az Archives

Listen to the Best Hip-Hop of August 2015 in 1 Playlist (Audio)

August 2015 was an incredibly complex month for Hip-Hop. On the one hand, it was filled with tragedy and will forever be remembered as the month when we lost the great Sean Price. On the other hand, the month also brought a new album from Method Man, the first album... Read more

September 8, 2015 Mixes

How Does AZ Rock a Down South Beat? Impeccably…(Audio)

It's been quite some time since AZ blessed fans with new material. Save for some loosies and guest verses here and there, the esteemed Brooklyn MC has not released an album since 2009's Legendary, and his rumored Doe or Die 2 has yet to surface. While there still may not... Read more

August 19, 2015 Audio

What Would A Nas And AZ Album Sound Like? This Is The Closest You’ll Get (Mixtape)

Ever since the Firm disbanded in the late nineties, Heads have voiced a desire for an AZ/Nas collaboration album, though one has never materialized. However, a new mixtape has been released which may prove to be the next best thing. Thanks to DJ Rhude (who is also a contributing writer... Read more

June 20, 2015 Mixes

These MCs Are Often Unsung & Underrated…But They Are GOATs (Video)

When you ask Hip-Hop fans to name their Top 10 MCs, there are certain names cited consistently--Nas, Tupac, Eminem, Biggie, Jay Z...but, inevitably, there will be artists mentioned that seem like wildcards, too. However, when you pay close attention, you'll find that these artists' names also recur. These are MCs... Read more

May 20, 2015 Video

Do Remember: AZ’s S.O.S.A. (Save Our Streets AZ) Album (Audio)

Like sports, what a musician does as a free agent often determines his or her future. Some artists privately seek out their next label home, and get right to work. Others use the event as a combine of sorts, publicly postulating where they would like to be, and what it... Read more

April 30, 2015 Throwback

Nas & AZ’s Illmatic Collabo Was Supposed to Be Over Juicy. Hear What Could Have Been (Audio)

Though the sample has now been used countless times, Heads will forever associate the deep bass line and knock from Mtume's "Juicy Fruit" with The Notorious B.I.G.'s "Juicy" flip on his debut album, Ready to Die. However, a lesser known fact is that the song was originally supposed to be... Read more

April 22, 2015 Throwback

AZ, DJ Premier & Joe Budden Put It Down For MoSS’s Breakthrough (Audio)

Heads may or may not be up on MoSS, yet... Working closely with DJ Premier and Year Round Records for years, the Toronto, Ontario producer has produced for certified lyrical vets such as Ghostface Killah, Sean Price, and Big Shug. Having also contributed a full project with Eternia (2010's At... Read more

April 21, 2015 Audio

Ghostface Killah, AZ & Kool G Rap Go to Battle in This Comic-Style Visual (Lyric Video)

It's hard to believe that Ghostface Killah has released two albums in less than four months. Before Sour Soul, it was all about 36 Seasons. The narrative-style G.F.K. effort was an ensemble effort, part fiction, part seemingly fact about a character returning to Staten Island's Stapleton Projects after nine years... Read more

April 6, 2015 Video

Listen to the Best Hip-Hop of March 2015 All in One Playlist (Audio)

Along with the start of Spring, the month of March brought much to celebrate in Hip-Hop. Action Bronson released Mr. Wonderful, his major label debut album. DJ EFN hit Heads off with a slew of amazing collaborations on his Another Time LP. Earl Sweatshirt fired the latest salvo from Odd... Read more

April 3, 2015 Audio

AZ Paints a Vintage Picture on a Beautiful and Timeless Track (Audio)

Earlier this week, Ambrosia For Heads premiered episode 1 of Learn From Legends, a new web series where up and coming producer Rodney Hazard sits with iconic Hip-Hop producers to perfect his craft. It seems Hazard is already applying his learnings, as he's produced a masterful and beautiful track for... Read more

