One Producer Took AZ’s Whole A.W.O.L. Album & Gave It A Facelift (Album Stream)

Ten years ago, AZ Tha Visualiza left the major label system (after a decade in) and found an independent stride. After success under Kedar Massenburg’s Motown Records with “Problems,” The Firm lyricist was a blue-chip acquisition for eOne Entertainment.

There, AZ made an album in A.W.O.L. seemingly apathetic towards radio support. A longtime fan of gritty boom-bap Hip-Hop, AZ got in the lab with DJ Premier, Da Beatminerz’ Baby Paul, D.I.T.C.’s Buckwild, The Heatmakerz, and even M.O.P.’s Fizzy Womack. Although independent, the effort (complete with a 10-minute bonus suite) still garnered A a Top 100 debut.

While the 2005 work marked one of AZ’s more celebrated works, like Jay Z’s Black Album (see: 9th Wonder’s Black Is Black), or Nas’ Stillmatic (see: Soul Supreme’s Soulmatic), that only adds to producers’ interest. Melbourne, Australia producer Geko (a/k/a Phil Gektor) made his own A.W.O.L. 2.0 version of A’s LP.

After catching wind of the concoction through Unkut, Ambrosia For Heads shares the full January 2015 release.

Should artists appreciate these looks, and reconsiderations, especially on albums that are older?

Related: Finding The GOAT (Round 2): Jay-Z vs. AZ…Who You Got?