“Rise & Fall” – AZ’s The Format
AUDIO By TSSCrew on March 8, 2008 at 8:11 pmWords By K1NG
2006 was one of the more interesting 4th quarters in hip hop of the last couple years. Nas was coming out with his controversially titled album Hip Hop Is Dead, The Game was dropping his sophomore set “The Doctor’s Advocate” without Dre behind the boards, and Jay was dropping the ill-received comeback album Kingdom Come.
However one of the better albums of that year dropped silently around the same time that the major label giants were competing for first week sales.
AZ’s The Format starts off with a soulfully enriching sample flipped by M.O.P. member Lil’ Fame with precision on the song “I Am The Truth”. AZ rides the smooth beat effortlessly like he was still that young kid from Brooklyn who rhymed with Nas on “Life’s A Bitch.”
He follows the slow moving laid-back introduction track to a more hyped up Lil’ Fame production on the song “Sit ‘Em Back Slow.” The up-tempo beat is a perfect musical landscape for AZ to trade verses with his loud and obnoxious New York brethren M.O.P.
The rest of the album plays through extremely well with plenty of songs to keep your attention. He joins up with the North Carolina duo Little Brother to speak on the coming up and falling off in the street that is almost necessary with a life in the drug-game on the song “Rise & Fall.” Even DJ Premier comes through and makes an appearance on the hypnotizing title-track with his precision cuts and scratches on the chorus.
Fortunately, AZ can still stay interesting by himself with songs like “This Is What I Do,” where he explains his own rise in the hip hop game, “Get High,” where he professes his love for the green leafy plant that is ever so present in the American culture, or “Game of Life,” where he speaks on his view of how a person should live their life while they still have air in their lungs.
The only song that doesn’t seem to fit on the album, or any AZ album for that matter, is the pop-inspired duet with Dipset’s first lady Jha Jha. He makes up for that annoying and unnecessary collaboration with two songs that showcase the low toned rapper Fresh, who is signed to his new Quiet Money record label. The rookie MC seems to have no problem keeping up with the masterful MC he’s signed to on the songs “Make Me,” and “Vendetta.”
The album overall is a very cohesive project that most rappers could only dream of putting together in this age of the single-driven music industry. It was definitely worth the $10 I spent on it in 2006, and is still worth listening to today.
AZ – Doe or Die (1995)
The Firm – The Album (1997)
AZ – Pieces of a Man (1998)
AZ – S.O.S.A. (Save Our Streets AZ) (2000)
AZ – 9 Lives (2001)
AZ – Aziatic (2002)
AZ – Decade 1994-2004 Disc 1 (2004)
AZ – Decade 1994-2004 Disc 2 (2004)
AZ – Final Call (Unreleased)
AZ – A.W.O.L. (2005)
AZ – The Format (2006)
AZ – The Format DVD (2006)
AZ – The Memphis Sessions (2007)
AZ – Features and Misc.
Posted in AUDIO, GENERAL, MUSIC, STRAY SHOTS
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38 Comments
3 peat uno uno uno…
HOW DO I GET THE MOVING GRAVATAR’S?!!!!
Hmm….a review of The Format? Kinda random.
It seemed to fit the Shots lol.
Plus, anytime there’s a chance to sing AZ’s praises, why not?
Az ft Aspektz – A to Z in 60 Seconds
http://www.aspektz.com
I thought AZ was still waiting on Nas lol.
Seriously, I haven’t picked up an AZ joint since 9 Lives.
Pieces Of A Man was My ish though. Shows you how effed up Virgin is as a label. Coming off The Firm project, “Pieces…” shoulda went Gold easy.
got that format DVD … nice … good lookin out
” I have some problems … and no one can seem to solve ‘em”
Yeah Brent I feel you….I got problems and no one wants to help me out!!!!!! DAMN…..say it aint so.
Seriously Amp? I know I rocked AWOL , Final Call & one or two of the others. He’s always guaranteed to have a few tracks worthy of mentioning so i make it a habit not to sleep when he does drop something.
@ Turk
for the last time GOOGLE
9 Lives turned Me off but I’m gonna give the others a shot. AZ can spit like few can but He’s always struggled to make songs that aren’t monotnous.
nice review, I agree with a lot of it. loved this album, especially “this is what i do”. That line when hes like “a year later we straight, no more strugglin…*heavy breathing*…but that was only the start….” damn…I love AZ’s flow over some laid back beats. One of the most underrated in the game and deff in my top 10…
dude but what do i google….like i said last time all i get are people’s still pic’s. Just point me in the right direction and ill leave everyone alone.
