't know that they were getting ready to die. I feel like certain like things are gonna happen to you in the studio when you're about to go.

You know what I'm saying. Some of that stuff, I'm like, yo, the spirits was around him, brothers, like you know what I'm saying, because it was like they're getting ready to you know, we were just enjoying the music as fans, but they're getting ready to pass over. So imagine the energy that's around them and how you know, how they being channeled and investled, you know what, I yeh before

they go. So I always had theory about that, like you can't compete with somebody that's getting ready to check out, especially if you got talent whatever, and a brother is about to like you know what I'm saying, You're about to transition. Just imagine what's going on in the studio in their spirit, you know. Many there was a point line to me that you had a rock on stick Mata and said, when you have true inter beauty, no man can remove your jewelry, Like what inspired that lyric um?

You know? Um, it's just like something beyond surface, Like you know what I'm saying, Like if somebody would take something from you that surface, but they still like you know, they can't take what what actually attracted these beautiful things to you. It's like if you take somebody's like you know, their material, you know, wealth, but they're truly wealthy, They're just gonna get it back again. So that's pretty much

what I meant by that. Yeah, that transparency and that vulnerability is you know, little throughout the project, like even on a trillion Kuite talk about how like your pops had on track marks from Herojuana, Like was that something you saw growing up? You know kid? Yeah, I mean you know, when when I got you know, when I got a little older, I started to notice things later, you know what I'm saying, like the tracks or whatever.

But I didn't see like, you know, I didn't grow up with my pops in my crib, like you know what I'm saying for my early years. I'm moved in with my dad for like a little while. But um, yeah, you just peep stuff later on in life, you know what I'm saying, Like, Wow, I didn't even notice that, like you know what I'm saying. But then you get older, like, oh,

that's what that is, you know what I'm saying. Yeah, And they also like, you know, you can't talk about a rock Monty project without you popping your ship man. And I felt that throughout the project as well, like back to think Big, like you said, this is my lane, our daddy, your d n A, Like where do you see your influences and other rappers and amongst your PIDs, because I hear that a lot like rock Massy started this,

influenced this. Um damn, you just said it pretty much, you know what I'm saying, Like, yeah, I think a lot of the stuff that's going on now or whatever. You know, obviously you know stuff I was doing ten years ago like pre dates a lot of stuff. So you know, it's just me flexing and having my fun with it. It's like basketball player talking ship on the court, like you know what I'm saying, Like I've been busting y'all last for years. It's just that simple. What does

What does it mean to you? Is the level of like uncompromising art like high hand underground your pop? Like like how would you sum up what it what it's sonically or what it sounds like that somebody may not know? Um, I think it's thinking man music. I think we make a lot of We hear a lot of music now that don't want people to think or you know, it's just background filler dance, clappy ass or whatever. Which is I love that too, I like, you know, I love

the women and all that ship the party vibe. But we also bring something that cerebral to the game. You know what I'm saying a little a little esoteric in some ways, you know what I'm saying. So you know, it's pretty much I'm trying to challenge that I never want to do. What if we want to be popular, we would just make trap beats and just do everybody else doing if we just wanted to, you know, like be out in there, like you know what I'm saying,

just the most visible artists. But you know, we like to challenge the listeners like I know I'll do too, you know what I'm saying. So that's why it's a perfect combination. But that's what it's about, just challenging the listener. And Underground is like I think people get it confused where they think, like our goals to be under the ground right like we could we look at our ship, is the best ship that is out the quality put any label on it, like the ground is this to that?

But I think you're more speaking to the dedication to the craft. Like even sometimes I'll bring up to rock like an old song he did you know in a pocket He's rhyme. I remember when you was doing it, you know listen. He'd be like I did that already, there's no reason, and I'd be like, yo, it's yours. Though I know everybody grabbed onto that style and did it after you, and but you could do it again,

you could take one. But he won't do that because it's like he explained to me before, it's like, yo, it's not uh inspiring, Like I want to blaze new trails. It's not about I want to do something. Every album, if you listen to his ship, it's like there's an update, like he said, the two points. Every record, there's there's certain nuances and ones that no no. And it's almost like graffiti, like if you know what you noticed the nuance of it, somebody else might look at it and

