The first time i heard of AZ was when he came out with the single 'Everything's Everything' wit r&b singer joe off his last album '9 lives.' I loved da track but for some reason I still hesitated to buy 9 lives. I eneded up not buying it which i truly regret. I admit this is the first AZ record I've ever bought and it is near flawless. Let me tell you that AZ is much better then allmost all the multi-platinum artists out there. He's skills and rhymes can't be matched. With the hot music dis guy makes it's hard to realize why he's not more well known.

I first heard da single 'I'm back' and i was like damn this is hot music right here. Then i checked dis site out and read a review called 'classic peotry' by jay and that convinced me to buy the album. I started listenin to it and i was like dat kid was 4 real. AZ's flow is like none other and his rhymes are always on point. Im telling you this album is just as good as Nas's stillmatic maby even better. This is an album where you can pretty much play straight through. Buy this album and guarenteed there will be no more skippin through da tracks lookin for good beats or hot songs. Every track has something different to offer. All da songs are hot but may favorite are:

1)A-1 performance (mad ill beat, gets you up and dancin)

'Aziatic' is truly a classic. If da source dont give this 5 mics they must of been high when reviewin this album cause i no doubt giv dis 5 mics. AZ is definitely real and is a great inspiration. I hope wit dis one AZ gets da recognition he deserves. If your still not sure bout this album just check out da other reviewers, they speak true. Definitely pick dis one up. If you don't got dis in your collection your definitely missin out. Pick dis up, Solid 5 stars

AZ's back and best believe he is better than ever. This cd was a surprise because it aint even been a year since his last album 9 Lives. But ya better know that AZ was still hungry and this hunger and prowess on the mic makes Aziatic his best album to date. As a matter of fact this is one of , if not THE, best album so far this year. It is competing with Nappy Roots Watermelon, Chicken, & Grits, which was an amazing debut album. One thing is for sure I am definitely enjoying this cd. The production is top notch and had me doing cartwheels and jumping up and down excited. A-1 Performance is easily the best song on the album. The beat is just OFF THE HOOK. And the singing by the women is just bliss( Nobody can do it better than AZ! Oh yea ), AND add in some Micheal Jackson samples and you have got yourself AZ's best song ever. Better Than Problemz, Better than Mo Money, Mo Murda, and dare I say it; Better than Sugarhill.

The whole album is just banging. AZ is an amazing rapper. He has the smoothest voice and flow on the East Coast. Like a more laid back and lyrical Method Man. He is on point. He's just ripping the songs to PIECES with his lyrical dexterity. Once Again, which has a familiar beat (Onyx Slam Harder), is another one of AZ's gems. Wanna Be There is a nice relaxing joint with INCREDIBLE background vocals and samples. This song he says rather poetically "some men see things the way they are and say why?, I see things that never was and say why not?" The Essence Feat. Nas is another one of those laid back songs that has AZ & Nas going back & forth. The crooning in the background is once again marvelous. This aint some corny gimmicky background singers and samples, this stuff is hard. Props to the producers. Every song is hitting, Fanmail where they utilize another trill sample with some singing in the background and AZ is sorta reading his fan mail. The cd is just so soulful and I can't describe accurately the beats. They just have to be heard so bear with me. I'm Back is the single and it is blazing. The rest of the songs are off the hook as well: take IT Off, Paradise, Hands In The Air, Rebirth, Hustler. The only song I aint feeling much is Take Care Of Me.

I can't express my approval of this cd. It's better than Stillmatic so if you liked that you will go CRAZY nuts when you hear Aziatic. It's the type that make you do backflips because it is so refreshing. Its just that good. It WILL be in contention for Best Album come end of the year. And clocking it at just under 50 minutes it aint a chore to listen to and it keeps you coming back for more. And believe me those 50 minutes will go by QUICKLY. Buy it Buy It Buy It. Five Stars.

