AZ
A lot of cats have been talking about the duet album you and Nas said you are gonna do one day. That would be certified gold on the streets. What’s going on with that? I know it’s hard to come together but do you think that this is a serious possibility?
AZ: To be honest I think it all has to do with the success of what I’m doing. He really already bust his nut in the game and he’s like A it’s on you now to show and prove what you’re made of. I guess he is waiting for me to hit that certain plateau. I think it can really happen. Actually, I’m waiting for myself to hit that plateau. This album right here is like the best album I’ve completed. Hopefully it will get me that love I’ve been vying for.
The album’s called “Final Call” and that’s alluding to a few things.
AZ: I know. To me “The Final Call” is giving people the last chance to recognize me, what I stand for, what I represent and what I bring to the table. I consider myself the voice of the lost souls that never got a chance to pass on their lessons, like brothers who got killed or who are doing football numbers in jail. They never got a chance to pass on their lessons to their cousins or nephews and I speak for them. I speak nothing but the truth and that’s what the “Final Call” is about.
It ain’t really got nothing to do with religion or the Farrakhan movement. It’s me telling people that it’s your last chance. I’m gonna fall back if y’all don’t grasp on to what’s going on now.
That was gonna be my question. Like are you talking about hanging up the mic?
AZ: I’ll be honest and put it like this though: if they don’t latch onto what is going on right now, I’m gonna fall back. I’ve been putting a lot of work in over the years and if I’m not gonna get recognized for it, I’m gonna fall back.
You’re definitely recognized. I think you stand out more by staying away from all the corny shit niggas be doing. Another thing that I notice is that nobody mentions you in their songs when they beefing with people. You can go through all of Queensbridge and Brooklyn and AZ has never really come out nobody’s mouth with negativity behind it.
AZ: You right. I don’t give off that aura. When I see niggas I show them respect, they show me respect, and I guess I carry myself with a certain mystique. That’s a blessing right there.
We just did an interview with Cormega and we saw you were on his Legal Hustle compilation album. We threw out the question to him but we figured we’d get your take: Since y’all were both down with The Firm initially we were wondering why did it take so long for you to collaborate?
AZ: It’s like this: Nas brought me into the game and that’s my man. I met Cormega through Nas. So with me being latched onto Nas, and Cormega and him going through a little drama I wanted to fall back. Mega is a real nigga. I can vibe with him on different notes but there are rules to the game also. I explained to him before it went down. I was like “I know you and son going through it but I feel your story from the streets and shit. I owe Nas an obligation and I know you and him are going to war but it ain’t that serious, it ain’t like its some street shit. So I’m gonna get on a song with you cause I got respect for you but my love is with son overall because he brought me to the table.” We just took it from there. Really me and Mega don’t really vibe like that. We don’t eat together at the same table and all that. I know him through Nas. It’s a respect thing there.
I posted that we were going to do this interview on a few sites and I got some questions people wanted asked: There was a rumor that you were to be signed to Roc-A-Fella and even before Jay and Nas was beefing someone wanted us to ask why you hadn’t collabed with Jay or other heads like that. What does it take for you to get on the same track with cats? Is it more of a family thing or do people just approach you and you feel it from there?
AZ: I just don’t really fuck with a lot of cats in the game; that’s just my style. I will fuck with a couple people like Jigga and Scarface. I did something with Beans but there is a lot of corny shit going on in the game and everybody has hidden agendas and all that and it ain’t my thing. Not saying that I’d never do it but it ain’t my thing.
Stay how you are and don’t go hosting them dumb ass shows. [Marcus is an adamant AZ fan.]
AZ: I don’t like doing that and my mans and them be asking “why you don’t get on all those mixtapes, go crazy and pop all that shit.” I just can’t do the poppin shit and the corny shit like “My fucking name is AZ, I’m representing all this shit!” I can’t do that. Where I came from, either you bad or you not. Talking about it you look stupid and sound stupid. Let your style speak for yourself when you in public. I can’t scream on mixtapes and all that, it never was my thing.
I think everyone here feels you should be regarded as one of the nicest emcees in the game, but a lot people ain’t recognizing. Do you think this next album is gonna open their eyes and if so what do you have on here that will wake people up?
AZ: Guaranteed what I got on this album is crazy. Guaranteed hands down. I think it’s a matter of getting it out to the public. From the opening to the ending, it’s crazy. The shit’s gangsta. It’s basically just me on this whole album. I really vented and tapped into other zones. I don’t have any guest rappers besides my crew and that’s one song. And I did a joint with CL Smooth, ’cause that’s my man. Other than that I don’t have any rappers on the joint. It’s really an autobiographical album. I love this album and I know I’m gonna get a lot of flack for “Final Call.” But it’s like if y’all don’t grasp on right now I’m gonna put my little niggas out and let them go crazy.