go that I can't tell the difference. That's just a bunch of writing on the wall, you know what I'm saying. So that's how I think it's more the dedication to the craft than wanting to be underground. We look at our ship is best, you know what I'm saying. So so when you had them with like Freddie you're nominated for a Grammy, it's like, yes, that's what's supposed to happen. Like this. Nobody respect to everybody, and I love everybody's music, But I feel like what we do is on a

certain level. He said. Greatness is always the ball, never go below it. So at this point where the greatness look light to you, uh man, um, really greatness is to continue to raise the ball, like you know what I'm saying, Like, don't let off of what we're doing, get better and better at it, you know what I'm saying, Like, you know, keep putting numbers up, man, That's pretty much what it is. We just we're adding we're in a legacy stage right now. We're in legacy stage. So that's

how I feel like. It's just about like beating their head and to the point where they like when you look at the body of work, it's like, yeah, you can't dispute this. This is like you know what I'm saying. So that's pretty much what it's about for me to your legacy rock man with this artist Stovegard Cooks Man. You know, I called it one of the best records albums reasonable Drought from the pandemic. Talk about what makes Stovegard so special? Why has he not released anymore music?

I mean, well, Ship for one, he's special because you know, the dude has something um like a lot of cats don't have. He can get in the mud and get busy in the in the mud with us on some on some rhyme and ship. But he also could sing his ass off, like you know what I'm saying. He's like, he's like, uh, you know a melody, man, you know what I'm saying. And in this you know, this little area where we got ain't a lot of melody. Man. Melody man is over there, like you know, you know

what I'm saying. So he's like a man. Yeah, he's a mixture. He's a mixture, you know what I'm saying. So I think that's what makes the special. And as far as like what's next, I mean, we got music to come with's next? Hopefully we could get it out there to the people. Man, you know, the business is like you know, it ain't easy. That reasonable drought that was that was like a dark horse. I know you had the dark Horse out, but that felt like a

dark horse. When he played it for me before it was out, I begged him to make sure it came out because we had been talking about his production and how he felt like man in the front, and I said, well, you need to put the whole album that's not you. And when he played me the album, I was like, of course you're gonna present stove. He's gonna ride with your beats. The beats really presented him like an amazing

way you can't front. So that was I think pulling up a buster calling me hit me in the head about it. Paying attention to it and I didn't listened yet. Then beat I made one of his lists, and like everybody went crazy until they until they heard the record. Then they were like, Okay, I get it. This dude is dope like you. And he produced that entire project. What was that process like? Like was it dope? Just to get something out? You know that you shaded? Well,

that's what I wanted to do. I wanted to start focusing more on my production, you know what I'm saying, because I feel like I'm one of the list producers as well. But um yeah, I mean I approached it like al right, cool, like you know, I'm starting to um do more albums for other people and produce. I

wanted to, you know what I'm saying. Luck you know, unfortunately I couldn't put it out on my company, but I was ducing it like it's coming out on my company, and it's just like I felt like this is like, uh my snoop. It's like I'm doing Doggie style. Everybody know what I do like dre and and Stove. I'm gonna treat this like you know what. Yeah, I just wanted to. I wanted to to feel like as far

as like the production like to feel like. I wanted the production to be so strong because sometimes people don't know if you don't know what, dude, you want to say, you feel them, you know. So I want to people to be like, even if you don't feel this nigger, you want to be like. But these fucking beats, I'm buying it, even for the beasts, and but they didn't go like that. He delivered it with a motherfucker. You know what I'm saying. It's a masterpiece. I agree. Those

always break lights. The way it comes on and it got Alchemist is silver proof. That's all you special. I'm telling you. Yeah, you think about melody, man, you know you d like alual Aaron Hall. Don't be afraid you're breaking little things. You know. I got my back. I got my back. Would you ever fully going to that leg? Yeah? Man, I'm telling only you. I've been wanting to do an R and B joint for a while. I've been trying to get out to get me r BB working on that.

