1st Infantry | ||||
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Studio album by | ||||
Released | June 29, 2004 | |||
Recorded | 2003–04 | |||
Studio |
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Genre | Hip-hop | |||
Length | 1:05:07 | |||
Label | Koch Records | |||
Producer | The Alchemist | |||
The Alchemist chronology | ||||
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Singles from 1st Infantry | ||||
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Review scores | |
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Source | Rating |
AllMusic | [1] |
HipHopDX | 4/5 [2] |
IGN | 8.4/10 [3] |
Now | 4/5 [4] |
PopMatters | 7/10 [5] |
RapReviews | 7.5/10 [6] |
Sputnikmusic | 3.5/5 [7] |
Stylus Magazine | B− [8] |
Tiny Mix Tapes | [9] |
1st Infantry is the debut solo studio album by American hip-hop producer and rapper the Alchemist. It was released on June 29, 2004, through Koch Records. Recording sessions took place at The Lab, Baseclef Studios and Infamous Studios in New York City, at Soundproof and MGS Sound Lab in Los Angeles, and at D-Block Studios in Yonkers. Production was handled entirely by the Alchemist, who also served as executive producer together with his brother Neil Maman, with Prodigy serving as co-executive producer. It features guest appearances from the Lox, Mobb Deep, Big Noyd, Big Twins, B-Real, Chinky, Devin the Dude, Dilated Peoples, Illa Ghee, Lloyd Banks, M.O.P., Nas, Nina Sky, PSC, Stat Quo and the Game.
The album peaked at number 101 on the Billboard 200, number 11 on the Top R&B/Hip-Hop Albums, number 6 on the Top Rap Albums, number 8 on the Independent Albums, and topped the Heatseekers Albums chart in the United States. It also reached number 43 on the UK Independent Albums chart. The album's instrumental version and deluxe edition with a bonus DVD were released on October 4, 2005.
One single from the album, "Hold You Down", peaked at No. 95 on the Billboard Hot 100 and No. 47 on the Hot R&B/Hip-Hop Songs chart in the US. The song "Bangers" appeared in the 2006 video game Saints Row .
All tracks are produced by the Alchemist.
No. | Title | Writer(s) | Length |
---|---|---|---|
1. | "Intro" | 0:56 | |
2. | "Dead Bodies" (featuring the Game and Prodigy) | 4:20 | |
3. | "Your Boy Al" (Interlude) | 0:47 | |
4. | "The Essence" (featuring the Lox) | 4:43 | |
5. | "Hold You Down" (featuring Prodigy, Nina Sky and Illa Ghee) |
| 3:57 |
6. | "Industry Rule 4080 (Interlude)" (featuring Riggs) | 1:57 | |
7. | "Stop the Show" (featuring Stat Quo and M.O.P.) | 2:45 | |
8. | "D Block to QB" (featuring Havoc, Big Noyd, Styles P and J-Hood) |
| 4:03 |
9. | "Bangers" (featuring Lloyd Banks) |
| 3:44 |
10. | "Where Can We Go" (featuring Devin the Dude) |
| 4:31 |
11. | "It's a Craze" (featuring Mobb Deep) |
| 4:03 |
12. | "For the Record" (featuring Dilated Peoples) | 3:47 | |
13. | "Boost the Crime Rate" (featuring J-Hood and Sheek Louch) |
| 5:24 |
14. | "Strength of Pain" (featuring Chinky) |
| 4:02 |
15. | "A Soul Assassin's Tale (Interlude)" (featuring DJ Muggs) | 1:35 | |
16. | "Bang Out" (featuring B-Real) |
| 3:30 |
17. | "Tick Tock" (featuring Nas and Prodigy) |
| 3:57 |
18. | "Pimp Squad" (featuring P$C) |
| 3:05 |
19. | "Different Worlds" (featuring Twin Gambino) |
| 3:57 |
Total length: | 1:05:07 |
Chart (2004) | Peak position |
---|---|
French Albums (SNEP) [10] | 159 |
UK Independent Albums (OCC) [11] | 43 |
US Billboard 200 [12] | 101 |
US Top R&B/Hip-Hop Albums (Billboard) [13] | 11 |
US Top Rap Albums (Billboard) [14] | 6 |
US Independent Albums (Billboard) [15] | 8 |
US Heatseekers Albums (Billboard) [16] | 1 |
The Platform is the debut studio album by American hip hop trio Dilated Peoples. It was released on May 23, 2000, through Capitol Records. The recording sessions took place at Audio X in Burbank, D&D Studios in New York, Can Am Studios in Tarzana and Threshold Studios in Santa Monica. The album was produced by members Evidence and DJ Babu, as well as Alchemist, Joey Chavez, E-Swift, KutMasta Kurt, and T-Ray. It features guest appearances from Aceyalone, B-Real, Everlast, and Likwit Crew members Defari, Phil Da Agony, Planet Asia, and tha Alkaholiks. The album represents a movement of several California underground hip hop artists away from the violence and misogyny of gangsta rap, towards a more traditional, conscious form of rap.
