AZ - I Am Legend (God Oil Diamonds) (Album Review)

The release of Legendary (reviewed here) a few moths back really let me down. I felt like I was alone in this feeling because most fans were praising the album as hip hop gold (five star iTunes rating). They must have just been blinded by the greatness of AZ’s previous releases. However, AZ himself must have agreed with me because he is back with new album. This new release completely blindsided me because of my recently lowered expectations. Only a month after the release of Legendary, AZ has come out with a new and far superior album. I am not too sure about the details of this release, (it may not even be official). This new album was everything that I hoped Legendary would be. The beats (mostly from Batkave) on this coincide perfectly with AZ’s laidback and cool style. His lyrics on this were carefully crafted. His skill as a rap wordsmith showed nicely. The only out of place song was The Reverend. AZ spits great on this, but the song is much more serious and dark than I am used to with him. The exceptional tracks on here are Hustle In My Blood, Run From Me, Get Low, Bonafied, AZ’s Behind This, and Do Me This Way. The rest of the album was filled with very good, but not great songs. Because this was released so soon after legendary, I am willing to erase that album from his nearly untarnished resume, 4.25/5.

01. Hustle In My Blood (Produced By The Batkave) 4:03
02. What It Sounds Like (Feat. Charlie Rock) (Produced By Dave Moss) 2:55
03. Game Ain't Changed (Produced By Dave Moss) 3:04
04. Run From Me (Feat. Smigg Dirtee & Obnoxious) (Produced By The 3:26
Batkave)
05. Live Your Life (Produced By Dave Moss) 3:25
06. Get Low (Feat. Smigg Dirtee) (Produced By The Batkave) 4:07
07. Bonafied (Feat. Obnoxious) (Produced By Dave Moss) 2:55
08. The Reverand (Feat. I-Rocc) (Produced By The Batkave) 3:57
09. AZ's Behind This (Feat. Smigg Dirtee) (Produced By The Batkave) 3:39
10. Havin My Baby (Produced By The Batkave) 3:41
11. Do Me This Way (Produced By Dave Moss) 2:47
12. Outro 1:28

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Raekwon - Staten We Go Hard Vol. 1 and Blood On Chef's Apron (Mixtape Review)

Raekwon released one of Wu-Tang’s most famous and critically acclaimed solo albums of all time back in the 90’s: Only Built 4 Cuban Linx. I don’t think anyone familiar with hip-hop history can dispute that. Over the past few years the buzz has been building for the sequel. It is now set to be released August 11, 2009 (but you never know what might happen to the release date). Either way, if the two “appetizer” mixtapes of Staten We Go Hard Vol. 1 and Blood on Chef’s Apron--released earlier this spring--are any indication of the album quality, it is going to be another classic. Both of these tapes are excellent the entire way through. All of the collabo’s perfectly compliment Rae's style. Rae comes with top-notch lyrics, flow, and production. If you are a Raekwon/Wu fan you will satisfied with these releases to hold you over until Only Built 4 Cuban Linx 2. The standout tracks are the entire track lists of both albums. I give them both 4.5/5.

Staten We Go Hard Vol. 1

1. Intro

2. Raekwon - Blood On Chef's Apron Freestyle

3. Raekwon - Cake Baking

4. Raekwon - Interlude, part 1

5. Raekwon - Dedication Freestyle [prod. by B.T.]

6. Raekwon ft. Noreaga & Joell Ortiz - Beauty

7. Raekwon - The General

8. Raekwon - Interlude, part 2

9. Raekwon - Cocaine Blunts [prod. by B.T.]

10. Raekwon ft. AZ - Whips & Kicks

11. Raekwon, Busta Rhymes & Uncle Murda - Stick Up Music

12. Raekwon - Interlude, part 3

13. Raekwon - Fortune & Fame

14. Raekwon ft. Twista - A Bigger Gun

15. Raekwon - Bird Chirp

16. Raekwon & Jadakiss - Gutterman Music

17. Raekwon - Interlude, part 4

18. Raekwon - What Do I Do? [prod. by B.T.]

19. Raekwon - Letter To B.I.G.

20. Raekwon - Trenchmen [prod. by B.T.]

21. Raekwon - Interlude, part 5

22. Raekwon - On The Fly Note

23. Raekwon - Interlude, part 6

24. Raekwon ft. The Game - Flashback Memories [prod. by B.T.]

25. Raekwon ft. B-Real - R.I.P. [prod. by B.T.]

Blood On Chef's Apron
01. Intro

02. Staten (We Go Hard) - Performed by Raekwon

03. Trenchmen - Performed by Raekwon

04. Pop Champagne Freestyle - Performed by Raekwon

05. Criminology '09 - Performed by Raekwon

06. Yessir - Performed by Raekwon, Crooked I, Ghostface Killah

07. Wu Ooh - Performed by Raekwon, Method Man

08. Stick Up Muzik - Performed by Raekwon

09. Blood Missiles - Performed by Raekwon, AZ

10. History - Performed by Raekwon

11. Very Well Skit

12. White Lines - Performed by Raekwon

13. State Shoutout - Performed by Raekwon

14. Superfly Skit - Performed by Raekwon

15. Real Talk (Exclusive) - Performed by Raekwon

16. Once In A Lifetime - Performed by Raekwon, Mika

17. Resolution (Exclusive) - Performed by Raekwon

18. Watch How U To Talk 2 Me - Performed by Raekwon

19. Spook That Sat By The Door (Exclusive) - Performed by Raekwon

20. Rae's Letter To B.I.G - Performed by Raekwon

21. Where's The Money Skit

22. Flawless (Exclusive) - Performed by Raekwon

23. The Setup (Exclusive) - Performed by Raekwon

24. Attention Skit

25. Heat Rocks - Performed by Raekwon

26. Rotate Freestyle - Performed by Raekwon

27. Renaissance Rap - Performed by Raekwon

28. Get It In Freestyle - Performed by Raekwon

29. Guerilla Rap (Exclusive) - Performed by Raekwon

30. Realer - Performed by Raekwon, Maino

31. Give It To Me (rmx) - Performed by Raekwon, Busta Rhymes

32. Words From The Chef (Outro)

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AZ - Legendary (Album Review)

AZ has been a consistently underrated artist in hip-hop. Most people who know of him really enjoy his music, but he never seems to be able to get mainstream success which many think he is due. His new release Legendary is not one of his best. I would say it is probably his worst. The production is average. I also think his flow took a turn for the worse on many of the tracks. There are a few good tracks on here like Dreams Come True, Good For Nothin, What Up, and Before It’s All Said and Done. Most of the others are skipable. I give it a generous 3/5. If you are feeling this you should check out any of his other releases. They are much more representative of his style.

1. Da Truth

2. Before It’s All Said & Done

3. Livin’ the Life

4. Boy Meets Girl (Ft. Sheek Louch)

5. Bottom Line

6. Refuse 2 Die

7. Dreams Come True

8. Good for Nothing

9. Supply & Demand

10. Money Makes the World Go Round

11. What Up (Ft. Hell Rell)

12. Poll With the Villains

13. Get Money

14. I Told You

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