AZ

Since his debut on Nas' 1994 classic Illmatic, Brooklyn's AZ has released several solo albums flaunting his sophisticated street prose. On his fifth record, he delivers some of his best work to date. Highlights include "The Essence," (with Nas), "Wanna Be There" and "Fanmail."

With sixteen scant bars on Nas' first album, 1994's Illmatic, AZ became one of the premier
lyricists of his era. His style, a combination of righteousness and reality, insight and
aspiration, made a deep impression on the hip-hop world. But he lacked follow-through.
His next two albums did not live up to the quality and potential of those verses, and by the
end of the decade, AZ was nearly forgotten. Redemption is sweet: Aziatic is his... More >

The Nas sidekick's name rhymes with ***-*, and he makes the most of it ("Once Again," "A-1 Performance") (Grade - ***)