Aziatic

{{Use mdy dates|date=June 2025}} {{Infobox album | name = Aziatic | type = studio | artist = AZ | cover = Aziatic.jpg | alt = | released = {{Start date|2002|6|11}} | recorded = 2001–2002 | studio = {{hlist|Sweet Mountain Studios (Englewood, NJ)|Power Station (New York, NY)}} | genre = Hip-hop | length = {{Duration|m=46|s=58}} | label = Motown | producer = {{hlist|Baby Paul|Buckwild|Chop Diesel|DR Period|Larry "Precision" Gates|L.E.S.|Mike Risko|Miller Time|Portiay|Big Joe}} | prev_title = 9 Lives | prev_year = 2001 | next_title = A.W.O.L. | next_year = 2005 | misc = {{Singles | name = Aziatic | type = studio | single1 = I'm Back | single1date = September 18, 2001 | single2 = Take It Off | single2date = May 7, 2002 }} }} {{Music ratings | rev1 = AllMusic | rev1score = {{Rating|4.5|5}}<ref>{{Cite web |last=Mills |first=Brad |title=Aziatic - AZ {{!}} Album |url=https://www.allmusic.com/album/aziatic-mw0000220162 |access-date=May 19, 2024 |website=AllMusic |language=en}}</ref> | rev2 = ''HipHopDX'' | rev2score = 4.5/5<ref>{{Cite web |last=Williams |first=DeMarco |date=July 4, 2002 |title=AZ - Aziatic |url=https://hiphopdx.com/reviews/id.184/title.az-aziatic |access-date=May 19, 2024 |website=HipHopDX |language=en}}</ref> | rev3 = ''RapReviews'' | rev3score = 9/10<ref>{{Cite web |last=Juon |first=Steve 'Flash' |date=June 25, 2002 |title=AZ :: Aziatic :: Motown |url=https://www.rapreviews.com/2002/06/az-aziatic/ |url-status=live |archive-url=https://www.rapreviews.com/archive/2002_06_aziatic.html |archive-date=June 25, 2002 |access-date=May 19, 2024 |website=RapReviews |language=en-US}}</ref> | rev4 = ''Rolling Stone'' | rev4score = {{Rating|4|5}}<ref>{{Cite magazine |last=Marriott |first=Rob |date=July 2, 2002 |title=Recordings |url=http://www.rollingstone.com/reviews/album/130437/review/6067939/aziatic|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20090115215846/http://www.rollingstone.com/reviews/album/130437/review/6067939/aziatic |archive-date=January 15, 2009|access-date=May 19, 2024 |website=Rolling Stone |pages=72–73 |publication-date=July 25, 2002 |issue=901}}</ref> | rev5 = ''The Source'' | rev5score = {{Rating|4|5}}<ref>{{cite magazine|last=Bonanno|first=Jonathan "Gotti"|date=July 2002|issue=154|title=AZ – Aziatic|department=Record Report|magazine=The Source|page=147|location=New York}}</ref> | rev6 = ''Stylus'' | rev6score = A<ref>{{Cite web |last=Berliner |first=Brett |date=2003 |title=AZ {{!}} AZiatic {{!}} Motown {{!}} 2002 |url=http://www.stylusmagazine.com/reviews/az/aziatic.htm |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20100201123439/http://www.stylusmagazine.com/reviews/az/aziatic.htm |url-status=dead |archive-date=2010-02-01 |access-date=February 1, 2010 |website=Stylus Magazine |via=Wayback Machine}}</ref> | rev7 = ''The Village Voice'' | rev7score = {{Rating-Christgau|hm3}}<ref>{{Cite web |last=Christgau |first=Robert |author-link=Robert Christgau |date=February 4, 2003 |title=The Prelude |url=https://www.villagevoice.com/the-prelude/ |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20030211000000/https://www.villagevoice.com/the-prelude/ |archive-date=February 11, 2003 |access-date=May 19, 2024 |website=The Village Voice}} [http://www.robertchristgau.com/get_artist.php?name=AZ Alt URL]</ref> }} '''''Aziatic''''' is the fourth solo studio album by American rapper AZ. It was released on June 11, 2002 via Motown. Recording sessions took place at Sweet Mountain Studios in Englewood and Power Station in New York. Production was handled by Chop D.I.E.S.E.L., Buckwild, Miller Time, Precison, Baby Paul, DR Period, L.E.S., Mike Risko, Portiay and Big Joe, with Damian "Deo" Blyden, Kedar Massenburg and AZ serving as executive producers. It features guest appearances from Animal, DJ Rogers Jr., El Shabar, Nas and Trav.

