AZ Album: “AZ [Clean]”

AZ, one of the realest and one of the best ever behind the mic, is back after slightly over 3 years since his last LP to bring you the appropriately titled "A.W.O.L." - his 5th solo release (not counting his "S.O.S.A." EP that was shelved in 2000 and his "Final Call" album that was supposed to come out in June 2004 but kept getting pushed back & bootlegged and eventually was shelved as well). How it rates to his other albums, probably one the weakest but still solid and worthy of 4 stars, which shows how nice he is his lower quality albums are 4 stars. Packed with 15 songs (track 13 is 3 songs off his "Final Call" album), it has no classics, 10 songs are good and the other 5 are ok. Guests rap on 3 songs and do hook on 2 others so you get enough of AZ to satisfy your thirst after a long AZ drought. Production is only about average (other then on a few tracks) which brings the album down a little (it's never his lyrics or flow which are both top notch and A game). Heatmakerz, and Baby Paul each do 2 songs, Disco D, Emile, Frado, Vinny Idol, Fizzy Womack of M.O.P., DJ Absolut, Tone Mason, J Hen, DJ Premier, MoSS, and Buckwild all do 1 song. A great album to have for his fans and fans of true hip-hop.

#1 - 8.5 (a short intro as always)

#2 - 9

#3 - 8.5 (f/ Ghostface Killah & Raekwon)

#4 - 7.5

#5 - 6.5 (f/ Noe - not a good beat)

#6 - 8 (old school type song - beat isn't the best but AZ rips it up)

#7 - 9

#8 - 7.5 (f/ Half A Mill {R.I.P.} & Begetz)

#9 - 6.5 (another short song)

#10 - 9

#11 - 7 (f/ Bounty Killer)

#12 - 8.5

#13 - 8

#13 (2nd song) - 9 (f/ CL Smooth)

#13 (3rd song) - 8.5

Anthony Cruz --- Brownsville, Brooklyn, NY -- b. around 1972