March 12, 2015 Audio

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.... Read more

February 4, 2015 Throwback

Ever Heard This Nas, AZ & Foxy Brown Freestyle From 1997? It’s Firm Business (Audio)

Back in 1997 when Nas, AZ and Foxy Brown announced they were forming a super group called The Firm and their album would be released on Dr. Dre's then new label Aftermath Entertainment, Heads went crazy with anticipation for the project. Though they would only release one album, which for... Read more

January 17, 2015 Throwback

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

We have reached the second round in the ultimate battle for the title of the GOAT (Greatest of All-Time). We are asking you to help us rank who is the greatest MC to pick up a mic. We will take over 35 years of Hip-Hop into consideration, pairing special match-ups... Read more

January 13, 2015 Fresh

Cormega Releases a Dream Team Remix with AZ, Redman & Styles P (Audio)

This past Summer, Cormega released "MARS (Dream Team)" featuring AZ, Redman and Styles P. Just the lineup was enough to make Heads explode, but it actually lived up to its billing. Each MC flexed on the Large Professor beat which was one of the crown jewels on Cormega's stellar Mega... Read more

December 9, 2014 Audio

Ghostface Killah Unleashes a Full Album Stream of 36 Seasons (Audio)

Over the last few weeks, Ghostface Killah has released banger after banger after banger from his forthcoming 36 Seasons album. Few, if any, projects have been more anticipated. Now, the wait is over. Similar to DJ Premier & Royce Da 5'9" with their PRhyme EP, Ghost has released a full... Read more

December 1, 2014 Audio

Here’s a Playlist of the Best Hip-Hop of November 2014 (Audio)

November was dominated by members of Wu-Tang Clan and Shady 2.0. Eminem, the Wu, Royce Da 5'9" & DJ Premier, Ghostface Killah and Slaughterhouse all had big records (or several). Here's a playlist featuring music by them, as well as De La Soul, Chuck D, Juvenile, Big K.R.I.T., M.O.P., AZ,... Read more

November 30, 2014 Audio, Featured-homepage, Playlists

Ghostface Killah & AZ Are 3 For 3 with Killer Collabos. Here’s the Latest (Audio)

For the last couple of weeks, Ghostface Killah has been setting the Net on fire with releases from his forthcoming 36 Seasons album. Particularly, his collabos with AZ have been favorites of Heads and, with AZ making a whopping five appearances on the LP, there are aplenty. The latest track,... Read more

November 24, 2014 Audio

Ghostface Killah & AZ Challenge The Law In This Vivid Account (Audio)

Ghostface Killah and AZ came up around the exact same time. Both students of the wild '80s, these two New Yorkers carry a love of name-brand image, decadent fashions, and old school attitudes in their touted music. That being said, 'Face and Sosa sound excellent together on "Double Cross." This... Read more

November 20, 2014 Audio, Fresh

Ghostface Killah, Kool G Rap & AZ Provide A Cautionary Street Tale (Audio)

All of the 36 Seasons are heating up! For the second weekday in a row, Ghostface Killah unleashes some new content. "The Battlefield" is one of the several appearances by Kool G Rap and AZ on the Tommy Boy Records LP. Also including The Revelations' vocalist Tre Williams, this cut... Read more

November 17, 2014 Audio, Fresh

After Nas Sets Things Off, AZ Tries His Hand At Rhyming On J Dilla’s Donut (Audio)

Old friends, AZ and Nas watch each other's moves. As Nasir stole Hip-Hop's attention last week by taking one of J Dilla's 2006 Donuts beats, and coming up with "The Seasons," Tha Visualiza wanted in. AZ made his own rendition of "The Seasons," cuing up Jay Dee's "Gobstopper" instrumental. As... Read more

November 4, 2014 Audio, Fresh

Raekwon Phone Taps Into Some Faith Evans & Carl Thomas Heat (Audio)

Raekwon's TBT series rolls on, with an early '00s tilt. Chef looks to Faith Evans & Carl Thomas' "Can't Believe," which is not even his first Faith nod. The song notably swacked the basis of the beat to The Firm's "Phone Tap," made by Rae's friends and collaborators Nas, AZ,... Read more

October 23, 2014 Audio, Fresh

Finding the GOAT: Lauryn Hill vs. AZ…Who You Got?