AZ has by now been one of the east coast's premier lyricists for years, yet he is still so terribly slept-on. Since his classic debut "Doe or Die" in 1995, AZ has consistently brought excellent albums to not enough attention year in and year out. "Aziatic," his fourth album released in 2002, is certainly no exception. Once again, the Brooklyn legend comes hard lyrically, delivering real depictions of life, rapping hard to represent the east coast, and delivering truth on the microphone. Like on his other albums, there are plenty of hard, lyrical tracks that really showcase his talent. "Aziatic" also has a few tracks aimed for the clubs and the radio, and although they are okay they really don't fit his style at all, AZ is definitely more suited to the hard, underground hip hop that he does so well. While there are no Pete Rocks or Large Professors behind the mixing boards, this being his last major label release the production is consistently solid, always very fitting of his lyrics, often using classic soul samples. I definitely recommend "Aziatic" to any fans of AZ or lyrical east coast hip hop, it's one of his strongest efforts and a great listen overall.

"A-1 Performance" starts the album in grand fashion, AZ announcing his return over a horn-laden beat with a good chorus. "Wanna Be There" is a slow track, where AZ talks passionately of the women in his life, the production is strong and it's a solid track. "Take It Off" is a misstep, a forgettable club song with a weak chorus. "The Essence" is a classic though. Every time Nas and AZ collaborate on a track, the result is really special, and this is no exception, absolutely outstanding. The two legends and friends toast to each other and a lavish lifestyle after living a tough life, the song sounds absolutely majestic. "Hands in the Air" is also a club track, this one works much better but isn't especially memorable. "Fan Mail" might be my favorite song on the album, it has a great concept. Each verse is a letter written to AZ from a fan, they each chronicle a sad life and the production is good too. "Paradise (Life)" is sort of a slower, toned down sequel to his classic "Sugar Hill," but it's just okay. "Take Care of Me" has a very pop sound to it, it's not really suitable for the Visualiza in my opinion. "I'm Back" is awesome though, the horn fanfare is great and AZ's verses are all excellent. "Hustler" and "Rebirth" are both strong musically and lyrically.

It seems like AZ will continue to be underrated and overlooked no matter the quality of albums he makes, like this one. This album is just another of a catalog of great albums from a legendary rapper. Listeners new to AZ should first check out his debut "Doe or Die," and after that I recommend this album and his most recent, "The Format." This album is really strong and I suggest it for any collection.

Ask yourself: "How long's it been since you bought a rap album without feeling you really had to CONVINCE YOURSELF (after a million listens) that it was really worth the money?"

If you are a REAL fan of hip hop, (i.e. through the 1990's) then you'll be able to appreciate my point of view that it's all been downhill since 1999.

It became QUANTITY over QUALITY, and the hip hop "depression" began... Now true rap fans are forced to put up with less-than-mediocre garbage such as "The Eminem Show" and endless posthumous massacrings of 2pac's name with 'Never heard Before' songs (who do they think they are fooling?)

So nowadays, if you're lucky enough to hear a GENUINE banger, it is such a refreshing feeling! That's why I felt compelled to write the reviews that I have on Amazon. I chose the standout albums which DEFY this general trend.

Although Aziatic isn't perfect, it only suffers from TWO bad tracks which isn't bad by today's standards! These are #6 and #9 - both produced by someone called "Precision", although whose beats are actually not very Precise at all. It really dissapointed me that AZ would put these tracks in such a nice album AT ALL - especially right after the 2 best tracks! It's got corporate decision written all over it - listen, and you'll see...

But the remaining tracks are some shining reminders of what REAL hip hop possibly still could be...

Particularly tracks 5 and 8. AZ has teamed up with some excellent producers (Buckwild, C.H.O.P Diesel, Millertime) who have truly blessed him with gems. AZ's flow is extremely smooth, and wonderfully easy on the ear. That is what made "I'm Back" such a successful single, with his smooth flow over an equally smooth Eddie Kendricks loop. The standout points for his flow are in verse 2, track 2 (an uptempo party track that actually works!), and verse 3, track 3 (his flow about 'Earl Huvic' which is OUTSTANDING!!)

TRUE fans of hip hop will not be dissapointed with this purchase, I guarantee it. In fact it will be a refreshing surprise to those of you, who like me, were beginning to give up all hope with the generic 'mainstream' sound of today. This is a genuine contender for one of 2002's the best albums.

Just make sure you skip tracks 6 and 9 and you're safe!

This is one of the best albums of 2002. Not to many rappers can have some commercial flava in an album and still keep it real and AZ is one of them. He has some club bangers and some real hip hop joints in an album (which is rare). People seriously gotta stop sleeping on AZ, I hope this album goes platinum.