Covert Coup

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Covert Coup is the first collaborative mixtape by rapper Curren$y and producer The Alchemist. It was released on April 20, 2011, through Jet Life Recordings and ALC Records, with all production by The Alchemist. The project features guests Fiend, Freddie Gibbs, Prodigy, and Smoke DZA, and consists of ten tracks. It was created as a retail EP but was later released as a free digital mixtape.

Before the release, several tracks leaked: Ventilation on April 7, Full Metal on April 12, and Scottie Pippen (featuring Freddie Gibbs) on April 15. Curren$y announced the mixtape on April 20 via Twitter. On May 8, 2012, The Alchemist released Covert Coup Instrumentals, an instrumental version of every track.

Covert Coup received generally favorable reviews. It holds a high Metacritic score of 80 from five reviews. Critics praised the duo’s tight, focused collaboration and the strong guest appearances, with notes on Curren$y’s smoother flows and The Alchemist’s standout production. Comments highlighted its concise, high-quality ten-track length, the sense of atmosphere, and the project’s replay value, despite some critics wishing it were longer. Overall, it’s seen as a strong, cohesive collaboration that fits well with Curren$y’s laid-back style and The Alchemist’s sharp beatwork.