@Turk:
http://www.google.com/search?q=animated+gif
peace.
THANK YOU DIZ!!!!
All-Star ‘08 mixtape by Mick Boogie and Terry Urban
1. Fly Union-NBA All Star Glamour Life Intro
2. Shawty Lo Feat. Young Jeezy & Busta Rhymes-They Know Remix
3. Shawty Lo-They Know-DJ Wonder Remix
4. Enur Feat Ghostface & Natasja-Calbria-Mick Boogie Remix
5. Enur-Calbria-Sinusitis Remix
6. Rihanna & Michael Jackson-Dont Stop The Music-Terry Urban Remix
7. Janet Jackson Feat. Ciara-Feedback Remix
8. Ryan Leslie Feat. Kanye West-Diamond Girl-Mick Boogie Remix
9. Cassidy-Drink & My 2 Step-Cousin Cole Remix
10. Swizz Beatz-School Of Hard Knocks
11. Jay Z- Roc Boys Remix
12. Styles P Feat. Jadakiss & Sheek Louch-Blow Ya Mind Remix
13. Rick Ross Feat. Lil Wayne & T Pain-The Boss-Mick Boogie Remix
14. Missy Feat. Jay Z-Ching A Ling-Mick Boogie Remix
15. Mary J Blige Feat. Lil Wayne-Just Fine Remix
16. Daft Punk Feat. Kurtis Blow-Mr. Foot Long-Terry Urban Remix
17. Derek Gaskins Glamour Life Drop
18. Snoop Dogg Feat. John Legend-Neva Hafta Worry
19. C.R.S.-Us Placers
20. Kev Blaze Feat. Krayzie Bone-Watch How I Do This-Bonus Track
21. DJ G Spot Feat. Phoenix Jones- U Still Know-Bonus Track
http://www.sendspace.com/file/ip9vvy
My favorite songs of off The Format
I Am The Truth
The Format
Rise and Fall
Game of Life
FUCKING WOW
DJ Doc Rok presents: Biggie Hendrix Experience
http://www.sendspace.com/pro/dl/bttikg
http://www.myspace.com/djdocrok
1st the Jay-Led Zeppelin joint, an now this….
this cat is makin some great music.
pieces of man was my fav AZ album, followed closely by Doe or Die
DJ Food Stamp – Winter 08 Sampler
Tracklist:
01. J.Dilla, MF Doom & Guilty Simpson – Mash’s Revenge
02. Ski Beatz Feat. Camp Lo – Ticket For 2
03. J-Live – Feel Like Spittin
04. Wu-Tang Clan – Take It Back
05. Y Society – Never Off (On & On)
06. Talib Kweli – Hot Thing
07. Yak Ballz – YBTV
08. NYGZ – Ya Dayz R Numbered
09. Guilty Simpson – Getting Bitches
10. EMC – E.M.C. (What It Stands For?)
11. Braile – The IV
12. Doujah Raze – Where You At
13. Pete Rock Feat. Jim Jones & Max B – We Roll
14. MF Grimm – Earth
15. Marco Polo Feat. Large Professor – The Radar Remix
16. Cormega Feat. Dwele – Sleep Well
17. Ghostface Killah – We Celebrate
18. Murs – Better Than The Rest
19. 9th Wonder Feat. Royce Da 5′9, Naledge & Vandalyzm – The Last
20. Erykah Badu – Honey (Prod. By 9th Wonder)
http://www.megaupload.com/?d=4RLTOPI8
Password: http://www.rapgodfathers.com
http://rapidshare.com/files/96836391/Ne-Yo_-_Tired_of_Ghost_Writing.rar
Ne-Yo: Tired of Ghost Writing
Password:www.albumhunt.com
smells gudda than a mudaf….. ah in heya. keep blazing that fire
Isaac hayes – Instrumentals
Tracks: VBR
1. Isaac Hayes – Hung Up on My Baby (6:18)
2. Isaac Hayes – Ike’s Mood Pt. 1 (6:33)
3. Isaac Hayes – No Name Bar (6:09)
4. Isaac Hayes – Let’s Stay Together (3:45)
5. Isaac Hayes – Caf? Regio’s (5:57)
6. Isaac Hayes – Blue’s Crib (5:13)
7. Isaac Hayes – Now We’re One (2:25)
8. Isaac Hayes – Dorinda’s Party (4:35)
9. Isaac Hayes – Type Thang (3:58)
10. Isaac Hayes – Pursuit of The Pimpmobile (9:04)
11. Isaac Hayes – Driving in The Sun (6:03)
12. Isaac Hayes – Ellie’s Love Theme (3:15)
13. Isaac Hayes – The First Time Ever I Saw Your Face [Mono Version] (4:58)
http://rapidshare.com/files/94959801/isaac_hayes_-_instrumentals.rar
I have bumped “Rather Unique” until my speakers said ‘no mas.’ AZ probably the most underrated ever.