I'm saying, give me some R and B beats, you know what I'm saying. And I try to have RMB moments on my albums. Know what I'm saying. Like you know, those slow sacks fifth and you know what I'm saying, like those you know, yeah, you know, I try to have those movies exactly exact zag. Yeah, So I try to have those moments because that's you know, R and B is probably probably my favorite music, you know what I'm saying, It's probably my favorite music. So yeah, I

thought it was kind of surreal to ol. I saw you in the studio where Prodigies daughter Santana Fox. Yes, that just working with the legend's daughter like that makes me happy, you know what I mean, see her, you know, follow her dreams and keep the legacy going, you know what I'm saying. But I know he'd be happy. And she's doing her thing. You to Santana, she's getting better and better. You know, I fully support and yeah, I'm

happy for that. You know. I was thinking about p a lot, and we made this record, of course, because you know, that was a big goal when he had come home, to link them because they had already knew

each other. But then on Albert Einstein we did we did the death sentence joint and I felt like, you know what I mean, When I was making this record, I was definitely thinking about him like, yeah, I know he'll funk with this ship, like you can have another great man we lost, I tell you share on Instagram many people may I know your connection to James the great actor James Calm. Yeah, and you speak on your connection with him. I mean, you know he used to

hang out. You know, his son, Scott was my partner in the rap group whole again. So we're at his house, you know, many nights, all through high school days. You know, just like crazy memories, you know, but yeah, he was he was a special you know, incredible you know father actor. It's just like a role model. And you know, you know he would have the pictures of Scott the crib you know, when the Playboy man, when he was a little kid model. So we you know, we all looked

up to Jimmy, you know. So you know, and what he did with his career and his spend his running was just incredible. So you know, my condolences to the family. You know, Scott's my brother. I love him and my brother to this day, best friends still. So since you know in that post that you did, I I didn't know that. And the guyfather he that money that he

threw that story always fucked me up. And he really told us that that that was just he had money in his pocket and when when the scene was just to break the camera and he just felt like it would be more gangster to just throw the money down. And it was almost like he never snapped out of that role. Like whenever you would see him, it was like, you know, yeah, he was just he was the man, you know what I mean. So yeah, and it was

just cool to be able to grow up around. You know, somebody's apported you crazy kids thinking that rap music did what was going on, But he definitely loved to see us do our thing, you know. But eventually Scott would move into do you know his movies and TV and he's killing it. So he's made it quite a career, you know what I'm saying. So I'm proud of him. I know you were affected by the pass of case that like all of us were. Can you share some

of the finest memories you have a slash? I mean I used to go meet him down a Bakina's music hut, Yes, and you know you see him over there and drop off underground mixtapes. That was a famous mixtape place on Houston and that's when we would go and drop off the tapes and sell them. And I mean mad Night Slay was very supportive of all of us, like especially Prodigy.

So it was like times when we would make records when he was on Thursday Night, we would make the record Wednesday and give it to him play for Thursday night, Like we would make freestyles just for him, like, but we would give him for every woman. I remember other DJ saying, is that just for case Slay? But because we just rocked them like that, So you know that was a big loss man. Yeah, very very sad. But you know, rest in peace. Case like legend absolutely. I know.

What's the status of the Alchemists and Friends tour? Is that really going to happen? Yeah, I'm working on it. I'm working on it. You know, I want to. I just want to do Alchemists and Rock Marcy tourska. I knew we could go from there. That's what we're working on right now. You know what I'm saying, I'm ready. Since we're talking about on the road, so you talk about fashion. I saw you was in Japan recently without

the designer Michaelmary for his grand opening. I saw a post he said that you guys have a long relationship. I grew up with a lot of people, man, with high school together. You went to high school, Micare Michael went high school together. And I didn't put together everything until he's you know, his success recently and we reconnected and it was kind of a trip just seeing how

he went and what he built. And yeah, a lot of people don't know how he would connect like that alchemist, but yeah, it's like actually all day, hey, listen, I

support anything he does. I support. I'm actually inspired by him because like he's taking his brand up insane level, like the movie he's making an incredible So I'm just honored to be And you know, he remembers me when I was a kid rapping, so I know him from those days, so you know, and his his influence is the same too, Like he grew up listening to Ciper's Hill Far Side, you know, like a senior. He was like a junior or what was it, like, Yeah, he was a couple of years older. That's one of my

brothers here. But yeah, we have a couple of mutual friends that it's a trip. Man, shout to Mike and he's killing it. Yeah, man and Rock man, what could I say? You guys guys had jose My Sorrother's name whole swaye. He directed the DA video and he's you know, spearheaded the gallery department. He talked about like you and the collaboration you guys had. That's my brother, that's my partner. You know, kills or of course you know kills you know, um,