I know you have the label Quiet Money. What is the current situation with the label and what artists are you working with?
AZ: Right now Quiet Money is independent. Koch is distributing only this album. After this album is distributed, I’m going to be looking for distribution elsewhere. As far as artists I got my man YG (Young God), Nu from Pittsburgh, Animal, Trav and everybody is just spitting it how I’m spitting it. If niggas really listen this will be the one.
June 5th, 2006
Hi Az my name is shieema lowman i love your music every since i was a young , i’m only 18 year’s old i thnk you are so sexy , i love everything you do i hope i will meet you an person , write back love ya
June 6th, 2006
Hi Az i love your music, every since i was young i had a crush on you , i think you are a fly brother love you write back…
June 20th, 2006
Love everything you do. Stay that fly nigga for ever. You and Nasir should really do that album together at all cost. Yo if you get this message send yo boy a autograph picture. AWOL is the hardest cd ever and Aziatic. You talk about real shit and I respect that. If I could get a chance to meet you I would love it. I still play play phone tapp with you and the Firm staff. Fuck the sales you dont get people fear what they dont understand and hate what they cant conquer. Please send me a autograph pictures to LA,Ca 90047 10212 s. Haas st. Lequan Herron is my name much love God.
July 14th, 2006
sup god,now i dont know if u even gunna see this but its worth a shot,i grew up in the caribbean ghetto scene so i was pulled into the life you know,i started listenin rap during the time when ruff ryders 1 came out cuz there it was more of the reggae thing,so as i continued listenin throughout the yrs i cuddent find that special vibe,the essence of the whole art so i stated going back in time and copped te illmatic and heard life’s a bitch, i was already a deep nas fam cuz he’s real but i didnt know who that other voice was but i knew the words for the whole verse,then i bought the stillmatic and heard the voice again and this time the name was at the back of the case,,az,,so i went to the music store and i had seen your album there 9 lives for quite some time but never looked and where i lived its 55 dollars for a cd so i saved my lunch money and got it and played it,,,as soon as i heard you say in the intro,,”f*ck sales as long as the streets accept me,its respect before the money if i’m wrong correct me!”i knew,,i played that over again before movin onto watcha day about,,and when i heard that song i had to sit down,problems, and the song that made me almost shed a tear,,love me,it was so perfect,trust me your music changed me,calmed me down ,i aint wildin,now i even catch myself sayin shit like,,am maintainin,to people,or callin my mom mama bear,you are the perfect mc in my eyes,when i think dam he cant get any better i bought a.w.o.l. and damm,,,i’m in england now and its hard but i’m tryin to track down all your previous cd’s all the stores tellin me they cant get it but i’m still listenin,especially after i heard wanna be there from a friend,,,dam i think thats one of the deepest songs i’ve ever heard i just which others could see what i see,your so ahead of your time thats the problem,,well i am rapping now and look to you as one of the people who totally look up to and respect,am not on the weak shit the bling bling thing,i am street knowledge webster couldnt cypher,i wear a clear concious thats obvious to whom ever get the chance to read my writng..i wuddent have chose this path if it wasnt for you though,,havent advertised my work yet to get signed,but if i do get in you can be sure you’d know its me …..if you do get this i dont need you to sign anything for me or send anything,,cuz if you are who i think you are from your music you are the type that said to yourself if you dont make it bigg but inspired someone who duz youd be happy and meant it,well you did inspire me more than you will know,dunno if i will make it rapping but i wont fail in life,,give another album to the kids coming up,the last generation already traded their chance at knowledge for shiney chains and half naked chicks…..”was i sent for the sinners thst never repent?or am just another nigga bent tryin to pay for his rent?”….thank you..amir is blessed
July 19th, 2006
Whas Good Dog,
This the first time i’ve ever sent anything to n e one i listen to.