The album peaked at number 29 on the ''Billboard'' 200 and number 5 on the Top R&B/Hip-Hop Albums in the United States. Its lead single, "I'm Back", made it to number 63 on the Hot R&B/Hip-Hop Songs. The song "The Essence" off of the album was nominated for a Grammy Award for Best Rap Performance by a Duo or Group at the 45th Annual Grammy Awards, but lost to Outkast's "The Whole World".

==Background== After two albums that received vastly differing responses —''Pieces of a Man'' and ''9 Lives''— AZ's fourth solo full-length is considered the rapper's comeback album, which restored his credibility. The project features AZ's flow and style over melodic, soulful production.<ref>{{Cite web |last=McIntosh |first=Daryl |date=June 11, 2022 |title=Rediscover AZ’s ‘Aziatic’ (2002) {{!}} Tribute |url=https://albumism.com/features/tribute-celebrating-20-years-of-az-aziatic |access-date=May 19, 2024 |website=Albumism |language=en-US}}</ref> It also marks his second and final studio album for Motown Records.

==Track listing== {{Track listing | all_writing = | extra_column = Producer(s) | title1 = Once Again | writer1 = {{hlist|Anthony Cruz|Darryl Pittman|John Sebastian}} | extra1 = DR Period | length1 = 2:38 | title2 = A-1 Performance | writer2 = {{hlist|Cruz|Makeba Riddick|Curtis Richardson|Geoffrey Leib}} | extra2 = Portiay | length2 = 3:53 | title3 = Wanne Be There | writer3 = {{hlist|Cruz|Mark Curry|Damien Blyden|Maurice Barge|Jimmie Jiles}} | extra3 = Chop D.I.E.S.E.L. | length3 = 3:55 | title4 = Take It Off | writer4 = {{hlist|Cruz|Shelene Thomas|Leshan Lewis|Herbert N. Middleton}} | extra4 = L.E.S. | length4 = 4:23 | title5 = The Essence | note5 = featuring Nas | writer5 = {{hlist|Cruz|Nasir Jones|Paul Hendricks|Michael Risko|James A. Johnson}} | extra5 = {{hlist|Baby Paul|Mike Risko}} | length5 = 3:29 | title6 = Hands in the Air | note6 = featuring D.J. Rogers Jr. | writer6 = {{hlist|Cruz|Larry Gates}} | extra6 = Precision | length6 = 4:14 | title7 = Fan Mail | writer7 = {{hlist|Cruz|Robert Miller|Blyden|Leonard Caston Jr.|Terri McFaddin}} | extra7 = Miller Time | length7 = 3:36 | title8 = Paradise (Life) | writer8 = {{hlist|Cruz|Miller|Blyden|Vinnie Barrett|Bruce Hawes}} | extra8 = Miller Time | length8 = 2:54 | title9 = Take Care of Me | writer9 = {{hlist|Cruz|Sherree Ford|Gates}} | extra9 = Precision | length9 = 3:41 | title10 = I'm Back | note10 = featuring El Shabar | writer10 = {{hlist|Cruz|Terry Williford|Anthony Best|Frank Edward Wilson|Caston Jr.|Pamela Joan Sawyer}} | extra10 = Buckwild | length10 = 3:12 | title11 = Hustler | note11 = featuring Trav and Animal | writer11 = {{hlist|Cruz|Trevor Carroll|Curry|Blyden|Dennis Edwards|Otis Williams|Damon Harris|Richard Street|David English}} | extra11 = Chop D.I.E.S.E.L. | length11 = 4:08 | title12 = Re-Birth | writer12 = {{hlist|Cruz|Best|Keith Mansfield}} | extra12 = Buckwild | length12 = 2:00 | title13 = Aziatic (Outro) | writer13 = {{hlist|Cruz|Curry|Blyden}} | extra13 = Chop D.I.E.S.E.L. | length13 = 1:07 | title14 = Doing Me | note14 = Bonus Track | writer14 = {{hlist|Cruz|Donald Woolfolk}} | extra14 = Big Joe | length14 = 3:48 | total_length = 46:58 }}