As we continue the ultimate battle for the title of the GOAT (Greatest of All-Time), we are asking you to help us rank who is the greatest MC to pick up a mic. We will take over 35 years of Hip-Hop into consideration, pairing special match-ups in a sequence not... Read more

September 27, 2014 Featured-homepage, Fresh, Throwback

AZ, Freeway, Havoc & Kids These Days’ Macie Stewart Bolster A-Villa’s Message (Audio)

Chicago's A-Villa is a Closed Sessions producer coming up on the scene. Like anybody behind the boards, he's likely dreamed of big concepts, executed by lyrical giants. That dream is a reality on "Day In The Life." AZ Tha Visualiza, Havoc, Freeway, and Macie Stewart (Kids These Days) punctuate the... Read more

September 23, 2014 Audio, Fresh

Capone-N-Noreaga Talk Chasing Fame With Big L, Say AZ Stole Sugar Hill (Video)

Capone-N-Noreaga always give incredible interviews, together and apart. 'Pone and N.O.R.E hit Power 105's The Breakfast Club this week, to talk some history. Forever animated, the Queens duo talks fighting each other (just one time, physically, for the record), how N.O. feels Capone's prison pick-up tops Suge Knight's, and how... Read more

August 28, 2014 Fresh, Throwback

Eminem Recalls Accusations of Biting AZ & Nas In New Record About Courage (Audio)

Rarely do Hip-Hop soundtrack singles say much anymore. The years of music-attached records like Ice-T's "Colors," Naughty By Nature's "Uptown Anthem," 2Pac's "Pain" or Ice Cube's "How To Survive In South Central" seem like a vestige of the past. Eminem, who famously attached "Lose Yourself" to 8 Mile, is out... Read more

August 25, 2014 Audio, Fresh

AZ Takes Some Red Magic & Shows Off His ‘Limitless’ Style (Video)

Back in June, AZ wove in some Brothers Johnson greatness in his latest '70s derivation, "Red Magic." A master of "nostalgic cool," Tha Visualiza's sample source added to his metaphoric mind-altering substance in the song. For the video, seemingly a partial homage to Limitless, the veteran of The Firm pops... Read more

August 19, 2014 Fresh, Video

View The Evolution Of Cormega In Mega Philosophy (Album Stream)

In merely a few hours, New York's own Cormega will officially release his LP, Mega Philosophy, to the masses July 22. Take a listen to MARS (Dream Team), featuring AZ, Redman and Styles P, below. The 11 track project itself, which is streaming for free on DJBooth, is entirely produced... Read more

July 21, 2014 Audio, Fresh

Here’s a Playlist of the Best Hip-Hop to Drop in June 2014 (Audio Playlist)

June brought some of the best Hip-Hop of the year, so far. We got new music from G-Unit, Common, Marsha Ambrosius & Dr. Dre, Ab-Soul & Kendrick Lamar, Souls of Mischief, Cormega, Mac Miller & Pete Rock, Black Thought, The Lox, Buckshot, Yasiin Bey & Mannie Fresh, Black Milk, Ice... Read more

July 3, 2014 Audio, Featured-homepage, Fresh, Playlists

AZ Sounds So Illustrious On A Chopped Down Strawberry Letter 23 (Audio)

AZ is a proven master of being a current master, while channeling past eras of Hip-Hop, culture, art, and street style. This is wildly true of "Red Magic." Linking with Baby Paul, the veteran producer (and onetime member of Da Beatminerz) who's been working with A, Nas, and even Amil... Read more

June 30, 2014 Audio, Fresh

Close Out The Nas’ Illmatic Celebrations With DJ Moneyshot’s Amazing Sample-Sourced Mega Mix (Mixtape)

