In HipHopDX’s daily series to close out 2012, we are asking top artists about the year that has been. After speaking with Thurz and Tech N9ne, we had a reflection from producer/emcee Alchemist. In addition to his latest solo album, Russian Roulette and a Gangrene follow-up (Vodka & Ayahuaska), Al released two high profile mixtapes, with Action Bronson (Rare Chandeliers) and Domo Genesis (No Idols).

The Beverly Hills, California native told HipHopDX about how one of those projects coincided with the loss of one of his heroes – The Beastie Boys’ Adam “MCA” Yauch. “I was in L.A. in the studio when I heard about MCA’s passing. That shit was horrible, even worse the more I think about it. It’s just crazy when you’re that young,” Al expressed. “It’s crazy, because [Action Bronson and I] dropped Rare Chandeliers and that was 26 years ago to the day that the Beastie Boys dropped License To Ill. They’re the greatest of all time, man. I watched every interview that exists of them on YouTube. They were and are some of the greatest of all time. They’re some people I would like to meet, Mike D and Ad-Rock and Rick Rubin. I never really got a chance to meet and speak with them. That would be outstanding. But yeah, that was horrible.”

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