Alan Daniel Maman, known professionally as the Alchemist, is an American record producer, DJ and rapper. Critically acclaimed for his sample-heavy production style, he is regarded as one of the most influential producers in modern hip-hop and underground rap. His frequent collaborators include Mobb Deep, Eminem, Action Bronson, Freddie Gibbs, Roc Marciano, Schoolboy Q, the Griselda trio, Boldy James, and Earl Sweatshirt.
The True Meaning is the second solo studio album by American rapper Cormega. It was released on June 25, 2002 via Legal Hustle/Landspeed Records. Production was handled by J "Waxx" Garfield, J-Love, Alchemist, Buckwild, DR Period, Emile, Hangmen 3, Hi-Tek, Hot Day, and Large Professor, who also provided the lone guest appearance on the album.
Loyalty is the fifth studio album by American rapper Fat Joe. It was released on November 12, 2002, via Terror Squad/Atlantic Records. Recording sessions took place at Sony Music Studios and TMF Studios in New York, PatchWerk Recording Studios in Atlanta and The Hit Factory Criteria in Miami. Production was handled by Cool & Dre, Alchemist, Armageddon, Buckwild, Chink Santana, Irv Gotti, Larry "Precision" Gates, Ron Browz, Teflon and Ty Fyffe. It features guest appearances from fellow Terror Squad members Tony Sunshine, Remy Ma, Armageddon and Prospect, as well as Birdman, Ginuwine, Lamagic, Ronda Blackwell and Scarface.
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Infamy is the fifth studio album by American East Coast hip-hop duo Mobb Deep. It was released on December 11, 2001 through Loud Records. Recording sessions took place at Kejuan Entertainment Studios, Right Track Recording, Chung King Studios and Sony Music Studios in New York City. Production was handled by Havoc, Scott Storch, EZ Elpee and the Alchemist. It features guest appearances from Big Noyd, 112, Infamous Mobb, Lil' Mo, Littles, Ron Isley and Vita.
Jealous Ones Still Envy (J.O.S.E.) is the fourth solo studio album by American rapper Fat Joe. Originally scheduled for a summer 2000 release, the album was released on December 4, 2001, via Atlantic Records and Fat Joe's Terror Squad Productions. Recording sessions took place at TMF Studios, The Crackhouse, Chung King Studios and Sound On Sound in New York, The Hit Factory Criteria and Circle House Studios in Miami, TransContinental Studios in Orlando, The Studio in Philadelphia, and The Enterprise in California. Production was handled by Buckwild, Irv Gotti, Ron G, Alchemist, Bink!, Chink Santana, Cool & Dre, DJ Nasty & LVM, Psycho Les, Reef, Rockwilder, Sean C, Self and Younglord. It features guest appearances from Remy Ma, Armageddon, Prospect, R. Kelly, Ashanti, Busta Rhymes, Buju Banton, Ja Rule, Ludacris, M.O.P., Noreaga, Petey Pablo and Xzibit.
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"Hold You Down" is a song by American hip hop musician the Alchemist featuring fellow rappers Prodigy and Illa Ghee and musical duo Nina Sky. It was released on October 19, 2004 via Koch Records as the lead single from the Alchemist's debut studio album 1st Infantry. Recording sessions took place at The Lab in New York City. Production was handled by the Alchemist himself, who utilised a sample from Al Kooper's "Love Theme". The music video was directed by Estevan Oriol.
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