Good review. AZ’s one of my fav artists; none of his albums should be slept on; they’re all listenable to today with very few missteps trackwise; very consistant. He’s always in my top 10 and he’s always overlooked. Everybody always wanna bring up “life’s a bitch”, but I’m saying that was 15yrs ago and he’s had a career that wasn’t based upon that verse.
Anyway for those that know or are interested “I see ur “can I get opin” inst and raise u. You know u wanted the rmx”:
00-black_moon-enta_da_stage_instrumentals-promo-1993-ftd.jpg
00-black_moon-enta_da_stage_instrumentals-promo-1993-ftd.m3u
00-black_moon-enta_da_stage_instrumentals-promo-1993-ftd.sfv
01-black_moon-powaful_impak-ftd.mp3
02-black_moon-niguz_talk_shit-ftd.mp3
03-black_moon-who_got_the_props_evil_dee_mix-ftd.mp3
04-black_moon-act_like_u_want_it-ftd.mp3
05-black_moon-buck_em_down-ftd.mp3
06-black_moon-black_smif_n_wessun-ftd.mp3
07-black_moon-son_get_wrec-ftd.mp3
08-black_moon-make_munne-ftd.mp3
09-black_moon-i_got_cha_opin_remix-ftd.mp3
10-black_moon-shit_iz_real-ftd.mp3
11-black_moon-enta_da_stage-ftd.mp3
12-black_moon-how_many_mcs-ftd.mp3
13-black_moon-u_da_man-ftd.mp3
14-black_moon-funk_it_up-ftd.mp3
15-black_moon-murder_mcs-ftd.mp3
16-black_moon-reality_killing_every-ftd.mp3
17-black_moon-who_got_the_props_mw_smooth_mix-ftd.mp3
http://rapidshare.com/files/98126236/black_moon-enta_da_stage_instrumentals-promo-1993-ftd.rar.html
lmao, who set me up with Mr T. Thats the mf diggin me up on amazon & imeem huh?
Thanx ya’ll
Az “The Format” Aka The Best Album of 2006 !
All the tracks are very guud, with a different vibe. Amazin’ Flows ! Great Performances, Lyrics And
So Also Some Classic Shit ! Fuckin’ BK MC !!!
‘i am the truth’, ‘the format’, ‘game of life’, etc
jay, biggie, az –> dead presidents video clip
it’s not a coincidence!!! thus hiphop lives ..!
Ama to the Zin’ !! Peace Yall !!! CLASSICAL
“you know the chronicles, …hah.. now the physical form verbalized thru the scriptures i was Biblically born …
Common – Freestyle (Trinity New Year’s 2008)
http://www.zshare.net/audio/864283256bd468/
Remix ‘The Light ‘08 (It’s Love) [Prod. by Just Blaze]
http://www.zshare.net/audio/86428970cb72a1/
Skillz – So Far, So Good (feat. Common)
http://www.zshare.net/audio/86428634095606/
Akrobatik – Kindred (ft. Chuck D. & Brenna Gethers)
http://www.zshare.net/audio/8643016adef297/
KRS-One – Today’s Topics (ft. Chuck D)
http://www.zshare.net/audio/86439161f10d1e/
good post :)
Looking forward to AZ new album all the leaked tracks are fire, definately gonna get it when it drops, My favourite track on The Format was Get High.
Check One Of The Greatest Feelin’ Ever Created. When HipHop Sounds Like Life !!! Amazin’ …
http://rapidshare.com/files/63761131/Baloji_-_Hotel_Impala_2007_VBR_www.FRap.ru.part1.rar
http://rapidshare.com/files/63756245/Baloji_-_Hotel_Impala_2007_VBR_www.FRap.ru.part2.rar
@Peace Yall, Roots/AfroBeat/Soul/Blaxploitation
Influences, 56 musiciens, … Just HipHop Homies !
One Of The Greatest Album Ever Listened, Holla !
Wristpect’s new mixtape featuring Az and the Quiet money team
GET FAMILIAR
http://WWW.DJWRISTPECT.COM
LMFAO @ ^^^^^^^^
now you understand why a spam filter is in place lol. and now you see that shit STILL gets thru.
damn what i miss
Nothing. some weird STDs forum lol.
YES! The Format was underrated like a mug!