The Alchemist

“...he learned the most important part of the language that all the world spoke—the language that everyone on earth was capable of understanding in their heart. It was love.”

“I try to be the best version of me. I can't compare myself to anyone else.”

“Oatmeal's a good one. It's hearty.”

“I realized that I wanted to make what I wanted to make and then find my lane as I progressed.”

“I work with a lot of artists. Over time, there are certain artists that you click with.”

“Things just arrive and you got to know how to move the pieces on the table and make sense out of them. It's like when you see the burning bush or something like, 'All right, that's a sign.'”

“Sometimes you make a rhyme or a beat and you're not sure exactly how you made it, but you can appreciate it in its full form.”

“I came to New York and found all the Dominican and Puerto Rican records that I never found in L.A.”

“1st Infantry' was hot.”

“I do think there's a value to collaborating, but I know that what I do on my own is special.”

“I think Turkey Bacon's underrated.”

“I get anxiety at airports.”

“I always do something that I like and that's as far as I go. I'm always amazed when I see a bunch of people singing along, I'm like, 'Word? Dope!'”

“I've done records where I've collaborated with people. I think it's dope, and to be honest, whenever I do that, I get a different result.”

“The first time I met Evidence he was rapping outside of the Troubadour in L.A. He had these big spaces in his teeth, you could put a toothpick through every tooth.”

“I used to carry Everlast's duffle bag with all his North Faces in it. I used to clean his Ewings with a toothbrushes before he hit the stage and I used to wash his Celtic's jersey. Basically, I rolled with them and I was the little guy down with them. If they needed me to do whatever, I would do it.”

“Human beings all have their different nuances and quirks.”

“I feel like the times always present themselves. You don't consciously choose when a thing comes out. It's just like records for sampling. You know what I mean? It's like when you're going to do it, it tells you when.”

“I give a lot of credit to Earl. He put me onto Armand Hammer. When I discovered it, I kind of felt stupid. I was late to the party, let's just say that. I was like 'Damn, what rock was I under?'”

“I feel like producers have a brotherhood, even more than MCs do.”