A.W.O.L. (album)

A.W.O.L.
Studio album by
AZ
ReleasedSeptember 6, 2005 (2005-09-06)
Recorded2005
GenreEast Coast hip hop
Length54:32
LabelFastlife
Producer
AZ chronology
Aziatic
(2002) 		A.W.O.L.
(2005) 		The Format
(2006)
Professional ratings
Review scores
SourceRating
AllMusic[1]
Cokemachineglow70/100%[2]
HipHopDX3/5[3]
IGN8/10[4]
Now[5]
PopMatters8/10[6]
RapReviews9/10[7]
StylusB[8]

A.W.O.L. is the fifth studio album by American rapper AZ. It was released on September 6, 2005 via Fast Life Music. Production was handled by The Heatmakerz, Baby Paul, Disco D, DJ Premier, Emile Haynie, Frado, J-Hen, Jimi Kendrix, Lil' Fame, MoSS, Vinny Idol, Buckwild, DJ Absolut, Tone Mason and Young Calvin. It features guest appearances from Begetz, Bounty Killer, Ghostface Killah, Half a Mill, Noe, Raekwon and CL Smooth.

In the United States, the album peaked at number 73 on the Billboard 200, number 17 on the Top R&B/Hip-Hop Albums, number 10 on the Top Rap Albums and number 5 on the Independent Albums charts.

The album was supported with four 12" promotional singles: "Serious" b/w "Live Wire", "AZ's Chillin" b/w "Never Change", "The Come Up" b/w "Magic Hour" and "Still Alive" b/w "New York".

Background

The album was recorded after Final Call, which AZ declined to release because his label had pushed its release back two months—according to him, they were also the source of its early leak to the press and the internet. Garnering critical praise with production from highly regarded New York underground acts such as DJ Premier, Buckwild, and DipSet production duo the Heatmakerz, the rapper abandoned his previously money-oriented subject matter, stating that he "wanted it to be all street".[9] A.W.O.L. is the first album AZ released on his own Quiet Money Records imprint. A.W.O.L. 1.5 was released several months later, which included a bonus disc featuring a cappella and instrumental versions to the songs on A.W.O.L..

Track listing

No.TitleWriter(s)Producer(s)Length
1."So Sincere"
The Heatmakerz1:57
2."Never Change"
  • Cruz
  • Green
  • Thomas
The Heatmakerz4:26
3."New York" (featuring Raekwon and Ghostface Killah)
Emile3:45
4."Can't Stop"
  • Cruz
  • Alfredo Rivera
Frado4:15
5."Still Alive" (featuring Noe)
  • Cruz
  • Duane Bridgeford
  • Randy Ousley Jr
Vinny Idol4:04
6."AZ's Chillin'"
Fizzy Womack3:55
7."City of Gods"
  • Cruz
  • Darrin Dean
Disco D4:14
8."Street Life" (featuring Half a Mill and Begetz)
J-Hen4:33
9."Bedtime Story"
2:12
10."The Come Up"
DJ Premier3:46
11."Envious" (featuring Bounty Killer)
MoSS2:57
12."A.W.O.L."
  • Cruz
  • Hendricks
  • Michael Risko
Vinny Idol3:39
13."Live Wire"
Buckwild3:21
14."Magic Hour" (featuring CL Smooth)
Tone Mason3:09
15."The Truth"
  • Cruz
  • Shaune Muir
  • K. Compas
  • DJ Absolut
  • Young Calvin
4:29
Total length:54:32
Notes
  • Tracks 13, 14 and 15 are one continuous bonus track 13. All the 3 tracks are available separately on Final Call (The Lost Tapes) album.

Charts

Chart (2005) Peak
position
US Billboard 200[10] 73
US Top R&B/Hip-Hop Albums (Billboard)[11] 17
US Top Rap Albums (Billboard)[12] 10
US Independent Albums (Billboard)[13] 5

References

  1. ^ Mason, Stewart. "A.W.O.L. - AZ | Album | AllMusic". AllMusic. Retrieved August 7, 2024.
  2. ^ Betz, Chet (September 7, 2005). "AZ: A.W.O.L. (Quiet Money; 2005) | Record Reviews @ Cokemachineglow.com". Cokemachineglow. Retrieved May 13, 2012 – via Wayback Machine.
  3. ^ Tardio, Andres (January 31, 2006). "AZ - AWOL". HipHopDX. Archived from the original on July 27, 2010. Retrieved August 7, 2024.
  4. ^ Durig, Jim (December 13, 2005). "AZ - A.W.O.L." IGN. Archived from the original on December 16, 2010. Retrieved August 7, 2024.
  5. ^ Richards, Jason (November 17, 2005). "Discs: AZ A.W.O.L. (Quiet Money/Fast Life)". NOW Toronto. Retrieved June 26, 2006 – via Wayback Machine.
  6. ^ Henderson, Lee (November 17, 2005). "AZ: A.W.O.L., PopMatters". PopMatters. Retrieved August 7, 2024.
  7. ^ Juon, Steve 'Flash' (September 13, 2005). "AZ :: A.W.O.L. – RapReviews". www.rapreviews.com. Retrieved August 7, 2024.
  8. ^ Drake, David (November 23, 2005). "AZ - A.W.O.L. - Review". Stylus Magazine. Retrieved August 1, 2009 – via Wayback Machine.
  9. ^ Kayser, Brian (August 1, 2005). "DJ Premier Interview". Retrieved March 25, 2011.
  10. ^ "AZ Chart History (Billboard 200)". Billboard. Retrieved August 7, 2024.
  11. ^ "AZ Chart History (Top R&B/Hip-Hop Albums)". Billboard. Retrieved August 7, 2024.
  12. ^ "AZ Chart History (Top Rap Albums)". Billboard. Retrieved August 7, 2024.
  13. ^ "AZ Chart History (Independent Albums)". Billboard. Retrieved August 7, 2024.