Chemical Warfare

Even though he provides few of the lyrics on "Chemical Warfare," producer Alchemist is still able to leave his mark all over his latest album. Whereas producer-backed albums by DJ Khaled or DJ Drama put the emphasis on the star power of their guest artist, Alchemist uses insightful skits and an impressive arsenal of instrumentals that put the sound of his second disc firmly in his own hands.

His first album since 2001's "1st Infantry," Alchemist elevates the less than exciting verses of lower leveled stars like Lil Fame or Three 6 Mafia, with dazzling beats. Songs like "That'll Work" and "Lights, Cameras, Action" let the producer, who's responsible for all of the music on "Chemical Warfare," shine despite sub-par handling by its MCs.

Elsewhere, Alc teams up with legendary rappers to give nothing short of classic material. "Grand Concourse Benches" sees Krs-One drive the jittering beat with ferocity and focus. When he does rap himself, like on the retrospective "Take a Look Back," it's usually below his skill behind the boards, but it's adequate nonetheless.

Rather than throwing as many notable names on a single as possible, the colabos on "Chemical Warfare" make every bit of sense. Talib Kweli teams up with Kid Cudi, Blu, and Evidence on "Therapy" while Snoop Dogg, Jadakiss, and Pusha T all deliver the same ghoulishness over the spooky as graveyards beat. It's all mixed and crafted to precision, making this concoction one of the Alchemist's finest.