AZ

AZ Declares GOAT Status In New Single & Visual

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As Hip-Hop continues to be celebrated with its 50 year anniversary this year, it’s important to pay homage to the real spitters of the rap game. Insert AZ, who’s here to declare his place once and for all.

A true legend in Hip-Hop, real nameAnthony Cruz is best known for being a member of the group The Firm, alongside Nas and Foxy Brown. His multi-syllabic rhyming pattern and storytelling in his lyrics are what separates him from the rest, and he continues to unleash hard-hitting bangers for his dedicated fanbase.

Now, AZ returns to release his newest single and visual called “GOAT,” the lead single off his fortchoming project titled Truth Be Told. “GOAT” not only showcases his rapping ability and talents, but also gives you a preview on how the rest of his masterpiece will be laid out.

AZ states, “The ‘GOAT’ best described my state of mind., Elite lyricism thru the years that aged like fine wine, matching my lifestyle & growth from the birth city of Hip Hop where Respect is earned not giving- AZ.”

In defining GOAT, he states that “greatness is the quality of being great, distinguished, or eminent.
Greatest Of All Times. GOD Over All Things. GOD Over All of Them.”

The post AZ Declares GOAT Status In New Single & Visual first appeared on The Source.

The post AZ Declares GOAT Status In New Single & Visual appeared first on The Source.

Happy Birthday To The Firm’s AZ!

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On this date in 1972, Anthony “AZ” Cruz was born in Brooklyn, New York. Cruz, who became known as AZ as a shortened way to say Asiatic, his righteous attribute from the 5% Nation.

AZ was first heard on Nas’ iconic Illmatic LP on the L.E.S. produced “Life’s A Bitch”. AZ’s verse was so transformative, it landed him a deal with EMI Records in 1994. His first LP, Doe Or Die, earned the street savvy East New Yorker a gold plaque, lead by the infectious single “Sugar Hill” featuring Miss Jones. AZ was also a major part of the legendary collective The Firm, which included Nas, Nature, Foxy Brown and was produced exclusively by Dr. Dre.

Just a couple of years following the commemoration of Doe Or Die 2, which was issued on the 25th anniversary of the original Doe Or Die, AZ says that there is still a possibility of a joint album with him and Nas.

Until then, happy 51st degree day to the God!

The post Happy Birthday To The Firm’s AZ! appeared first on The Source.

Kool G Rap Enlists AZ, Big Daddy Kane, & Sean Price In New Album, ‘Last Of A Dying Breed’

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Kool G Rap Enlists AZ, Big Daddy Kane, & Sean Price In New Album, 'Last Of A Dying Breed'

Hip Hop’s golden era constituent, Queens’ native, the godfather of Mafioso rap, legendary and influential emcee Kool G Rap, broke out in the late 80s and early 90s as one-half of the duo with DJ Polo. Together, Kool G Rap and DJ Polo released three undisputed classic albums, beginning with their debut album, Road To The Riches (1989), Wanted: Dead or Alive (1990) and Live and Let Die (1992).

MORE: Today In Hip Hop History: Kool G Rap And DJ Polo Dropped Their Third And Final Album ‘Live And Let Die’ 29 Years Ago

Simultaneously, G Rap and DJ Polo gained notoriety as members of the Juice Crew, whose noteworthy membership includes DJ Marley Marl, Big Daddy Kane, Masta Ace, and Roxanne Shante At the height of hip-hop’s golden age, The Juice Crew was the definition of innovative and not only influenced the culture as a whole (style, lyricism, creativity), but also impressed the importance of style, substance, and technique upon the next wave of street ambassadors.  

After a successful run with DJ Polo and the Juice Crew, G Rap embarked on a solo career, with his solo debut, 4, 5, 6, (1995), which was preceded by Roots of Evil (1998) and The Giancana Story (2002).  Since then, we’ve only been intermittingly blessed by bodies of work from the Kool Genius Of Rap; Half a Klip (2008), Riches, Royalty, Respect (2011), Return Of The Don (2017) and Son Of G Rap with 38 Spesh (2018).

MORE: Frank Cook Recruits Kool G Rap, Cory Gunz & Norm Bates for “On The Sidewalk” remix, a New York assisted video single

Now, the recent National Hip-Hop Museum inductee returns with his first solo album in five years with Last Of A Dying Breed, which features collaborations with AZ, Sean Price, NEMS, Vado, 38 Spesh, Royal Flush, and Big Daddy Kane, with production supplied by Domingo.

Stream Kool G Rap’s new album below.

The post Kool G Rap Enlists AZ, Big Daddy Kane, & Sean Price In New Album, ‘Last Of A Dying Breed’ appeared first on The Source.

Logic’s ‘Vinyl Days’ Tracklist Is A Hefty 30 Songs Long

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It looks like Logic is going to have plenty of new material to perform on his upcoming Vinyl Verse Tour with Wiz Khalifa. In addition to the previously released singles “Therapy Music,” “Orville,” and “Bleed It,” his upcoming album Vinyl Days will host a whopping 30 tracks, closing out his time at Def Jam with one hell of a bang. Seriously, we know albums have been trending longer for the sake of streaming algorithms, but this is either ridiculous or impressive — depending on your opinion of the Maryland rapper.

Among the guests featured on the album are rap legends, contemporary stars, and underground stalwarts, making it one of the most well-rounded representations of the music business today. Action Bronson, AZ, Blu & Exile, Curren$y, DJ Premier, The Game, Langston Bristol, Nezi Momodu, Royce Da 5’9, Russ, RZA, and Wiz Khalifa all make appearances, along with Bobby Boy Records signees iamJMARS, Big Lenbo, and C Dot Castro.

Vinyl Days will be Logic’s seventh album and his first since announcing his “retirement” in 2020 — a retirement he rescinded months just months later with a string of collab tracks alongside Madlib, the single “Vaccine,” and possibly a mixtape as Doctor Destruction, who fans believe was just a barely disguised Logic all along.

Vinyl Days drops 6/17 via Def Jam. Pre-save it here and see the full tracklist below.

1. “Danger”
2. “Tetris”
3. “In My Lifetime” feat. Action Bronson
4. “Decades”
5. “JJ Abrahams (Skit)”
6. “BLACKWHITEBOY”
7. “Quasi”
8. “Bleed It”
9. “LaDonda”
10. “Aaron Judge”
11. “Clouds” feat. Langston Bristol & Curren$y
12. “Michael Rap (Skit)”
13. “Therapy Music” feat. Russ
14. “Tony Revolori (Skit)”
15. “Rogue One”
16. “Breath Control” feat. Wiz Khalifa
17. “NEMS (Skit)”
18. “Nardwuar” feat. Doc D
19. “KickStyle” feat. iamJMARS, Big Lenbo & C Dot Castro
20. “EarlyBird (Skit)”
21. “Ten Years’” feat. Royce 5’9”
22. “Porta One” feat. RZA
23. “NeedleDrop (Skit)”
24. “Introducing Nezi” feat. Nezi Momodu
25. “Orville” feat. Like, Blu & Exile
26. “Carnival” feat. AZ
27. “Lena’s Insight (Skit)”
28. “Vinyl Days” feat. DJ Premier
29. “I Guess I Love It” feat. The Game
30. “Sayonara”

Hip-Hop Slang Dictionary for All the References You Need

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