The Alchemist has revealed Prodigy is his “G.O.A.T. rapper” and explained his reasons why.
The producer appeared on the latest episode of Complex‘s GOAT Talk series alongside Earl Sweatshirt on Tuesday (October 31) following the release of their Voir Dire album.
During the interview, the pair were asked to name who in their opinion is the greatest rapper of all time. Earl went for MIKE, with The Alchemist going into detail about why Prodigy is at the top for him.
“I’m going clean sweep, man. Prodigy, across the map,” he said. “That’s my greatest rapper of all time. Broke rules. You know, Nas of course. It was always Nas or P. But I used to always tell Big Twin, we would talk about it, P used to break rules.”
Alc went on to rap Prodigy’s opening bars on “Survival of the Fittest” from Mobb Deep’s 1995 album The Infamous.
“There’s a war goin’ on outside no man is safe from/ You could run, but you can’t hide forever/From these streets that we done took/ You walkin’ with your head down, scared to look,” he rapped.
The Alchemist continued: “Nothing rhymed. The whole first four bars was not one word rhyming. He used to just come out of his face, broke rules, vocal tone, writing. His voice.
“Listen to a song like ‘Gun Love,’ a perfectly written song. Greatest rapper, I don’t wanna hear it.”
Prodigy and The Alchemist dropped two collaborative albums. The first, Return of the Mac, was released in March 2007 and debuted at No. 32 on the Billboard 200, selling 27,000 copies in its first week.
The follow-up, Albert Einstein, arrived in June 2013 with features from Havoc, Raekwon, Roc Marciano, Action Bronson and Domo Genesis.
The Alchemist contributed to each of Prodigy’s five solo albums and was responsible for producing one of his biggest singles, “Keep It Thoro.”
He also provided production on every Mobb Deep album after 1996’s Murda Muzik.
In June 2022, The Alchemist honored the fifth anniversary of Prodigy’s death by promising to continue his legacy.
“Missing my brother P,” he wrote on Twitter (now known as X). “I got you i promise don’t worry ! The legacy will continue.”
There is no GOAT (Greatest Of All Time) rapper. And I say that acknowledging Biggie as my personal favourite rapper ever. I will just say he is one of the best. There is no best rapper, dead or alive. You can hate me now or later.
I thought about it for a moment. I totally get you, bruh.
There is only GOAT according to one´s preference. But there is no GOAT at all in HIP HOP dead or alive. For instance I was listening to K-Rino, come on, no way. Take P. Monch, Kurupt, Ras Kass, Chino XL, Canibus, Crooked I, LL Cool J, Kool G Rap, Big Daddy Kane, KRS One, etc
Canibus 😂
To say there is no GOAt wrong. There are many references you can use to establish a sound argument for a “GOAT” status, For instance, body of work, hit singles, penmanship , rhyme style, diversity, sound, cultural impact, accolades etc… The problem here is you must be objective and remove bias from yourself. Personal rapper isn’t ever going to be a viable argument for GOAT status. I would be willing to concede that instead of one GOAT there is a table of GOATS.(still would have one GOAT a little bigger than the other though).
Personal preferences will always get in the way.
Agree to disagree. Gza my favorite rapper but I wouldn’t call him GOAT. I can make an argument he has one of the best hip hop albums of all time but even u know that isn’t enough and can be objective about that.
Half of those metrics you could easily point holes in. Body of work, doesn’t Biggie get removed because he only dropped two albums? Hit Singles, is Drake the greatest because he has more hit singles? Rhyme Style or Sound, you can’t remove a personal preference from this. What style you like maybe others don’t, so saying keep your bias out of the conversation doesn’t make sense if Rhyme Style or Sound is one of the metrics. Accolades, Will Smith won a Grammy, MC Hammer went diamond, are they suddenly in the conversation because of this? Cultural Impact, how could anyone top the originators like Kurtis Blow, Flash and Furious 5, the Cold Crush Brothers… without them, there is no modern hip hop. There will never be a singular GOAT that is universally agreed on, because there is no possible way to measure it as we’re all different people with different tastes as to what makes great music.
@R.Pgh Preach!
Nah… biggie doesn’t have the body of work and longevity other GOAT prospects have. He was a Frontline contender for sure. He like big L went too soon. Catalog most definitely helps this argument. I don’t care to use accolades like awards because that’s subjective and bias, mostly. Jay z. Nas, scarface, too short , GFK, gangstarr, 2pac, Redman, common, ice cube, Eminem, AZ, DMX, Busta rhymes, masta ace, lil wayne, kendrick etc…. all strong candidates for GOAT…. Drake? He is a hybrid and I’m torn with that because his albums are very RnB influenced. But sure add Drake. The Catalog listed with above artists, years in the game, hits, rhyming skill, talent are all factors for GOAT status.
Murda Muzik came out summer 99 not 1996.
GOAT conversation is all a matter of opinion, which I think is Al’s point saying “that’s MY greatest rapper”. Further, you could break it into categories as the best at one thing isn’t necessary the best at another thing. My GOAT lyricist (Aesop Rock) is different from my GOAT emcee (Nas) which is different from my GOAT rapper (Pac). There is no universal metric to measure one’s greatest other than your own personal tastes… you could easily point holes in any metric you try to debate.
@R.Pgh Preach!
Definitely underrated and one the most greatest! R!P R!P R!P Prodigy🙏