;Sample credits *Track 1 contains elements from "Welcome Back" written and performed by John Sebastian. *Track 2 contains elements from "She Can Wait Forever" written by Geoffrey Leib and performed by George Duke. *Track 3 embodies portions from "I Just Want to Be There" written by Maurice Barge and Jimmie Jiles and performed by The Independents. *Track 5 contains elements from "Musical Love" written by Rick James and performed by the Mary Jane Girls. *Track 7 embodies portions from "Each Day I Cry a Little" written by Leonard Caston Jr. and Terri McFaddin and performed by Eddie Kendricks. *Track 8 contains elements from "Just As Long As We Have Love" written by Vinnie Barrett and Bruce Hawes and performed by Wilbert Longmire. *Track 10 embodies portions from "Loving You the Second Time Around" written by Frank Wilson, Leonard Caston Jr. and Pam Sawyer and performed by Eddie Kendricks. *Track 11 embodies portions from "I'm a Bachelor" written by Dennis Edwards, Otis Williams, Damon Harris, Richard Street and David English and performed by The Temptations. *Track 12 contains elements from "Important Project" written and performed by Keith Mansfield.

==Personnel== {{div col}} *Anthony "AZ" Cruz – vocals, executive producer *Nasir "Nas" Jones – vocals (track 5) *D.J. Rogers, Jr. – vocals (track 6) *Terry "El Shabar" Williford – vocals (track 9) *Trav – vocals (track 11) *Animal – vocals (track 11) *Makeba Riddick – additional vocals (track 2) *Chimere Scott – additional vocals (track 3) *Shelene Thomas – additional vocals (track 4) *Londell "Nikko" Smith – background vocals (track 6) *Sherree Ford – additional vocals (track 9) *Darryl "DR Period" Pittman – producer (track 1) *Portiay – producer (track 2) *Mark "Chop D.I.E.S.E.L." Curry – producer (tracks: 3, 11, 13) *Leshan "L.E.S." Lewis – producer (track 4) *"Baby Paul" Anthony Hendricks – producer (track 5) *Mike Risko – producer (track 5) *Larry "Precision" Gates – producer (tracks: 6, 9) *Robert "Miller Time" Miller – producer (tracks: 7, 8) *Anthony "Buckwild" Best – producer (tracks: 10, 12) *Big Joe – producer (track 14) *Damien "DEO" Blyden – recording, executive producer, A&R *Mike Thomas – recording *Chris Athens – mastering *Kedar Massenburg – executive producer *Annalee Valencia-Bruch – art direction, design *Clay Patrick McBride – photography *Sandy Brummels – creative director *Orrin Ennis – A&R *Liz Loblack – production management *Monica Morrow – stylist {{div col end}}

==Charts== {| class="wikitable sortable plainrowheaders" style="text-align:center" |- ! scope="col"|Chart (2002) ! scope="col"|Peak position |- {{album chart|Billboard200|29|artist=AZ|rowheader=true|access-date=May 20, 2024}} |- {{album chart|BillboardRandBHipHop|5|artist=AZ|rowheader=true|access-date=May 20, 2024}} |}

==References== {{Reflist}}

==External links== *{{Discogs master|717073|Aziatic|type=album}}

Category:2002 albums Category:Motown albums Category:AZ (rapper) albums Category:Albums produced by Buckwild Category:Albums produced by L.E.S. (record producer)