Customer Reviews

Aziatic

5 star:		(50)
4 star:		(15)
3 star:		(2)
2 star:		(4)
1 star:		(0)

 

 

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)
2)Take it off
3)Paradise
4)I'm back
5)Rebirth

'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

This album deserves 6 stars. Az displays the essence of hip hop in this classic. I have no ideal why this album is not certifed platinum; The 50 cents of the world can sell millions while constantly spitting the same old stuff(ill rob and kill you), without the true gift of lyrical talent and flow. On the other hand, Az brings you into a focus realm of knowledge and flow. The album is incredible. AZ delivers a message to the youth, a track for the ladies, and a incredible track where he puts his fan mail to beats. Amazing! This album is almost 2 years old and it remains in my car. A classic, enough said. STOP SLEAPING ON AZ. THIS IS FIRE! Keep real hip hop alive!

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's talent has never been disputed but this cd brings to an end any notion that he can't consistently find a decent beat. pieces of a man showed weaknesses in that area but the flow has always been off the chart. aziatic finally combines for the first time since doe or die his ill flow with blazin production!! AZ says he doesn't need or want the fame but it would be nice to see a true rapper rapping about things other than the bling bling over and over making it commercially. I have always been a major Nas fan with AZ trailing closely behind. in my opinion this cd pushes AZ right next to Nas as top dog of the east coast. the one line that shows AZ's true status is on Just Wanna Be There when he raps "never sold millions but....... i'm here to save the babies". AZ keep pushing and maybe one day everyone will wake up and cop this album and his others

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.

AZ's (Anthony Cruz) most recent album "Aziatic" (2002) is excellent. Like alot of people I first heard AZ back in 94 on "Life's a Bitch" with Nas and ever since then I have enjoyed his music and feel that he has been slept on by many from his first album onwards. Hopefully this album has opened some more eyes. Production comes from Portiay, Chop D.E.S.E.L., Dr. Period Baby Paul and Big Joe. Guest appearances come from Nas, Dj Rogers, Trav, Animal and El Shaber. AZ starts his album off strong by showing love to the artists that paved the way, and to his peoples on "Once Again", followed up by "A-1 Performance" a track where AZ reps himself. Next comes "Wanna be There" a standout track where AZ reminesce's going back to 82 and working his way up to the present, while talking about friends who got killed/jailed, and days past. "The Essence" feat. Nas is another nice blazing AZ-Nas collab, which has both MC's complimenting each other, backed by a nice beat. "Fan Mail" has AZ going deep while talking about crime, incarceration, mcing, while showing alot of appreciation and love for the streets and his peoples. "Paradise" (Life) follows and has AZ spitting nice verse after verse, "I'm Back" feat. El Shaber uses blaring horns and keeps things moving. Beat on "Hustler" is memorable, and guest appearances by Trav & Animal are good. "Re-Birth" & "Doing Me" close off the album strong. AZ's lyricism is very impressive, he is my opinion one of the illest out in that category. Another thing I like about is that unlike alot of rappers he keeps his ego in check and shows alot of love and modesty. Production and guest appearances are solid. "Aziatic" is a very memorable album, one I recommend for any Hip Hop 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!

listening to hip hop over the past few years has been somewhat frustrating for me. as a white australian arriving in houston i listened to some extremely dodgy music back home but was quickly turned to rap by my texan brethren, many of whom are black or hispanic. i was immediately informed that there were two albums in needed to have - illmatic and all eyez on me. except for possibly jay-z's reasonable doubt, nothing has come even close to those two albums in my opinion until aziatic. though id heard the brilliant single "im back" on mtv and the radio, id been given too much false hope in recent years to really expect much from the album. how wrong i was. although az unfortunately attempts to sell his soul to the mainstream (a la ja rule, jay z, method man) with the truly awful "take care of me" and "take it off", he thankfully fails miserably. nothing could overshadow the brilliance of truly magnificent cuts like "once again", "rebirth", "fan mail", "hustler", the aforementioned "im back" and especially "the essence" (w/nas) and the standout track "paradise". AZ has found that perfect balance between beats, flow and lyrics that only nas in his prime has ever really approached before. SUPREME.

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.

AZ has shown that he is more concerned with the message than the fame, even though he deserves more. Certainly after "Sugar Hill" and "Mo murder Mo homicide" from the Doe or Die album he proved his point, as he has now, that he is second to nobody in flow. He even stated in his 3rd track that he's not really concerned with commercial appeal. It's quite honorable to see the game is taken more serious by serious minded individuals. AZ, I know you will read this! Keep hittin the Science! The battle isn't gun play or thug play, it's a battle between functional and dysfuctional knowledge. And the GODS must choose which side they will obligate they're thought process too? Keep ya waves tight!

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