Rock Bands & Pop Stars
AZ Pictures
Band / Artist:
AZ
Origin:
United States, Brooklyn - New YorkUnited States
AZ Album: «AWOL»
AZ Album: «AWOL» (Front side)
    Album information
  • Customers rating: (4.5 of 5)
  • Title:AWOL
  • Release date:
  • Type:Audio CD
  • Label:
  • UPC:
Customers rating
Track listing
Review - Amazon.com
The latest by AZ was originally formulated as The Final Call until label problems dead ended that project. Reconstituted with a mix of songs from that album plus a slew of new ones, AWOL is a fine follow-up on AZ's considerably underrated Aziatic album from 2002. As always, AZ is blessed with one of the smoothest, most effortless flows in hip-hop today, as distinctive and effective as when he first appeared on Nas' Illmatic 11 years ago. The production holds up for the most part on the new CD with some searing soul for "Never Change," and rugged, old school-inspired beats on the hyperactive "New York" and "AZ's Chillin." Attempts at more contemporary club cuts like "Still Alive" fall flat however and questionable guests kill songs like "Street Life" and "Envious." On the balance, the album is above-average: not the best work AZ's ever done but after the hiatus it took to put this CD together, it doesn't disappoint the impatient either. --Oliver Wang
Customer review
1 of 1 people found the following review helpful:
- Another solid album from one of the all-time greats

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

Customer review
- Buy this album!!!

True heads know AZ. From Illmatic to Firm fiascos, if you know good hip-hop you should know A.Z. This A.W.O.L. album is what fans have been waiting for since Sugarhill. Since Final Call got bootlegged this is the first official release we have seen in years from A.Z. and it doesn't disappoint, stand out tracks include: Never Change, the Come up (Preemo!) and Chillin. Support true hiphop and grab a cd that will definetly be in your cd player for months to come....don't miss out, this album is classic!