The art of the mixtape: Used to create buzzes, resurrect careers, and keep established artists in circulation so their fans don’t forget who they are. This time around the MC wetting is his pallet via mixtape is rhyme veteran AZ. After releasing his 9th studio album Undeniable back in April of this year, “The Visualiza” decided to flex some more lyrical muscle with his N.4.L. Mixtape hosted by DJ Absolut.

The 30-something MC who came to prominence back in the early 90’s with his classic verse off ‘Life’s A B*tch’ from Nas’ Illmatic album, hasn’t missed a step in a low key career that spans well over ten years. If the content on the album isn’t enough to keep your attention, then maybe the cover depicting a lynched AZ just might. With shades of Tupac Shakur’s album cover for Makaveli being somewhat duplicated by AZ, the Brooklyn native also paints himself as a martyr for the world to see.

The tone of the album focuses on social injustices that African-Americans have suffered for nearly an eternity, and are backed up by the fluid delivery of one of the most underrated MC’s in the game. A major plus is that DJ Absolut doesn’t take his hosting duties too seriously by obnoxiously talking over all the songs. With that said, after a brief CNN-type intro about the plight of people of color, this first song, ‘Knowledge Freedom’ commands attention; “See these hustlas on the covers of these Feds and Divas/the game’s dead, tryin’ to make these young heads believers/either/understand, or be under the land (my man).”

AZ enlists the assistance of Raekwon on ‘The Secret.’ Both seasoned MC’s show they still have more than enough left in their tank with AZ dropping lines like, “Straight off the ave, rock a 8 and a half/36 waste, I’m observant in the face/don’t affili(ate) with the fraudulent that’s permanent hate.” While Raekwon sums up the song in true Shaolin fashion, “Put on your thinking cap, solider dro off the back/I gotta get high, enzo’s swole and its fly.”

‘I Just Wanna’ featuring Sheek Louch and Trey Songz is the only commercial-type of song on the album filled with a poppy hook, and materialistic metaphors—but AZ quickly gets back to conveying his message on ‘Conspiracy.’ Over well placed flutes and piano loops, AZ contemplates his personal along with widespread conspiracy theories; “Sky high gas prices, another housing unit being built in Rikers/they opportunists/society don’t like us/we like mutants.”

On ‘Runaway Slave’ AZ displays his seldom heard narrative skills, as he puts himself in the position of a slave plotting his escape off a plantation, “Pitch black barefoot/sprinting like a deer shook/face like a werewolf, quoting from the prayer book/I done seem them lynch grand pops/in my sleep hear them shackles when they slam locks/f*ck masta, and his ham hocks/let him pick his damn crops, probably get my hand chopped.” ‘N***a Games’ starts off with the hilarious rant by Bernie Mac from ‘Don’t Be Menace While Drinking Your Juice In The Hood’ about how he hates black people, and it ends with AZ discussing how African-Americans are all stereotyped by society as either being drug dealers or professional athletes.

AZ opts to keep the social commentary going with songs like, ‘12 Jewels,’ the descriptive ‘Tecks On Deck,’ and ‘I’m That N***a.’ AZ’s methodology of formulating his compound and complex wordplay seems effortless at times, and it’s front and center once again on the N.4.L. Mixtape. Instead of using his gift of gab to try and fit in on what’s quote-un-quote “hot at the moment,” he chooses to express his thoughts on issues most people shy away from.

The “mixtape” is usually a forum where an artist doesn’t have to yield to what his label wants [them] to be; and it’s typically a safe house for an MC to once again get back to his or her roots and unleash the over-the-top braggadocio material that A&R’s leave on the cutting room floor. But in this case, an experienced artist with nothing to lose takes a chance on doing something different, and it’s a chance well taken.