AZ's Pieces of a Man should have crossed him into the Mainstream

[Notorioushnic]

Virgin Records dropped the ball with this dude's album. That Hey AZ track was perfect to cross him over. It was catchy and AZ was still spitting that fly shyt to where he wouldn't lose his core and could gain new fans. The video even had a very nice spring/summertime vibe to it but once these idiots didn't clear the sample and he had to drop the song from his album, It was doomed.

The album itself was very dope. Sosa, Whatever Happened With RZA, Love is Love and Trial of the Century were straight bangers. He should have been where Fabolous is at now

 

[Slaughterhouse]

In my honest opinion, and I gather that many would agree, AZ is generally the most under-rated and overlooked talents in hip-hop...period. I completely agree with what you gotta say about the album. I don't necessarily think that he would have been fabulous status, he's got a greater ability to pen raps, but was never able to capture that mainstream appeal that fabulous was; if that makes sense,

 

[Notorioushnic]

In my honest opinion, and I gather that many would agree, AZ is generally the most under-rated and overlooked talents in hip-hop...period. I completely agree with what you gotta say about the album.

The punk ass Source tried to hate on the album by giving it 3 mics. Its a solid 4micer to me. Not better than Doe or Die but it had enough fly material to earn its stripes.

 

[Slaughterhouse]

Oh for sure, and that joint with Nas, how ya livin', timeless. For whatever reason, AZ gets slighted in the hip hop community, a give you props for starting this thread, its much needed. To a certain extent, it cant even be argued that his cataloge among the most consistent of all time; a declaration that is difficult to argue with even Jigga or Nas. Although granted he has never had an album that garned the acclaim, attention or sales of either the above mentioned artists.

 

[Awesome Wells]

The production on that album was what made it weak compared to DOD.

He had joints on there that just felt like he was try'na sell out. Everyone was doing party joints during that time, but AZ's always felt mad forced. He was too nice of an MC, to be taking that route and it didn't work. DOD had everybody hype for that second release. He was the shyt, but he just didn't deliver. The production went from sad, somber shyt to disco. It wasn't him at all.

 

[Notorioushnic]

Nah I respectfully disagree..AZ has always made those type of joints though so I couldn't really be mad at him for it. I always thought he album flowed throughout cohesively. It didn't knock as hard as Doe or Die but it should have been good enough to push him into the Mainstream.

Aziatic was also nice as hell!

 

[the cool]

his songs will never catch on the mainstream. he just doesnt have that sound and too many multis in his music

 

[O.G.B]

his songs will never catch on the mainstream. he just doesnt have that sound and too many multis in his music

I disagree! It's so many scenarios (bad luck, timing, industry politics, record labels fukking up projects and shipping dates, fickle consumers, etc ) to why some great rappers don't have success and why some horrible ones do!


Now tell me this couldn't be a hit today!

 

[Never Broke Again]

not releasing how ya livin as a single was a mistake

 

[the cool]

I disagree! It's so many scenarios (bad luck, timing, industry politics, record labels fukking up projects and shipping dates, fickle consumers, etc ) to why some great rappers don't have success and why some horrible ones do!


Now tell me this couldn't be a hit today!


AZ Feat. Miss Jones - Sugar hill - YouTube

it would be a hit if you took out AZ verses. his verses are boring as fukk to the normal everyday top 40 audience. the hook on this track is

 

[Big Mel]

'Whats the deal' is one of my favorite AZ records of all time.


Rip Kenny Greene

 

[Frump]

Im a huge AZ fan but his another casualty of a shyt ear for beats aside from an album or two

 

[sticks]

The Intro is up there with the best too.

 

[Grand Eeezus Maxwell]

Album had some classic joints on it. RIP Half-A-Mil.

 

[Get Right]

Dope album but disappointing compared to DOD.