AZ - The Format
Label: Quiet Money Records / Koch
Grade: A-
Dopeness Percentage: 75%
Highlight: Rise and Fall
Also Download: The Format, Animal, I Am The Truth
Overview: AZ has got to be one of the most underrated emcees in the game. Since his classic “Life’s a Bitch” verse, AZ has produced 6 solo albums in 11 years and etched his place in hip hop textbooks. Why has he never received his just dues? Simple…he’s stayed true to himself. AZ has never strayed far from his MO, and that’s what makes us appreciate him. When you put an AZ record on, you expect razor-sharp lyrics, raw east coast beats, and that recognizable flow that has made him famous. This album is no exception, as he enlists respected producers such as Emile, DJ Premier, Lil’ Fame, and Statik Selektah. The album kicks off with the Lil’ Fame produced “I Am The Truth,” which sets the raw tone for the rest of the album. Billy Danze appears on “Sit ‘Em Back Slow,” and AZ fits in naturally with the Mash Out Posse vibe. AZ and Little Brother make one of the dopest collabos in a long time on “Rise and Fall,” and Premier sets off another classic with the title track. The other star of the album is red-hot producer Emile, who delivers four tracks, all of which are consistently dope.
So what’s not to like? Well, “Doing That” might be the worst track AZ has ever made. The club sound on the record just doesn’t fit with the rest of the album and provides a rare fast forward moment. An AZ album doesn’t often get grouped into “classic hip hop material,” but then again, what does these days? As his album title suggests, AZ clearly understands the format to making a good hip hop record. While other veterans hit and miss with their more current releases, AZ always delivers the goods.
Dopeness Percentage - Takes into account how many dope songs there are compared to tracks on the album. For example, if an album had 14 tracks and 5 of them were dope, you have a Dopeness of 36%.
