AZ Spits Hot Fire On A Red Hot Mix To “Starboy,” Just In Time For The Weeknd (Audio)

It’s been 8 years since AZ released an album, and in that time, his output has been extremely scarce. In fact, over the last couple of years, the Brooklyn MC has only released a handful of songs, and they typically are care of DJs who coax him into blessing their mixtapes with a golden verse. On the rare times AZ does step to the mic, however, he always makes it count, typically unleashing the unrelenting, yet velvety smooth flow that has won fans over since his show-stealing turn on Nas’ “Life’s A B*tch.”

AZ Vows “Doe Or Die 2” Will Be His Final Album & It’s Coming This Year (Audio)

Last year, AZ announced that he was making his return in 2017, to release his final album. In a bittersweet reveal, he shared that the LP would be a sequel to his beloved Doe Or Die. While no further details have surfaced about when the album will see the light, today, AZ drops his first verse of the year, and it’s a great way to kick things off.

20 Years Later, Life Is Good For AZ Too (Video)

The bars come courtesy of DJ Doo Wop, with whom AZ has a history that dates back 20 years. Having guested on a number of Doo Wop mixtapes and remixes, AZ jumps on the veteran DJ’s complete re-working of The Weeknd’s “Starboy.” Doo Wop replaces Daft Punk’s original electro production with the still tough as nails track RZA used for Raekwon’s “Incarcerated Scarfaces.” Doo Wop even throws in a nod to Michael Jackson, a clear influence on The Weeknd, with sprinkles of Thriller‘s “Human Nature,” here and there.

At two minutes in, AZ comes in and breathes that hot fire, just in time to get the weekend started.