I got put onto u by a co-worker at a shoprite market i worked at. I used to git dissed and shit 4 sayin the best rapper was AZ. By feelin ya music i’ve come to learn that what u do aint rap. I been doing me for 10 years strong and i don’t call ma self a rapper, i’m a lyricist, but in a general, what u do simbolizes what Hip Hop stands for. Rap is a commercial term that describes what a certain group of people(Blacks) do similarly like some of these industry cats today do but names ain’t necessary. I coped Aziatic first and went backwards, but ya albums are in evry slot in ma 5 Disc change CD playa. U inspired and to this day inspire me as an artist and as a man. I don’t have a recrod deal and i’m not lookin for one. Just so u know, i’ve never stole or used any bar, rhyme, or line from anything of yours i’ve heard. Back in highschool niggas would laugh at me cuz i was the only one bangin Aziatic on the way and through the halls. Niggas consider u as a “slept on” artist, when eva people hear me say ya name its like oh AZ(like who the fuck is that). Fam, from the heart, man to man, I’m proud to have been inspired, so moved by a “slept on” artist. Right hand to God; when i spit wit a dude that worked at tower records at the cash register one day, when i was done the first thing he did was “u know who u remind me of, AZ” and i was overwhelmed. U da reason i’ve found ma self as an artist and ya impact on me was so deep that it was gittin to the point where i developed ya tone of voice and word pronuciation. But u don’t gotta to worry about hearin a nigga from south philly tryin to steal ya style or sound like u. I’m just being clear on the extent of ya influence on me. I will say for a fact that u play a big part in the way i formulate and deliver ma rhymes. It seems like those type of artist that sell few records or git passed over in the stores got the most to give and say.
I used to think its was crazy how a cat from “The Brook” could inspire a humble dude from South Philly but it happend. I can type all day and still not find the words to Thank You fam. In closing,
i wish u evry success.
i respect u (Hands Down, Fitted Hats and Skullies Off)
U got support in South Philly as long as i’m breathin.
Keep blessin us wit Lyricism and what the industry needed when u started and still needs now.
As an artist i’m forever in debt to u and for that ima stay humble stay me and continue to bless the mic the way u showed me how to when i first heard “To all those i still speak to, guess we still peoples….” up to when i heard ” You no ma personna, let me kindly remind ya…”
To AZ a.k.a Anthony Cruz a.k.a S.O.S.A.
“U made this dude keep signin his soul,
on fine lines of loose leaf shinin.
Supplyin the naked eye,
no fakin chasin the vibe, inside”
“Fadin him for instance
expect to miss Ock
AZ’s the difference
between rap and HipHop.”
Tonik
Thanks 4 everything ma nigga, 1
Shout Out To Brooklyn and Quiet Money.
I want to personally send A Special Shout with All Due Respect to “Mama Bear” for givin birth to ma “idle” and one of the greatest MC’s still alive and kickin.
Thank You
August 9th, 2006
Wow. The last two posters said it all. You are fantastic man, I can’t even find the words to tell you how good you are. I heard you on your website http://az.ivnet.tv/ saying you’re top 10. You’re further ahead of anyone I ever heard. Pac, Nas, Big were all blessed, but they can’t even come close to your poetry.
August 17th, 2006
Yo AZ ya cant let the final call be ya last cd man. seriously, hip hop is in a bad state right now, its all gimmicky and fucked up. ur a rare breed homie, got real shit to say real stories real lyrical talent all i ever hear is “g-g-g-g-gunit” or sum southern rappers doin they club raps and dance rap and all that. we need some realness put back into the game. every1 thinks busta will bring east coast back, fuck that i say its you homie. i think you jus need better marketing cuz your flow is perfect, ur lyrical abilities are fuckin godly, people just need to hear it to catch on. seriously though i listen to the track “never change” every single day. no lie. neways man, stay up. peace.
September 20th, 2006
AZ is the best rapper, most slept on rapper, he dont get love in the south no coverage. Whatever! i thought he was dead for a minute! DANG B!
September 27th, 2006
A YOU ARE ONE OF THE GREATEST IN THE GAME. YOU REP HARD LIKE SEDIMENTARY ROCKS.
January 16th, 2007
AZ,
You’re the only rapper worth writing. I know u hear this all the time but I am your biggest fan in Florida! My peoples get sooo tired of your music they get mad at me for constantly playing it. I don’t care the best rapper is someone’s opinion. Just because they say Pac and B.I.G are the best doesn’t mean they are. I have played your music and turned SEVERAL people onto your stuff. I know outside of N.Y., you are rarely talked about. In Florida, I promote your music at every red light and see people like damn that music is hot! What is he playing? I take it back to Doe or Die, they don’t know about that. Thank you for your music, NEVER STOP, and I’ll never stop buying your music. Let me know if u have any shows in Florida?
Advancement in progress
March 26th, 2007
People need to realize and start to appreciate the message, the knowledge, and the raw flow that “AZ” has always had! ONE OF THE BEST WHO EVER DONE IT! 1995 TIL THE DAY HE DECIDES TO QUIT! MUCH LUV FOR “AZ”
June 18th, 2008
wen it comes to rhyme skeemz, word play, reality and creativity. AZ is number one hands down!