1st Infantry (album)

1st Infantry
Studio album by
The Alchemist
ReleasedJune 29, 2004 (2004-06-29)
Recorded2003–04
Studio
GenreHip hop
Length1:05:07
LabelKoch Records
ProducerThe Alchemist
The Alchemist chronology
1st Infantry
(2004) 		Chemical Warfare
(2009)
Singles from 1st Infantry
  1. "Hold You Down"
    Released: May 18, 2004
Professional ratings
Review scores
SourceRating
AllMusic[1]
HipHopDX4/5[2]
IGN8.4/10[3]
Now4/5[4]
PopMatters7/10[5]
RapReviews7.5/10[6]
Sputnikmusic3.5/5[7]
Stylus MagazineB−[8]
Tiny Mix Tapes[9]

1st Infantry is the debut solo studio album by American hip hop producer and recording artist The Alchemist. It was released on June 29th, 2004, through Koch Records. Recording sessions took place at The Lab, Baseclef Studios and Infamous Studios in New York City, at Soundproof and MGS Sound Lab in Los Angeles, and at D-Block Studios in Yonkers. Production was handled entirely by the Alchemist, who also served as executive producer together with his brother Neil Maman, with Prodigy serving as co-executive producer. It features guest appearances from The Lox, Mobb Deep, Big Noyd, Big Twins, B-Real, Chinky, Devin the Dude, Dilated Peoples, Illa Ghee, Lloyd Banks, M.O.P., Nas, Nina Sky, P$C, Stat Quo and The Game.

The album peaked at number 101 on the Billboard 200, number 11 on the Top R&B/Hip-Hop Albums, number 6 on the Top Rap Albums, number 8 on the Independent Albums, and topped the Heatseekers Albums chart in the United States. It also reached number 43 on the UK Independent Albums chart. The album's instrumental version and deluxe edition with a bonus DVD were released on October 4, 2005.

One single from the album, "Hold You Down", peaked at No. 95 on the Billboard Hot 100 and No. 47 on the Hot R&B/Hip-Hop Songs chart in the US. The song "Bangers" appeared in 2006 video game Saints Row.

  1. ^ Birchmeier, Jason. "The Alchemist - 1st Infantry Album Reviews, Songs & More | AllMusic". AllMusic. Retrieved August 30, 2023.
  2. ^ Tindal, Kennith B. (October 4, 2004). "The Alchemist - 1st Infantry". HipHopDX. Retrieved August 30, 2023.
  3. ^ Durig, Jim (November 18, 2004). "1st Infantry - Music Review at IGN". IGN. Archived from the original on June 28, 2011. Retrieved August 30, 2023 – via Wayback Machine.
  4. ^ Flanagan, Nick (October 21, 2004). "NOW: Alchemist, Oct 21 - 27, 2004". NOW. Archived from the original on October 31, 2004. Retrieved August 30, 2023 – via Wayback Machine.
  5. ^ "The Alchemist: 1st Infantry, PopMatters". PopMatters. January 13, 2005. Retrieved August 30, 2023.
  6. ^ Corne, James (September 28, 2004). "The Alchemist :: 1st Infantry – RapReviews". www.rapreviews.com. Retrieved August 30, 2023.
  7. ^ "The Alchemist - 1st Infantry (album review ) | Sputnikmusic". www.sputnikmusic.com. December 30, 2009. Retrieved August 30, 2023.
  8. ^ "The Alchemist - 1st Infantry (Deluxe CD/DVD Edition) / The Chemistry Files - Review". Stylus Magazine. Archived from the original on September 10, 2012. Retrieved August 19, 2011.
  9. ^ "Music Review: The Alchemist - 1st Infantry". Tiny Mix Tapes. Retrieved August 30, 2023.