Rhap Session: AZ

by Chris Ryan

In 1994, AZ made a decisively nihilistic splash on the hip-hop scene with his infamous hook on Nas' "Life's a B*tch." With early classics like Doe or Die and underrated recent releases like A.W.O.L., the emcee's emcee and New York legend has created a rare thing in hip-hop: a constantly evolving, always consistent body of work. We talked with AZ about his new collaboration with the mixtape DJ, Absolut, the state of independent hip-hop and some of his classic cuts.

On his collaboration with DJ Absolut, N.4.L.
I consider this an official mixtape. It's like a mixtape in the way we released and promoted it, but the lyrics are all brand new, no old verses. It's my first go-round with something like this so I'm not sure how it's going to work. I'm trying to keep my name relevant, keep working on projects, because that's what keeps your creativity flowing. Right now, I'm looking to drop something every three months -- just because. As far as my working relationship with Absolut goes, it's like this: DJs and emcees have gone hand in hand since the beginning of hip-hop. And there was an era when they were working together hardbody. The DJ has always been instrumental in breaking new artists. Now, this particular album, it's just something Absolut and I cooked up; it's not supposed to save the mixtape game or anything. I don't think it needs saving. We're just trying to put out some good rap music.

On being independent in a changing music industry
The key is to adjust. I get to call my own shots. The most important thing I can do is I can be flexible. The music business is changing so much, with downloads and everything, and being an independent artist allows me to adapt to that kind of thing. And it helps me keep my name relevant.

On A.W.O.L's "Never Change"
"Never Change" is about friendship and loyalty. Those are two really important things to me. It's about how if we're down with each other then, that's that, I'll always have your back. When I got the Heatmakerz beat it just brought something out of me and I wrote it on the spot. That's the thing, I really like to write music too. I don't write ahead of time. I really like to feel the vibe of a track and let it go from there.

On Aziatic's "Wanna Be There"
I just spoke on my life right there. That was my autobiography. That song is about everything from living in the projects, getting fly on Easter, and even indulging the women for the first time. It's also about all the friends I've lost to incarceration.

On Doe or Die's "Rather Unique"
It was a beautiful thing being in the studio with Pete Rock at that time. He's legendary, and at that time, '96, he was maybe at the top of his game and he blessed me with a track. He certified me from jump.

On Doe or Die's "Sugar Hill"
This is the track that really solidified me; it made my name as an artist. Prior to that, the only time my voice had been on wax was on Nas' "Life's a B*tch." I had been rapping for a minute, but this really let people know who I was.