There’s endless proof of The Alchemist’s endurance, but his ability to uplift younger artists while retaining the respect of the OG class he came from is without question his most commendable feat. Everyone from Drake to Action Bronson to Doja Cat wants a piece of the guy, yet he has remained grounded and based for the 30-plus years he’s been active in the hip-hop space.
On Thursday (November 30), the California native teamed up with MIKE and Wiki at the Teragram Ballroom in Los Angeles to perform songs from their two joint projects: One More (2022) and Faith Is a Rock (2023). Word on the street is the trio will most likely not be performing together again anytime soon, which of course made it all the more special. That, however, wasn’t the only standout feature of the performance.
The Alchemist in Los Angeles | Photo Credit: Karan Singh
PLEASURES and Pabst Blue Ribbon put together a solid lineup to cover every mood that evening, with Zulu and Cold-Gawd bringing a loud, punky fuzziness to the crowd before Uncle Al toned the pace down several notches. Prior to his two comrades joining him, the studio chef had the stage to himself for a few minutes. He used that time to set the tone with some trademark beats, but the highlight of his brief solo set was when he previewed an unreleased track featuring the unmistakable voice of Yasiin Bey aka. Mos Def.
The Alchemist Teases New Joint With Yasiin Bey aka. Mos Def
Once MIKE and Wiki came on, everything felt complete — laid-back, bar-heavy hip-hop that, 10 out of 10 times, nourishes the soul. The three embody everything there is to love about the craft, and even if it doesn’t work for some, their distinct styles come together with a cohesion that isn’t easy to imitate. To that point, seeing it all take shape in person was truly spectacular.
Check out photos from the performance below:
MIKE in Los Angeles | Photo Credit: Karan Singh
Wiki in Los Angeles | Photo Credit: Karan Singh
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