Hit-Boy and The Alchemist have combined their prolific production streaks into one of the most potent partnerships in the game over the last year — and at the heart of their collaborative chemistry is a deep mutual respect.
HipHopDX caught up with the pair at the taping of the 2024 BET Hip Hop Awards in Las Vegas, where proverbial flowers were exchanged as they were asked to pick their favorite beats from each other.
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“He’s got too many,” Hit-Boy said of the veteran beatmaker. “I mean, ‘We Gonna Make It’ [by Jadakiss and Styles P], that’s like one of the best instrumentals of all time, period.”
He also named one of their own songs as an all-time favorite, adding: “The second half of ‘Slipping Into Darkness’ where I got to rap on one of his beats. That’s soulful. Come on, man. That shit is insane.”
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The Alchemist was equally full of praise for the Surf Club commander, answering: “I could pick a million of them, bro, but ‘Sicko Mode’ [by Drake and Travis Scott]. Come on, man. That shit changed the game. When that shit comes on? I want a record like that!”
Beyond individual beats, the dynamic duo also spoke highly of each other’s collaborative albums with other artists (some of the game’s finest MCs, at that).
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DX‘s Jeremy Hecht quizzed Hit-Boy and The Alchemist about the recent discussion surrounding classic rap albums from the 2020s, and neither were shy about putting each other in that conversation.
“I’ma genuinely say two are my favorites are Alfredo by Al and Freddie [Gibbs] and King’s Disease by me and Nas,” HB replied. “That was my whole little moment playing them albums back to back.”
The Alchemist & Hit-Boy unveil their all-time top beat choices from one another 🎶@Alchemist@Hit_Boy@Jeremy_Hechtpic.twitter.com/Kc1Guw71xa
— HipHopDX (@HipHopDX) October 14, 2024
The Alchemist & Hit-Boy reveal which of each other's albums from the 2020s will be classics 💿@Alchemist@Hit_Boy@Jeremy_Hechtpic.twitter.com/uNfKdkKj2U
— HipHopDX (@HipHopDX) October 14, 2024
Alchemist, who himself has worked with the Queensbridge native many times over the years, concurred: “The Nas run with Hit is remarkable. That whole catalog and the type of magic that they made, that inspired everybody — from rappers to producers.”
The pair also explained how their aforementioned “Slipping Into Darkness” collaboration — part of a three-track EP called Theodore & Andre and the start of a wider collaborative relationship with Hit-Boy’s father Big Hit — came about
“I got inspired by seeing Alc,” Hit-Boy said. “He kept going viral [for] rapping on stage and shit. I was like, ‘I gotta get with bro, we gotta get on the same song.’ And was open to it.”
Uncle Al added: “It’s mutual because the way he was dropping a lot of records, he had the idea to do the first record ‘Slipping Into Darkness.’ He’s very conceptual. It’s not just the beats. He sees shit from A to Z so it was an honor to work with him.”
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The red carpet convo wrapped with The Alchemist confirming he has more music with ScHoolboy Q in the works, describing the TDE rapper as “an actual friend.”
The 2024 BET Hip Hop Awards air on Tuesday (October 15) at 8 p.m. ET/PT on BET. Hit-Boy and The Alchemist are both in the running for Producer of the Year.
Additional reporting by Andy Bustard.
