Much
of AZ‘s rhyme and
reason is concerned with paper chasing, but the New
York City-based Dominican-American mic-controller less
conspicuously kindles an interest in fossil relics,
artifacts,and monuments.
"I’m very interested in archaeology, especially
Egyptology, stuff like that," AZ told Allhiphop.com
during a meet-and-greet reception. Chicagoland’s music
industry rank and file showed up at The Epitome restaurant,
which hosted the event, in the historically African-American
Bronzeville district on the city’s Near South Side.
The event was part of a promotions campaign for his
newest LP Nine Lives (Motown), which was released
Jun. 12 and entered the Billboard R&B Charts, moving
over 56,000 units in one week.
"I
studied it in high school. I might go back to school
to learn about it." Nine Lives is the first
LP of a three-album deal AZ signed with Motown in January,
after A&R’s at the legendary urban label caught
an earful of a personal tape of his recorded rhymes
that was widely bootlegged on New York City’s streets.
AZ spends much of the current album’s 14 tracks instructing
heads on making and keeping money.
The guest
rhyming and production appearances include Trackmasters,
Timbaland, up-and-coming Dream Team, Foxxy Brown, Joe,
Beanie Sigel, and
Amil. AZ has already completing filming two music videos
for the album, including one for the first single "Problems"
and another with Joe for the second "Everything’s
Everything."
AZ and Motown
are working toward getting him on a national tour in
connection with the album’s release. "It’s hip-hop,"
AZ said, explaining Nine Lives eclectic sound.
"It’s more street, more underground than overground."