AZ: Undeniable

When listening to AZ rhyme, it's almost hard not to compare him to Jay-Z. Both of their careers stepped into the spotlight with the release of Illmatic and Reasonable Doubt. Their rhyme styles are unique and their lines are almost interchangeable. Jay-Z has evolved into a pop-culture phenomenon, while AZ has never tasted anything close to the glory he should receive. AZ paints pictures and crafts lines that provide a round-way ticket to his world. Listening to his latest album generates the same response you had when he rhymed along Nas on "Life's A Bitch." He's lost no steam or skill, but unlike Jay-Z, he hasn't been able to make that record with mass appeal and Undeniable doesn't change that.

Sticking to his formula of heavy sample reliance, AZ jumps right into the album with "The Game Don't Stop." More evidence presents itself as AZ continues not to deliver the same subject matter without the appeal of Lupe Fiasco's "Superstar" when compared to AZ's track of the same name. His lyrics are potent as always, but the record doesn't give the feeling that it could make noise on any charts. "Life's On The Line" through "Parking Lot Pimpin'" arouses those same feelings.

The album's title track and lead single would've been a nice record a few years back, but further shows how AZ's material hasn't captured the present time as a single should. To further beat a dead horse, "Go Getta" featuring Ray J does nothing when stood next to Young Jeezy's "Go Getta." The song doesn't execute the intended effect even though AZ's rhymes are more advanced than Young Jeezy's record.

Ending the album with three more songs that sound dated, AZ never strays from the sampled production and the result is the same. "A Game" is where the Jay-Z comparison argument is the strongest as the girl on the hook is like Amil and AZ spits like Jay-Z back in '98.

As stated earlier, AZ and Jay-z's line are interchangeable and many wouldn't know the difference. However, it was Jay-Z's ability to find the proper production and guest spots that separates him from AZ. If AZ had made similar moves, he too would be talked about like the "Big Homie," but his skill is and always has been undeniable.

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