Flying High (EP)
{{Use mdy dates|date=June 2023}}
{{Infobox album
| name = Flying High
| type = EP
| artist = the Alchemist
| cover = The Alchemist - Flying High.png
| alt =
| released = {{start date|2023|6|30}}
| recorded = May–June 2023
| studio =
| genre =
| length = 26:52
| label = ALC Records
| producer = The Alchemist
| prev_title = The Alchemist Sandwich
| prev_year = 2022
| next_title = Voir Dire
| next_year = 2023
}}
Flying High is the seventh solo extended play by musician the Alchemist. It was released on June 30, 2023, through ALC, and features guest appearances from Earl Sweatshirt, Billy Woods, Boldy James, T.F., Mike, Sideshow, Larry June and Jay Worthy.
Background
Following his prolific release history in 2022, having produced four studio projects that year, including his own The Alchemist Sandwich, Maman shared the news of the upcoming record on his social media on June 26, 2023.{{cite web|url=https://www.stereoboard.com/content/view/240090/9|title=The Alchemist To Release New Album 'Flying High' This Week|last=Stickler|first=Jon|website=stereoboard.com|date=June 27, 2023|access-date=June 28, 2023|archive-date=June 27, 2023|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230627163653/https://www.stereoboard.com/content/view/240090/9|url-status=live}} Fellow artist Earl Sweatshirt promptly shared the announcement on his socials, revealing his prominent input.{{cite web|url=https://www.clashmusic.com/news/earl-sweatshirt-the-alchemist-to-release-new-album-flying-high/|title=Earl Sweatshirt, The Alchemist To Release New Album 'Flying High'|last=Kearns|first=Sarah|website=Clash|date=June 26, 2023|access-date=June 28, 2023|archive-date=June 27, 2023|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230627184826/https://www.clashmusic.com/news/earl-sweatshirt-the-alchemist-to-release-new-album-flying-high/|url-status=live}} Maman went on to tag more artists with guest appearances on the EP, including frequent collaborators Mike, Boldy James and Larry June,{{cite web|url=https://www.hotnewhiphop.com/690683-the-alchemist-announces-new-album-flying-high-featuring-earl-sweatshirt-billy-woods|title=The Alchemist Announces New Album, "Flying High," Featuring Earl Sweatshirt, Billy Woods, & More|last=Blake|first=Cole|website=HotNewHipHop|date=June 26, 2023|access-date=June 28, 2023|archive-date=June 28, 2023|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230628073632/https://www.hotnewhiphop.com/690683-the-alchemist-announces-new-album-flying-high-featuring-earl-sweatshirt-billy-woods|url-status=live}} the latter of which released a collaboration project with Maman only three months prior.{{cite web|url=https://thesource.com/2023/06/27/the-alchemist-announces-new-project-flying-high-for-this-friday/|title=The Alchemist announces new project 'Flying High' this Friday|last=Grant|first=Shawn|website=The Source|date=June 27, 2023|access-date=June 28, 2023|archive-date=June 27, 2023|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230627163433/https://thesource.com/2023/06/27/the-alchemist-announces-new-project-flying-high-for-this-friday/|url-status=live}} While it was speculated that the EP would be a joint album of the Alchemist of and Sweatshirt, neither artist confirmed it.{{cite web|url=https://uproxx.com/music/earl-sweatshirt-the-alchemist-flying-high-release/|title=The Alchemist Announces The Release Date For 'Flying High' Featuring Earl Sweatshirt, Larry June, And More|last=Williams|first=Aaron|website=Uproxx|date=June 26, 2023|access-date=June 28, 2023|archive-date=June 28, 2023|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230628073631/https://uproxx.com/music/earl-sweatshirt-the-alchemist-flying-high-release/|url-status=live}}
The cover depicts a 1950s United Airlines advertisement poster of Maman's home Southern California.{{cite web|url=https://hypebeast.com/2023/6/the-alchemist-flying-high-earl-sweatshirt-larry-june|title=The Alchemist To Drop New LP 'Flying High' Featuring Earl Sweatshirt, Larry June and More|last=Kearns|first=Sarah|website=Hypebeast|date=June 27, 2023|access-date=June 28, 2023|archive-date=June 28, 2023|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230628035233/https://hypebeast.com/2023/6/the-alchemist-flying-high-earl-sweatshirt-larry-june|url-status=live}}
Critical reception
{{Music ratings
| rev1 = Clash
| rev1score = 7/10{{cite magazine|url=https://www.clashmusic.com/reviews/the-alchemist-flying-high/|title=The Alchemist – Flying High {{!}} Reviews|magazine=Clash|last=Murray|first=Robin|date=June 30, 2023|access-date=July 6, 2023}}
| rev2 = Exclaim!
| rev2score = 8/10{{cite magazine|url=https://exclaim.ca/music/article/the_alchemist_flying_high_ep_album_review|title=The Alchemist – Flying High {{!}} Reviews|magazine=Exclaim!|last=McLean|first=Wesley|date=June 30, 2023|access-date=July 6, 2023}}
| rev3 = HipHopDX
| rev4 = Pitchfork
| rev4score = 7.0/10{{cite web|url=https://pitchfork.com/reviews/albums/the-alchemist-flying-high-ep/|title=The Alchemist: Flying High EP Album Review|website=Pitchfork|last=Green|first=Dylan|date=July 6, 2023|access-date=July 6, 2023|archive-date=July 6, 2023|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230706042954/https://pitchfork.com/reviews/albums/the-alchemist-flying-high-ep/|url-status=live}}
}}
{{Metacritic album prose|Flying High|Positive|79|6}}{{Citation |title=Flying High [EP] by The Alchemist |url=https://www.metacritic.com/music/flying-high-ep/the-alchemist |access-date=2024-01-18 |language=en}}
Clash{{'}}s Robin Murray described it as a "stunning four-track feast, the only downside is that we don't hear more from such a formidable cast" and felt that "the brevity doesn't downplay the creativity". Dylan Green of Pitchfork called it "breezy" and found that it contains "a space for rhymers in Alchemist's orbit to unspool for the fun of it". Green also wrote that "none of these songs sound like demos or leftovers, but Flying High doesn't reach for the stars, either." Wesley McLean of Exclaim! described the album as "a delicious hors d'oeuvre served up while you're waiting for whatever three-course meal that Alchemist has coming next," while also dubbing it "a reminder that Alchemist's circle doubles as a roster of some of the best rappers around." HipHopDX's Anthony Malone described the EP as "an enjoyable listen," but adds that "there's a shrouding feeling that the legendary producer has gotten comfortable creatively."
Track listing
{{Track listing
| headline = Flying High track listing
| title1 = RIP Tracy
| note1 = featuring Earl Sweatshirt and Billy Woods
| writer1 =
| length1 = 3:38
| title2 = Trouble Man
| note2 = featuring TF and Boldy James
| writer2 =
| length2 = 3:10
| title3 = Bless
| note3 = featuring Mike and Sideshow
| writer3 =
| length3 = 2:59
| title4 = Midnight Oil
| note4 = featuring Larry June and Jay Worthy
| writer4 =
| length4 = 3:39
| title5 = RIP Tracy
| note5 = instrumental
| writer5 =
| length5 = 3:38
| title6 = Trouble Man
| note6 = instrumental
| writer6 =
| length6 = 3:10
| title7 = Bless
| note7 = instrumental
| writer7 =
| length7 = 2:59
| title8 = Midnight Oil
| note8 = instrumental
| writer8 =
| length8 = 3:39
| total_length = 26:52
}}