In one week, it'll be May, and much of the April coverage celebrating the 20th anniversary of one of Hip-Hop's hallmarks, Nas' Illmatic, will seem out of vogue, or passé, while other things are highlighted. Before the calendars change, Solid Steel's DJ Moneyshot, who has previously re-considered and extensively examined... Read more

April 26, 2014 Audio, Fresh, Mixes

AZ Goes in on OC’s Timeless “Time’s Up.” Practice Makes Perfect (Audio)

AZ links with DJ Doo Wop to do damage over OC's timeless Time's Up track. The only thing wrong with this is it definitely leaves you wanting more. Check out Practice. Related: AZ & DJ Doo Wop Make An Homage To The Late ’70s Hip-Hop Park Jams (Audio)... Read more

February 23, 2014 Audio

AZ & DJ Doo Wop Make An Homage To The Late ’70s Hip-Hop Park Jams (Audio)

Two New Yorkers who thrived in the 1995-era were AZ and DJ Doo Wop. Tha Visualiza and The Bouncemaster both provided a brand of Hip-Hop, heavy on substance and presentation. Nineteen years later, the pair links for Doo Wop to drop the needle on some breaks from the likes of... Read more

February 17, 2014 Audio, Fresh

Nas Touches On If He’s Ever Considered A Sequel To Illmatic (Video)

Moments before he was honored by J. Cole at a VIBE magazine event during Grammy weekend, Nas sat with the publication. Asked if he's ever considered a Raekwon Only Built 4 Cuban Linx...Pt. II-esque sequel to his classic debut, Illmatic, Nas answers what he answers with few words more than... Read more

January 29, 2014 Fresh, Video

AFH: Best Hip-Hop of September 2013 (Audio Playlist)

Summer brought the official start of Fall but the heat kept coming, musically. Here's a playlist of the best Hip-Hop to drop in September, including Pusha T, Kendrick Lamar, Drake, Jay Z, The Lox, Cam'ron, AZ, Rapsody, Juvenile, Freddie Gibbs, Common and Organized Konfusion. And even though it's not Hip-Hop,... Read more

October 2, 2013 Audio, Featured-homepage

AZ – Jodeci Back ft Farrah Burns

AZ Tha Visualiza gives a nod to Drake on "Jodeci Back." A glittery AZ verse about fast cars, sex, and lost friends—pretty much what you expect from this man for the last 20 years, a product of "the Jodeci era." This one's from Last Of A Dying Breed II, a... Read more

September 3, 2013 Audio, Fresh

AZ – I Excel

Not since the Disposable Arts-era Masta Ace have I seen artist with an already-heralded career get consistently better with time. No longer signed to the major EMI Records, you cannot help but acknowledge that Tha Visualiza's intricate and vivid imagery is just as good, if not better than "Rather Unique."... Read more

August 20, 2013 Audio, Fresh

AZ – Oil Money Freestyle

AZ takes the track from Rick Ross' Oil Money Gang and makes it his own. Check out AZ's verse on Oil Money below. Related: AZ – L.O.D.B. (Last of a Dying Breed) (Mixtape)... Read more

June 19, 2013 Audio

AZ – L.O.D.B. (Last of a Dying Breed) (Mixtape)

Here's a mixtape from AZ full of some recent joints he dropped, as well as some classics. You can listen to and download all of L.O.D.B. (Last of a Dying Breed) below. Related: AZ – We Movin’ (Video) Download Mixtape... Read more

June 7, 2013 Mixes

AFH: Best Hip-Hop of May 2013 (Audio Playlist)

As the year heats up, so does the music. May brought new and previously unheard tracks from Rakim, Jay-Z, Wu-Tang Clan, J. Cole, Aasim & Nas, Styles P, Jadakiss, Sheek Louch, Black Hippy, Joey Bada$$, Action Bronson, Goodie M.o.B., Prodigy, Havoc, Tito Lopez, AZ, Kanye West and more. You can... Read more

