The Alchemist is one of the most respected producers in the music industry. His name is synonymous with quality, whether he’s working with Eminem, Kendrick Lamar, or Larry June. The ability to work with such a diverse range of artists highlights his unparalleled versatility. Despite his impressive resume, The Alchemist isn’t resting on his laurels. He discussed his dream collaboration during a recent interview with NFR Podcast.
In a conversation with Cardo about their career aspirations, The Alchemist revealed his desire to work with Jay-Z. Despite their long-standing acquaintance, the two have yet to collaborate officially, something The Alchemist hopes to change soon. “Jay has always been on my list,” he said. “I’ve been saying it for a hundred years. It’s Jay-Z. I would love to. We’ve connected, but I keep the faith.” He emphasized that there’s no bad blood between them and that he would only want to collaborate if the feeling was mutual.
For The Alchemist, respect and creative synergy are paramount. “At this point, I hope it would be a mutual thing,” he explained. “I want to work with someone who wants to work with me. There are a few bucket list projects that I hope happen. I still have hopes like that.” The closest The Alchemist and Jay-Z have come to working together was on Jay Electronica’s 2020 album, A Written Testimony. The Alchemist produced “The Neverending Story,” which featured a verse from Jay-Z.
The Alchemist and Jay-Z have known each other for decades, having first met in New York in the early 2000s. The producer recalled this during a For the Record interview. “[Jay] leaned in my ear and was like, ‘Yo when you gonna stop wasting them beats?'” he recounted. Jay-Z facilitated The Alchemist’s collaboration with Beanie Sigel and even listened to the producer’s breakout beat, “We Gonna Make It.” Although Jay-Z passed on the beat, which later went to Jadakiss, The Alchemist remains hopeful about their future collaboration.