Description
After beginning his career by debuting on Nas’ track “Life’s A Bitch”, AZ released classic albums such as 1995’s “Doe or Die”, 1998’s “Pieces Of A Man”, 2001’s “9 Lives” and 2002‘s “Aziatic”. AZ was also a member of rap super group The Firm with Nas, Foxy Brown and Nature and has recorded with some of Hip-Hop’s greatest producers such as Dr. Dre, DJ Premier, Trackmasters, Buckwild and Pete Rock. Following the success of his 2005 release “A.W.O.L.”, AZ struck again a mere year later with a new studio release, “The Format”, released AZ’s own label, Quiet Money.
After a decade in the game, “A.W.O.L.” brought AZ back to the forefront and among his rightful place as one of Hip Hop’s most elite visceral lyricists; and “The Format” only solidified his already legendary status.
AZ’s vision and lyrical power-to-paint pictures have long been celebrated by critics and fans alike. This album is a rock-solid collection of 12 tracks, led by the DJ Premier produced title track, as Primo and AZ rekindled the seamless chemistry they previously demonstrated on 2005’s “The Come Up.” Also, after producing AZ’s 2005 street-anthem “New York”, Emile rejoined the fold to produce four tracks. M.O.P.’s Lil Fame produced three tracks and also appears alongside his M.O.P. brethren Billy Danze and AZ on “Sit ‘Em Back Slow,” and Little Brother joined AZ on “Rise And Fall”, which was co-produced by Little Brother’s Phonte Coleman. The album also features beats by J. Cardim and Statik Selektah.
“The Format” is now making its way back to vinyl for this special edition, via Quiet Money in collaboration with Get On Down.
The project is now released as a 2xLP, with each LP in the set in its own unique colorway- LP 1 is Half Military Green & Half Cloudy Clear, and LP 2 is Half Light Amber & Half Cloudy Clear
This color pressing is limited to 500 copies worldwide, with Get On Down having 300 and our friends Tuff Kong in Italy having 200.
TRACKLIST:
A1. I Am The Truth (prod. by Lil Fame)
A2. Sit 'Em Back Slow feat. M.O.P. (prod. by Face Defeat & Lil Fame)
A3. Get High (prod. by Emile)
B1. Make Me feat. Fresh (prod. by Emile)
B2. Rise & Fall feat. Little Brother (prod. by J. Cardim & Phonte Coleman)
B3. Animal (prod. by Statik Selektah)
C1. Doing That! feat. Jha Jha (prod. Lil Fame)
C2. This What I Do (prod. by J. Cardim)
C3. The Format (prod. by DJ Premier)
D1. Vendetta feat. Fresh & Ralo (prod. by J. Cardim)
D2. Game Of Life (prod. by Emile)
D3. Royal Salute (prod. by Emile)