June 2, 2013 Audio, Featured-homepage, Playlists

AZ – We Movin’ (Video)

Here's the new video for AZ's We Movin', one of his strongest songs in years. Check it out below. Related: AZ - Thank You (Video)... Read more

May 29, 2013 Video

AFH: Best Hip-Hop of March 2013 Playlist (Audio)

As we ease into April, here's a look back at some of the best hip-hop to drop in March. You'll hear music from Kendrick Lamar & Jay-Z, Big K.R.I.T., Big Daddy Kane, Raekwon, AZ, Drake, Ghostface Killah, Schoolboy Q, Kanye West, Jay Electronica, Yasiin Bey, Rapsody, Yelawolf, Stalley & Scarface,... Read more

April 6, 2013 Audio, Featured-homepage, Playlists

AZ – Thank You Freestyle + Raekwon – ’86 (Remix) ft AZ

Here's a double dose of AZ. First up is his "Thank You" freestyle, where he goes in over four different beats. After that, check him out on the remix to Raekwon's "'86." You can listen to both songs below. Related: AZ Live in Poland (Video)... Read more

March 14, 2013 Audio

AZ Live in Poland (Video)

Here's a dope video of AZ performing in Poland during his Doe or Die 2 tour. Check out the full 35+ minute set below. Related: AZ – The Genesis (Audio) AZ & DJ DOO WOP - Doe or Die II Tour... by 238BEATS... Read more

February 25, 2013 Video

AZ & REKS – Bridging The Gap

For the last couple of years, we've had a section of our site called The Bridge which is dedicated to making the connection between old classics and new music. Now, legendary mixtape king Doo Wop has a new project dropping where he does the same by having rap legends and... Read more

April 14, 2012 Audio, The Bridge

AZ – My N*ggas

This AZ joint slipped through the cracks but it's a must listen if you haven't heard it yet. Check out My N*ggas, produced by Buckwild. Previously: Nas performs Life's a Bitch ft AZ at SXSW 2012 (Video)... Read more

March 28, 2012 Audio

Nas performs New York State of Mind and Life’s A Bitch ft AZ at SXSW 2012 (Video)

Nas had an EPIC performance at SXSW last night. He performed Illmatic in its entirety and had not one but 2 DJs on the 1s and 2s. Those two DJs happened to be none other than Pete Rock and DJ Premier, who battled beat for beat mid-way through the show.... Read more

March 18, 2012 Video

Aftermath Entertainment kicks off the Top 10 as the 10th most important hip-hop record label of all time.

#10 Aftermath Entertainment In 1996, Dr. Dre was wounded from his departure from Death Row Records. He had virtually given up everything (ownership of his masters, future revenues and equity interest) to extricate himself from the madness that had swallowed up Death Row, not the least of which was the... Read more

December 5, 2011 Food for Thought, Playlists, Video

Statik Selektah on AZ (Video)

Statik Selektah breaks down his thoughts on why AZ is one of the most slept on MCs. During his analysis, he reminds folks that at one time AZ, Nas, Jay-Z and Biggie were considered peers. Check it out. http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=rvFhm4_gfwU&feature=player_embedded Here's the video Statik Selektah referenced as proof of AZ's status... Read more

August 17, 2011 The Bridge, Video

Here is a mix of the most underrated MCs of all time, according to YOU. You’ll find music from Black Thought, Phonte, Lauryn Hill, J-Live, Big Daddy Kane, Pharoahe Monch, Ras Kass, Big Pun, AZ, Devin the Dude, Big L, MF Doom, Guru, Blu, Kool G. Rap, Elzhi, Jean Grae, Ghostface Killah, Mos Def, Redman, Talib Kweli, MC Lyte, Common and more.

We asked. You answered. Check it out.... Read more

July 30, 2011 Audio

AZ never got the props he deserved but dude is still doing it big. Check out the video for The Calm.

The track is courtesy of Statik Selektah. http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=qXJVX9K3dlU&feature=player_embedded... Read more

February 3, 2011 Video