SIXSHOT.COM: Your new album, is called Aziatic. Where’s the title from?
AZ: : It's self titled, I got it from being a part of the Five-Percenters and Aziatic was my name. It’s my fifth album if you want to include the firm.

SIXSHOT.COM: What is this album about?
AZ: It’s about me for real. Its like having a sitting down and having a conversation with me.

SIXSHOT.COM: How would you describe this album.
AZ: Very personal. Its like a homecoming. Thanking nas, Thanking Biggie. We brought brining criminology to the forefront of this rap game. We brought the streets to the table in rap. I want to be recognized as one of the Top Ten MC’s. I want to be here. This album describes the essence of me as an artist, as a man. I’m letting everybody know shit is good. I’m talking like I’m writing a journal.


SIXSHOT.COM: Who’s on the album?
AZ: Nas, my crew from BK. It's home-cookin.

SIXSHOT.COM: What kind of beats can we expect on the album?
AZ: All soulful music. Because the album is real personal that’s the way I wanted it. Dream Team, Buckwyld, LES, Baby Paul all produced real soulful tracks on Aziatic.

SIXSHOT.COM: A lot of rappers out there kick a lot of tales about drug-dealin’ and the gangster lifestyle. How do you feel about that and how would you describe the state of hip-hop?
AZ: We brought that to the table. Biggie, Nas, Nature , me, we brought street life to the table. We talked about the streets as a path to get out. But I was never really with focusing on the death and negative aspects of the streets. Now I can’t knock the next man’s hustle. Hip-hop now is more style orientated. Eminem and Ludacris are two who are blowing up. There’s not one focus it anymore. But as far as the gangster lifestyle, I’ve never been one to glorify the idiotic. I don’t condone idiocy.


SIXSHOT.COM: What’s up with the war between Nas and Jay?
AZ: That’s over. That was over before it started. You know, Jay-Z is good with what he does, his style, but Nas is a poet.


SIXSHOT.COM: You’re from Brooklyn, how did you get in with dudes from Queensbridge?
AZ: Me and Nas got to know each other over the phone. Sparring over the phone. When we were in the ciphers.

SIXSHOT.COM: Do you have any other projects hip-hop fans can look forward to?
AZ: Me and Nas are putting out an album end of the year beginning of next year. We want to leave a legacy behind. We’re doing this for the Rap Hall of Fame. We want to give the fans something real special.

SIXSHOT.COM: What’s the first single?
AZ: I’m Back.

SIXSHOT.COM: Indeed.

AZIATIC IS IN STORES NOW....COP IT.