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 recording artist The Alchemist. It was released on June 29th, 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, P$C, Stat Quo and The Game.
The album peaked at number 101 on the Billboard 200, number 11 on the Top R&B/Hip-Hop Albums, number 6 on the Top Rap Albums, number 8 on the Independent Albums, and topped the Heatseekers Albums chart in the United States. It also reached number 43 on the UK Independent Albums chart. The album's instrumental version and deluxe edition with a bonus DVD were released on October 4, 2005.
One single from the album, "Hold You Down", peaked at No. 95 on the Billboard Hot 100 and No. 47 on the Hot R&B/Hip-Hop Songs chart in the US. The song "Bangers" appeared in 2006 video game Saints Row .
All tracks are produced by The Alchemist.
No. | Title | Writer(s) | Length |
---|---|---|---|
1. | "Intro" | 0:56 | |
2. | "Dead Bodies" (featuring The Game and Prodigy) | 4:20 | |
3. | "Your Boy Al" (Interlude) | 0:47 | |
4. | "The Essence" (featuring The Lox) | 4:43 | |
5. | "Hold You Down" (featuring Prodigy, Nina Sky and Illa Ghee) |
| 3:57 |
6. | "Industry Rule 4080 (Interlude)" (featuring Riggs) | 1:57 | |
7. | "Stop the Show" (featuring Stat Quo and M.O.P.) | 2:45 | |
8. | "D Block to QB" (featuring Havoc, Big Noyd, Styles P and J-Hood) |
| 4:03 |
9. | "Bangers" (featuring Lloyd Banks) |
| 3:44 |
10. | "Where Can We Go" (featuring Devin the Dude) |
| 4:31 |
11. | "It's a Craze" (featuring Mobb Deep) |
| 4:03 |
12. | "For the Record" (featuring Dilated Peoples) | 3:47 | |
13. | "Boost the Crime Rate" (featuring J-Hood and Sheek Louch) |
| 5:24 |
14. | "Strength of Pain" (featuring Chinky) |
| 4:02 |
15. | "A Soul Assassin's Tale (Interlude)" (featuring DJ Muggs) | 1:35 | |
16. | "Bang Out" (featuring B-Real) |
| 3:30 |
17. | "Tick Tock" (featuring Nas and Prodigy) |
| 3:57 |
18. | "Pimp Squad" (featuring P$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. 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. Production was handled 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, professionally known as the Alchemist, is an American hip hop producer and DJ. He began his music career in 1991 in the hip hop duo the Whooliganz under the moniker Mudfoot, along with now-actor Scott Caan. He has produced music since the 1990s.
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.
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Me & My Brother is the third studio album by American hip hop duo Ying Yang Twins. It was released on September 16, 2003, through TVT Records. Recording sessions took place at ColliPark Studio and The Zone in Atlanta, at TDD Studios in Miami, and at The Sound Lab Studios in Smyrna, GA. Production was handled by Mr. Collipark, Lil Jon and Derrick Williams. It features guest appearances from Bonecrusher, Hitman Sammy Sam, Khujo Goodie, Killer Mike, K.T., Ms. Flawless, Tha Rhythum, Trick Daddy, Lil' Jon & The East Side Boyz.
Lyricist Lounge 2 is the fourth hip hop compilation album by American record label Rawkus Records. It was released on November 28, 2000, as the second installment of Lyricist Lounge album series, based on New York's Lyricist Lounge showcases.
Expansion Team is the second studio album by American hip hop trio Dilated Peoples. It was released on October 23, 2001, through Capitol Records. Recording sessions took place at D&D Studios and The Dewgarde Crib Of Hits in New York, at SoundProof and Skip Saylor Recording in Los Angeles, at Encore Studios and Mad Dog Studios in Burbank, at Front Page Recorders in Glendale and at The Studio in Philadelphia. Production was handled by members Evidence and DJ Babu, as well as Alchemist, Joey Chavez, Da Beatminerz, DJ Premier, Juju and Questlove. It features guest appearances from Black Thought, the Beat Junkies members DJ Rhettmatic, J. Rocc and Melo-D, and the Likwit Crew members Defari, Phil Da Agony and Tha Alkaholiks, with cameo appearances from Cokni O'Dire, GuRu, Noelle Scaggs and Shae Fiol.
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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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Special Edition is the debut studio album by American hip hop group Infamous Mobb. It was released on March 26, 2002 via IM³/Landspeed Records. Recording sessions took place at Chung King Studios, In Ya Ear Studios, Soundtrack Studios, Othaz Recording Studio, D&D Studios, and Battery Studios in New York. Production was handled by The Alchemist, Ax The Bull, Havoc, DJ Muggs, Phil, Ron Gotti, Uno-Dos and V.I.C. It features guest appearances from Mobb Deep, Chinky, Big Noyd, Blitz, Hostyle, Kaos, Ty Maxx, Uno-Dos and V-12. The album peaked at number 118 on the Billboard 200, number 19 on the Top R&B/Hip-Hop Albums, number 5 on the Independent Albums and number 2 on the Heatseekers Albums.
Return of the Mac is the second solo studio album by American rapper Prodigy. It was released on March 27, 2007, through Koch Records. Production was handled entirely by The Alchemist, who produced the project utilizing song samples from the Blaxploitation era, with DJ Muro, who produced two tracks. It features guest appearances from Majesty and Un Pacino.
Trill Entertainment Presents: All or Nothing is the second compilation album by American hip hop record label Trill Entertainment. It was released on November 9, 2010, with distribution via Warner Bros. Records. Recording sessions took place at Trill Studios in Baton Rouge, Louisiana. Production was handled by in-house producer Mouse, as well as BJ, J Buck, B Hitz, Big Wayne, Devin B., DJ B Real, Q Red, S-8ighty, with Turk & Mel serving as executive producers. It features contributions from the label's roster Lil' Boosie, Webbie, Lil' Trill, Lil Phat, Foxx, Mouse, Shell, Kim McCoy, Big Head and Kade, featuring fellow Louisiana-based rapper Birdman. The album peaked at number 49 on the Billboard 200.
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H.N.I.C. 3 is the fourth solo studio album by American hip hop recording artist Prodigy. It was released on July 3, 2012, via Infamous Records, serving as the third and final instalment of the rapper's H.N.I.C. series. Recording sessions took place at Plain Truth Ent Studio. Production was handled by The Alchemist, Beat Butcha, S.C., Ty Fyffe, Young L, Sid Roams, The Colombians, T.I., Valentino, and Zam, with Oh No and Mobetta producing the deluxe edition bonus tracks. It features guest appearances from Esther, Boogz Boogetz, T.I., Vaughn Anthony, Willie Taylor, Wiz Khalifa, and his Mobb Deep cohort Havoc.
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Weather or Not is the third solo studio album by American rapper and producer Evidence. It was released on January 26, 2018 via Rhymesayers Entertainment. Production was handled by the Alchemist, Budgie, DJ Babu, DJ Premier, Nottz, Samiyam, Twiz the Beat Pro, and Evidence himself. It features guest appearances from Catero, Defari, Jonwayne, Khrysis, Krondon, Mach-Hommy, Rakaa Iriscience, Rapsody, Slug, Styles P and the Alchemist.
Free Agents: The Murda Mixtape is a double mixtape album by American hardcore/East Coast hip hop duo Mobb Deep. It was released on April 22, 2003 through Landspeed Records with distribution via Koch Entertainment.
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