Russian Roulette (The Alchemist album)

Russian Roulette is the third studio album by American hip hop producer and recording artist The Alchemist, the album was released on July 17, 2012. The project is constructed from samples of Soviet music (hence the title), making it a concept album. Featured artists on the project consists of acts such as Evidence, Fashawn, Roc Marciano, Action Bronson, Guilty Simpson, Danny Brown, Schoolboy Q, Big Twins.

Russian Roulette
Studio album by The Alchemist
Released	July 17, 2012
Recorded	2011-July 2012
Genre	Hip hop
Length	45:35
Label	Decon,[1] ALC, RED
Producer	The Alchemist
The Alchemist chronology
Odditorium EP (With Oh No, as Gangrene) (2012) Russian Roulette (2012)

The album is not focused on rap and lyrics, rather it's more of an artistic rendition of tracks that are collages of samples, excerpts and elements from Soviet songs, among other sources (like a Memorex commercial). Fifteen of the thirty tracks do contain rapped lyrics on them.

In the album's booklet, there is different artwork for each song on the album.

Professional ratings

Aggregate scores
Source	Rating
Metacritic	76/100[2]
Review scores
Source	Rating

Singles

• "Flight Confirmation" featuring Danny Brown and Schoolboy Q[3]
• "Don Seymour's Theme" featuring MidaZ [4]

Track listing

• All tracks produced by the Alchemist.

No.	Title	Writer(s)	Length
1.	"Soundcheck"	Maman	1:54
2.	"Apollo's Last Stand" (featuring AG Da Coroner)	Maman	1:44
3.	"Crushed Kremlin" (featuring Meyhem Lauren)	Maman	1:12
4.	"Decisions Over Veal Orloff" (featuring Action Bronson)	Maman, Asllani	1:26
5.	"Learned by Listening"	Maman, Atha	0:54
6.	"Training Montage - Getting Stronger"	Maman	2:05
7.	"Ivan's Workout Plan"	Maman	0:30
8.	"Never Grow Up" (featuring Evidence)	Maman, Perretta	1:30
9.	"The Turning Point" (featuring Roc Marciano)	Maman, Myer	2:32
10.	"Live from Dynamo Stadium 2"	Maman	0:40
11.	"Don Seymour's Theme" (featuring MidaZ)	Maman	2:22
12.	"Before the Fight (Prelude)"	Maman	0:40
13.	"Adrian's Words - Champion Song"	Maman	2:19
14.	"Flight of the Bumblebee"	Maman	0:48
15.	"Kalashnikov Guns" (featuring Guilty Simpson)	Maman, Simpson	1:41
16.	"Flight Confirmation" (featuring Danny Brown and Schoolboy Q)	Maman, Sewell, Hanley	2:23
17.	"Press Conference (Prelude)"	Maman	1:00
18.	"Freakish Strength"	Maman	1:05
19.	"Junkyard Fight Scene" (featuring Durag Dynasty)	Maman, Green, Ceruti, Thomas	2:37
20.	"Oleg's Flight" (featuring Fashawn)	Maman, Leyva	2:13
21.	"Moscow Mornings - Sunrise"	Maman	1:47
22.	"Moscow Evenings - Sunset"	Maman	1:49
23.	"The Cosmos Pt. 1: Lift Off" (featuring Chuuwee)	Maman, Hunter	1:14
24.	"The Cosmos Pt. 2: Power Glove" (featuring Boldy James)	Maman, James	1:11
25.	"The Cosmos Pt. 3: In Orbit"	Maman	0:24
26.	"The Cosmos Pt. 4: Moon Probe" (featuring Big Twins)	Maman, AbdulRaheem, used track by Michael Chekalin (russian composer)	1:11
27.	"The Cosmos Pt. 5: 1st Contact (The Chase)"	Maman	1:04
28.	"The Cosmos Pt. 6: Life on Another Planet" (featuring Willie the Kid)	Maman, Jackson	1:49
29.	"The Cosmos, Pt. 7: The Explanation" (featuring Mr. Muthafuckin' eXquire)	Maman, Allison	2:08
30.	"The Cosmos Pt. 8: Return to Earth (Outro)"	Maman	1:24

Chart history

Chart (2012)	Peak position
US Top R&B/Hip-Hop Albums (Billboard)[5]	65

References

1. http://www.spin.com/reviews/alchemist-russian-roulette-decon
2. http://www.metacritic.com/music/russian-roulette/the-alchemist
3. https://soundcloud.com/decon/16-fight-confirmation-feat-2
4. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=7CxFovr18jU
5. "The Alchemist Chart History (Top R&B/Hip-Hop Albums)". Billboard.