A.W.O.L. (album)
2005 studio album by AZ
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A.W.O.L. is the fifth studio album by American rapper AZ. It was released on September 6, 2005 via Fast Life Music. Production was handled by The Heatmakerz, Baby Paul, Disco D, DJ Premier, Emile Haynie, Frado, J-Hen, Jimi Kendrix, Lil' Fame, MoSS, Vinny Idol, Buckwild, DJ Absolut, Tone Mason and Young Calvin. It features guest appearances from Begetz, Bounty Killer, Ghostface Killah, Half a Mill, Noe, Raekwon and CL Smooth.
| A.W.O.L. | ||||
|---|---|---|---|---|
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| Studio album by | ||||
| Released | September 6, 2005 | |||
| Recorded | 2005 | |||
| Genre | East Coast hip-hop | |||
| Length | 54:32 | |||
| Label | Fastlife | |||
| Producers |
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| AZ chronology | ||||
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In the United States, the album peaked at number 73 on the Billboard 200, number 17 on the Top R&B/Hip-Hop Albums, number 10 on the Top Rap Albums and number 5 on the Independent Albums charts.
The album was supported with four 12" promotional singles: "Serious" b/w "Live Wire", "AZ's Chillin" b/w "Never Change", "The Come Up" b/w "Magic Hour" and "Still Alive" b/w "New York".
Background
The album was recorded after Final Call, which AZ declined to release because his label had pushed its release back two months—according to him, they were also the source of its early leak to the press and the internet. Garnering critical praise with production from highly regarded New York underground acts such as DJ Premier, Buckwild, and DipSet production duo the Heatmakerz, the rapper abandoned his previously money-oriented subject matter, stating that he "wanted it to be all street".[9] A.W.O.L. is the first album AZ released on his own Quiet Money Records imprint. A.W.O.L. 1.5 was released several months later, which included a bonus disc featuring a cappella and instrumental versions to the songs on A.W.O.L..
Track listing
| No. | Title | Writer(s) | Producer(s) | Length |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1. | "So Sincere" |
| The Heatmakerz | 1:57 |
| 2. | "Never Change" |
| The Heatmakerz | 4:26 |
| 3. | "New York" (featuring Raekwon and Ghostface Killah) | Emile | 3:45 | |
| 4. | "Can't Stop" |
| Frado | 4:15 |
| 5. | "Still Alive" (featuring Noe) |
| Vinny Idol | 4:04 |
| 6. | "AZ's Chillin'" |
| Fizzy Womack | 3:55 |
| 7. | "City of Gods" |
| Disco D | 4:14 |
| 8. | "Street Life" (featuring Half a Mill and Begetz) |
| J-Hen | 4:33 |
| 9. | "Bedtime Story" |
|
| 2:12 |
| 10. | "The Come Up" |
| DJ Premier | 3:46 |
| 11. | "Envious" (featuring Bounty Killer) | MoSS | 2:57 | |
| 12. | "A.W.O.L." |
| Vinny Idol | 3:39 |
| 13. | "Live Wire" |
| Buckwild | 3:21 |
| 14. | "Magic Hour" (featuring CL Smooth) | Tone Mason | 3:09 | |
| 15. | "The Truth" |
|
| 4:29 |
| Total length: | 54:32 | |||
- Notes
- Tracks 13, 14 and 15 are one continuous bonus track 13. All the 3 tracks are available separately on Final Call (The Lost Tapes) album.
Charts
| Chart (2005) | Peak position |
|---|---|
| US Billboard 200[10] | 73 |
| US Top R&B/Hip-Hop Albums (Billboard)[11] | 17 |
| US Top Rap Albums (Billboard)[12] | 10 |
| US Independent Albums (Billboard)[13] | 5 |