AZ Prepares Return With New Album, The Format

Veteran rapper AZ doesn’t seem to be fazed by his lack of commercial success, as the Brooklyn MC continues to pound out albums. The next addition to his growing discography will be The Format, due Nov. 7 via his own label, Quiet Money Entertainment/Fastlife Music. The 12-track offering features appearances from Little Brother (“Rise and […]

Veteran rapper AZ doesn’t seem to be fazed by his lack of commercial success, as the Brooklyn MC continues to pound out albums.

The next addition to his growing discography will be The Format, due Nov. 7 via his own label, Quiet Money Entertainment/Fastlife Music.

The 12-track offering features appearances from Little Brother (“Rise and Fall”) and M.O.P. (“Sit ‘Em Back Slow”) and production by M.O.P.’s Lil’ Fame, J. Cardim, Phonte of Little Brother, Emile, and DJ Premier, who crafted the title track.

Also included as a bonus track is the previously unreleased single “Royal Salute,” a response to 50 Cent’s song “What If,” in which he labeled AZ’s recordings as “bulls**t joints.”

In addition to the CD, fans will also receive a bonus DVD that contains more than 60 minutes of behind-the-scenes footage, as well as live performances and 10 classic music videos.

The Format will be the latest chapter in AZ’s 12-year career, which began with his verse on “Life’s a B***h,” from Nas’ seminal 1994 release Illmatic.

Considered one of the most respected–if not sellable–MCs in Hip-Hop, AZ has remained active, recording and releasing Do or Die (1995), The Firm: The Album (1997), Pieces of a Man (1998), S.O.S.A. (2000) 9 Lives (2001), Aziatic (2002) and his most recent effort, A.W.O.L. (2005).

The following is the track list for The Format:

“I Am The Truth” (Produced by Lil Fame)

“Sit ‘Em Back Slow” f/M.O.P. (Produced by Face Defeat and LilFame)

“Get High” (Produced by Emile)

“Make Me!” (Produced by Emile)

“Rise & Fall” f/Little Brother (Produced by J.Cardim and Phonte)

“Animal” (Produced by Statik Selektah)

“Doing That” (Produced by Lil Fame)

“This What I Do” (Produced by J.Cardim)

“The Format” (Produced by DJ Premier)

“Vendetta” (Produced by J.Cardim)

“Game Of Life” (Produced by Emile)

“Royal Salute” (Produced by Emile)–Bonus Track