By Edem Latsu Nukafu
On December 1st, Brooklyn, New York native ace emcee, Anthony Cruz popularly known in showbiz as AZ birthed a new album.
However, unlike AZโs respected back-catalog,ย Truth Be Toldย marks his first album-long partnership with a producer. Buckwild, who is known for his work on Diggin’ In The Crates, has been collaborating with S.O.S.A. sinceย โHo Happy Jackyโย onย Doe Or Die. The Bronx DJ/producer has remained in AZโs circle, as recently as 2021โsย Doe Or Die II, joiningย Pete Rock as an original creatorย to reprise the role on the sequel.
AZ’s legacy is the focal point of ‘Truth Be Told’. Tha Visualiza is no longer weighed down by a long-touted sequel, and instead embraces a new frontier of excellence. The opening line of ‘Still Got It’ is the affirmation that ‘Him then, him nowโit will always be him.’ I kept it 100 from day one.โ
He then spits, โNew album, few features / Iโm through browsing, moving housing to down deeper / Off-road / This ainโt old, this is boss-mode.โ Buckwild chops up a brassy Soul track that perfectly complements a lyricist who kicks nostalgia without ever sounding past-tense.
โStill Got Itโ is one five selections added to my personal playlist. โThe Goatโ is another legacy check-in. โLate โ80s s__t, I was crazy with the bars / Ever since I set it off with Nas / Had the big houses, all of the money and the cars,โ a few bars before he kicks, โGrind tilโ my whole crewโs wealthy / Get mines, only surface for a few selfies.โ Buckโ samples a vocal beautifully for another short-but-potent song.
โGo Timeโ and โAmazingโ represent those songs with โa few features.โ Pharoahe Monch guests on the former, which sounds like heist theme musicโsomething Buckwild has long laid down. Monchโs flow shines in the second verse, using his voice as an instrument. He and AZ sound seamless together, going back to back. Tha Visualiza boasts that he owns his publishing, but he clearly wants more. Mumu Fresh croons and raps on โAmazing,โ a song that embraces the R&B-tinged production S.O.S.A. has long embraced, but refuses to deviate from hard rapping.
The musical union between Buck and AZ can be seen in the first proper song on the album, ‘Reintroduction’. AZ’s lyricism is highlighted in the Soul-based song by using spaces in the music. He raps, โSuccess, still on it / The wheel, put a millโ on it / Thereโs no facade, the gods can build on it / Appeal on it, no mumble or Drill on it / Concealed on it, go Wallo and Gilโ on it.โ AZ’s poetic hunger is apparent, and it’s an enjoyable treat for both long-time enthusiasts and new listeners.
Previously, Buckwild has partnered with Celph Titled, Meyhem Lauren, and Pounds on albums. Last year, Buckโ handled the first Artifacts album in 25 years, which arrived after the passing of Tame One.
In Addition to new music from AZ,ย theย AFHย playlistย features new music fromย Statik Selektah,ย Nas & Hit-Boy, andย DJ Premier with Common, among others.