With a hefty number of years in the game, Brooklyn-born rapper AZ is all too familiar with the major vs. independent debate. And while speaking with TorontoRappers.com, the noted emcee didn’t hesitate in giving his opinion on which he thinks is the better route for up-and-coming artists.
AZ revealed that he’s personally not a fan of the 360 deal, but shared that he can understand why an artist would take that route.
“Me personally I wouldn’t do it, but you know artists wanna do what they gotta do,” said AZ in regards to artists and 360 deals with labels. “When I came in the game being signed to a major was a good thing cause they dealt with the publicity, getting your name out there. Which is good for artists, you know what I mean, I don’t think no one should come in the game say, ‘I’mma just do this independent if they money ain’t right.’ Cause they pay to play…It’s like playing chess or checkers or whatever you do. You say to yourself, ‘You know what? I’mma sign with the majors, but I’mma just give them two or three albums.’ Cause they might not go for the one off.”
Prior to speaking on the independent vs. major label debate, AZ gave props to a handful of Hip Hop newcomers including J. Cole and Drake, even referring to the latter as a “great lyricist.”
“Drake came through and did his thing. Honestly, he’s a great lyricist to me. He’s a great lyricist. I think I shouted that out in another interview. Him, J. Cole, there was a couple of other cats that I appreciate that’s on the come-up, that’s representing Hip Hop,” AZ explained. “And he doing it big for Canada. He doing it big for the game itself.”
lmfao the bloggers are gonna HATE this.
a bunch of recycled commentss
Drake: hes soft, hes a fag, hes a bitch, hes r&b not hip hop etc etc
J. Cole: hes boring, hes overrated, he sold out etc etc
J Cole has a bright future in hip hop
j cole is the shit
Everyone has something good to say about YMCMB other than Pusha T, Common and Jay-Z.
What do those three haters have in common? They are all old, washed up, and need to us a strap on to please a woman,
AZ is the same age as Common, and Pusha-T is younger.
Common and Push T are very washed up, however, Jay Z still has about 1 platinum solo album left in him.
dentaldamboy, shut the fuck up, you groupie. YMCMB are wack pop pussies.
Dentaldamboy – your name sounds like you’re the Young Money skeet receptacle.
dentaldamboy is the dude who thinks he a young money cash money accountant
he talks like he works for these niggas
uyhoijo;kljkhu
uyhoijo;kljkhu 7876
yours truly not malone
Doe or die 2 please
When is Doe or Die II coming? That’s what i want to know.
J Cole is just an artist Sony and Jay-Z sunk millions of marketing dollars into. They tried to artificially make him into a platinum artist, but in the end the public didn’t buy that lie. It’s only so long that the fake can pretend.
What the fuck are you talking about? J Cole is still successful with a gold album, platinum single, and a gold single.
AZ has made some nice records in the past but really, what makes ya’ll think DO OR DIE II would be different/better than the last 10+ years of ‘pretty good, rarely great’ AZ records?
Also, folks will bust on AZ repping Drake but 1) he was playing nice for the Canadians and 2) old Brooklyn & Queens heads know AZ was, unlike most rappers, serious in the street and therefore can cool the fuck out however he wants…
… Tho’ he’d better off spinning Curtis Mayfield and Blue Magic, fuck a J. Cole and Drake, etc.
bump The Format.. Bump any Nas and AZ joints. Then come back . If doe Or die 2 sucks then u can diss.. But until then
the format was pretty hard
AZ is wrong for what he said about Drake. He ain’t a lyricist; he’s an R&B rapper with average rapping skills.
You are the epitome of a hater. Even Az, a respected lyricist, is giving respect to Drake.
And you’re the epitome of a dickrider. That ain’t showing respect; that’s kissing ass.
AZ why are you sucking Drake dick? Do you need a hit?
Where’s Do Or Die 2? And dope beats this time not does slow sleepy beats.
You’re a typical 90s head hip hop faggot. AZ doesn’t owe you shit, so shut the fuck up. And whenever someone acknowledges someone as good, you say they’re sucking their dick. So I guess you’re sucking all of the old ass 90s rappers dicks aren’t you? Go listen to that faggot boom bap trapped in the 90s shit, you piece of shit “hip hop head” elitist.
And you’re the typical pop sheep who listens to whatever’s hot on Top 40 radio/BET/MTV. You probably don’t know shit about hip-hop. Go listen to your faggot ass pop-rap/R&B shit and leave hip-hop alone.
stole my quote;
LEAVE HIP HOP ALONE!
Who gives a fuck if he likes Drake ..Your all like a bunch of school girls ..Why you all getting so upset ..
TIME OF THE MONTH FOR SOME OF YOU YOUNG LADIES
Nah, I’m not actually. I’m actually an open minded individual who listens to boom bap shit like Nas, Brother Ali, O.C., Bronson, Meyhem Lauren, KRIT, etc. and fucking Kendrick Lamar, Drake, ASAP Rocky, 2 Chainz, etc.. you lost bruh. faggot ass mad at the world “real hip hop” elitist bitch.
Are we supposed to take your ass seriously when you mentioned the most un lyrical artist in 2chainz get these dicks out of you’re asshole before you start calling people faggots
Elitist 90s hiphop bitch thats the worst attempt at an insult…
AZ is AZ, i think he talking to the average zombie!