you know, just yeah, he's the ellest right now. So you know I'm the ellest rapper. Like what I'm saying, like yeah, So it's just like, let's just do this. And so we just wanted to start making uh, just like I was saying, we wanted to make want to make merch that didn't feel like much. That was my whole idea. I didn't want people to be I don't want you to be wearing my shirt looking like a fan boy. You know what I'm saying. Some merch looks like fanboy stuff. You know what I'm saying. I didn't

want that. I want it. I wanted a shirt that a dude away on a date with. You know what I'm saying. You know, Um, it was dope because I saw a lot of people rappers and just regularly every day, I was like, but you guys know about Yeah, so it just like turning it into like a Rolling Stones tea or something, you know what I'm saying. So you know that's that's that's what the idea was, and and the homie delivered. You know, he's an amazing creative director. And we got a lot of more stuff you know

that we you know, got coming. We're doing merch also for this one. Um, we gotta be department and art. They kills and a lot more. And she's the man. I'm very inspired by him also, Yeah, like our friends that do fashion inspire us as much as as the music. You know what I'm saying. It's crazy, like yeah, he's a sex we go together, like you know what I'm saying. Art, you know what I'm saying, music in the fashion you know before we got out here over rock. I gotta know,

why was your plug at first love? That's crazy because that's funny you say that because um, you know I laugh about this stuff, you know all the time. You know, I didn't I didn't get an apartment or I have certain things until crack was invented. Like you know what I'm saying, Like I wasn't getting no Jordan's and let's

get you know what I'm saying. I wasn't, you know, so when crack was invented, I mean, my mom, you know what I'm saying, it was like it was like, Okay, I ain't gotta like you know, I can get I get an apartment, like you know what I'm saying, I ain't gotta move around. You know what I'm saying. It's like bad, but the positive that's serious? Are you are you really going to start this YouTube series the phone go? Yeah,

I'm working on What is this? It's just it's basically just I was going through the phone from all I could. I saved all the old clips and footage, and I have some ridiculous ship in the phone of tour stuff, and I'm like, I'm gonna start a little series just little clips out of the phone stuff that people will get a kick out of, you know, behind the scenes ship. I gotta clear it with everybody before I do it. Of course, so I had to go through that two

steps authentication type of thing. And then what's the mindset with like the collages you like you'll use like capadonna or something even iced tea you credited him like I did that for us is a fan of rock and you know, so I reached out to him and when I told him we were doing an album, he was like, whatever you need. So we had the idea for that record.

So we kind of pitched it to him like yeah, because we said that how crazy would it be if he was just telling us a story about some crazy ship that happen and now was all I gave him because I didn't want to give him a script, And he gave me four minutes like this iced tea. You know what I'm saying. He gave us sword and and then we clipped it up and I made We made the record and sent it to him and he was like, man,

this ship is cold and loved it. And yeah, we actually we got a video to that joint too, so so that will be coming song. Yeah, so it shout to Ice and I appreciate you know the O G who's that talking at the end of deja At the end of the Deja Vu that might beat Miles Davis. But we I just reached for a lot of the greats for inspiration on this record. You know what I'm we well, we we'll be looking at stuff and it'll

all be like kind of like cross examined. And you know the name of the album was Elephant Man's Bones. We we looked into a lot of that stuff too, but I felt like I didn't want to get too literal with it, as I felt like the metaphor was more powerful. Even the cover, we got a lot of art that was like bones elephant you know what I'm saying, And it was like dope, But it was like putting the hat on the hat and the name of the

album is already Elephant Man's Bones. Let's give him because I feel like I knew what Rock came up with the title, and I knew what he meant when he said it, and it was more than metaphor. So I felt like, let's keep it more art, just kind of skimming across the top very nicely. And this is rare for you guys. You ever sat together for an end of you Yes, hey man, it's rap right off podcast on that one, alchelmist Rock Mars the Elephant Man is

Bone stream that ship right now, man, do yourself a favor. Yeah, thank you Fellers, Yeah yeah, yeah, very smooth, very smooth rap Radors interval presents original production from hyper House, produced by Laura Wasser, Hosts and producers Elliott Wilson and Brian b.

Dot Miller. From Interval presents executive producers Alan Coy and Jake Kleinberg, executive producer Paul Rosenberg, recording engineer Brian Curly, Editing and sound design by Mike Dorsey, operationous Lead Sarah You, Business Development Lead Chef e Ellen Swagg, and Marketing Lead Samara Still. Let's sit on Amazon Music or wherever you get your podcasts