Pursuit of Happiness: How The Alchemist Turned Positivity Into Legendary Collaborations

The Alchemist is a man of few words, but he doesn’t mind sharing a couple with fans on social media. Using his X (formerly known as Twitter) account, he’ll sometimes quote-post a clapback or a semi-cryptic message to the TL. Whatever the response to his posts, you can count on a sizable slab of gratitude or indifference. 

“So a lot of my job is spiritual. It's personal, so I kind of avoid the negativity for that,” he tells Okayplayer on a muggy October afternoon. “When I’m online, I’m going to see stuff. But I don't let it affect me.” 

That even-keeled approach to the internet is probably at least one reason he’s been one of the most prolific producers of the last 30 years. Since 2013, he’s dropped 13 collaborative albums with artists like Freddie Gibbs, Armand Hammer, Curren$y, Big Hit and Hit-Boy and more. Soon, he’ll unload Abi & Alan, a joint album he did with the legendary Erykah Badu. He’s also got his new Hit-Boy joint project Goldfish on the way. With a to-do list that never gets smaller, and the experience to navigate the treacherous seas of the industry, Alc’s got to be as mentally fit as ever. And he has been. 

Chopping it up with Okayplayer, The Alchemist discusses the power of positivity, surviving the web, and the role of fatherhood in his ongoing pursuit of happiness. 

Alchemist: I don't know if there's a way to stay away from negativity. But in life, you're supposed to go towards positive energy instead of negative energy. There's a lot of negative stuff online, and you just need to know how to navigate through it. You also have to have an internal firewall because the things we put inside our brain are going to affect us, whether we realize it or not. Even if you're just scrolling. But I'm in the studio. I make music. I perform. 

I like to have fun on social media. I just try to get a laugh out of people. I don't take it too seriously. I think it's too much of that out there. I try to just have fun. Even when someone hates my work, I still love it. I love that it’s affecting them in real time. When they do those reviews and reactions, I watch all that s**t. It's dope to me. It's kind of like consumer research. But I don't ever sway because of it. It's interesting to see, but I'm stubborn, so I'm going to do what I'm going to do. 

I think about all the opportunities I’ve had every single step of the way. From connecting with Cypress Hill early on and then moving to New York and Cypress Hill connecting me with Mobb Deep, linking with Action Bronson later and Earl Sweatshirt. I could name all these different artists. And all of them were moments where I didn't really see some grand vision other than what was immediately in front of me. All of those connections are just about bringing good energy to a circle and vibrating in a way that people are attracted to you. It's not just beats and rhymes. We’re humans. There's a spirit also attached to it, too. 

When it comes to bad days, I let them pass and I try to minimize the damage. When you're in a storm, you get your umbrella, you duck down, and you get some refuge. I know it's not going to last. I just give myself some space and take time to heal. As you get older, you get calmer. You become more calculated. I have a 4-year-old and a 2-year-old. Being a father has taught me that you’ve gotta lead by example. You can tell your kids whatever you want to tell them, but you gotta lead by example. They follow you and they walk with you. You are their tour guide of life. When you have kids, it's hard to have a bad day. I'll go see my kids and if they laugh and smile, my day is good. That will fix everything.