Ayo, AZ. What tha fuck, b? You a legend and all, buy why ya co-signin those two fruit cakes Aubrey tha human Tampax and J Boring Cole tha broke man’s Drake? Them two fairies part of tha reason rap is becomin’ corny and soft, namsaying? Aubrey’s music isa buncha audio estrogen being injected into your ears and that nigga J Cole’s music can make the undead un-undead and put babies ta sleep. Tha rap game is becomin’ fucked up not just because of the rise of the Estrogeneration but hip-hop legends are kissin tha assholes of these corny muhfuckas, namsayin. God aka Galaxy Knuckles aka Cocaine Biceps aka Phantom Raviolis aka the Mighty Hands of Zeus does not approve of this shit.
S.T.F.U MAKE BELIEVE THUG ..AKA ..I SCARED ..AKA …PANTIES ON WRONG WAY … ( NO HOMO)AKA …JUST SHUT THE FUCK UP !!
Aye, you betta watch wut u say or I’ll Zeus slap ya all tha way ta planet Mars, bitch nigga.
E-thuggin #HOT
From what I’ve heard, you’re Childish Gambino. Aren’t you?
It would be easier to appreciate Drake if he hadn’t been forcefed and hyped up in the begining, real talk. As nice as he may be lyrically you can still wear out your welcome it’s good that he kinda fell back.
Nobody force fed Drake to the public. He released two albums that went platinum. That’s called a CHOICE.
So having your song played 1000x on at least 3 stations a day is not forcefeeding? Ok.
AZ cant be serious giving props to drake!!!!!! Come on AZ say it so!!!! There has to be more to this, I cant believe a gifted mc such as AZ would give that clown props!!! Oh fuckin well.
fuck drake
Y’all niggas claim you hate a gimmick but then knock Coke as boring. Reason shits fucked up now…….
TDE is not gimicky but they’re not boring either. Cole doesn’t have originality/charisma. And he acts like he’s too afraid to shine, thats the shit that don’t resonate
“That ain’t showing respect”
Seriously… At this stage in Az’s life and career, what good would it do for him to kiss up? He’s just recognizing talent.
?What talent
“part of tha reason rap is becomin’ corny and soft”
You sound like a high school drop out still bumpin Styles P out of a busted speaker.
You sound like you bump Drake out of a pink shuffle.
Ima a fan of both Drake and AZ. I was brought up on the 90’s era cats too. Aziatic album and Take Care are certified bangers. It’s a new era nah mean. You gotta embrace a new culture cuz nothing last forever.
Still AZ is the most underrated MC to this date.
Aziatic, Doe or Die, Piecies of a black man, The Format etc all classics.
I felt a little mad that AZ wasn’t on Life Is Good with Nas. But Nas gotta do numbers and thats why he fucked with Rozay.
AZ MY TOP 5 DEAD OR ALIVE. Lyrics, flow, and under the radar.
Take Care ain’t no banger.
Barring some of the shit-soft tracks, Take Care was a banger, stop hatin
Take Care ain’t no banger. Stop lying to yourself.
To me the only impressive verse by drake i know of is on forever. None of his shits a banger.
just cause im an AZ fan doesn’t mean ima cosign drake dude is not versatile he only rhymes about how women hurt his buttt which makes him weak to me. No need to dick ride like a male groupie
^He raps what he knows, most of which is women, and does it well. I don’t want him rappin bout gangbangin and the struggle cause he ain’t bout that life. Dude serves his purpose, and once people understand that, they’d get it
ANd btw.. AZ> J Cole Come on…
“Take Care ain’t no banger”
Neither was BISD.
quote man is hating on 50 cent again even though no one on this article mentioned him
neither were 100’s of albums you hoe ass bitch
I admit that I can’t stomach either Drake or J. Cole; to me they’re boring and trash. However, when AZ – spossibly the greatest emcee to ever do it – gives his props, then you have to take note, whether you agree with it or not. Now bless us with Doe or Die II
if you think J Cole is trash then you need your ears checked.
Got them checked, I still think he’s trash cocksucker.
*possibly
Whatever happened to Pain In Da Ass??? No one uses him on intros anymore? FUCK STEVE HARVEY!!!
AZ is right..Drake is a sick lyricist. Fuck haterz
A! AZ you a bitch, nigga! How the fuck you finna cosign two of the most garbage artists that ever existed?!? Nigga you worked with Nas! GODDAMN NAS!!! You should be aware of what’s real music and what’s Drake/J Cole music! Bitch nigga you done fucked up real bad this time
you’re a fuckin retard. have you even listened to any of cole’s mixtapes or his music in general? and why you all on his dick because he likes drake? just because you don’t like his music doesn’t mean AZ has to dislike it. ppl like you kill me man
these comments are hilarious wow.
“quote man is hating on 50 cent again even though no one on this article mentioned him”
I think I’ll start calling you half a man. 50’s your idol, right? Drake may not be the hardest artist regardless, but since when has he ever claimed to be? The soft approach, while sleep inducing at times, seems to be working.
ill die for my team. Im the hardest out. two direct drake quotes, fuck ya butt boy