Pieces of a Man (AZ album)

For other uses, see Pieces of a Man (disambiguation).

Pieces of a Man is the second solo studio album by American rapper AZ. It was released on April 7, 1998, via Noo Trybe Records. The album was produced by Trackmasters, Goldfinga, Gucci Jones, L.E.S., Kenny Kornegay, Nashiem Myrick, RZA, and Tony Dofat. It features guest appearances from the Firm, Half-A-Mil, Monifah, RZA, and Panama P.I. The album peaked at No. 22 on the Billboard 200 and at No. 5 on the Top R&B/Hip-Hop Albums in the United States.

Pieces of a Man
Studio album by AZ
Released	April 7, 1998 (1998-04-07)
Recorded	1997−98
Studio	Daddy's House Electric Lady Studios (New York, NY) The Hit Factory (New York, NY) Right Track Recording (Manhattan, NY) House of Sound (New York, NY) Funhouse Recording (New York, NY)
Genre	East Coast hip hop mafioso rap
Length	54:03
Label	Noo Trybe
Producer	Trackmasters (also exec.) Goldfinga Gucci Jones Kenny "Smoove" Kornegay L.E.S. Nashiem Myrick RZA Tony Dofat
AZ chronology
The Album (1997) Pieces of a Man (1998) S.O.S.A. (Save Our Streets AZ) (2000)
Singles from Pieces of a Man
"Hey AZ" Released: July 21, 1997

Professional ratings

Review scores
Source	Rating
AllMusic	[1]
RapReviews	8/10[2]

The album was highly praised for its complex and insightful lyricism. The first single was intended to be "Hey AZ" featuring SWV, which peaked at No. 50 on the Hot R&B/Hip-Hop Songs. Music video for "Hey AZ" was shot, but the song was included only in the Japanese edition of the project.

Track listing

No.	Title	Writer(s)	Producer(s)	Length
1.	"New Life" (Album Intro)	Anthony Cruz Jean Louis Pinot Pudour Calvin Jones	Goldfinga Gucci Jones	1:22
2.	"I'm Known"	Cruz Pudour C. Jones	Goldfinga Gucci Jones	2:11
3.	"How Ya Livin'" (featuring Nas)	Cruz Nasir Jones LeShan Lewis	L.E.S.	4:30
4.	"Trading Places"	Cruz Jean-Claude Olivier Samuel Barnes	Poke & Tone	3:43
5.	"What's the Deal"	Cruz Olivier Barnes	Poke & Tone	3:56
6.	"Love Is Love" (featuring Half-A-Mil and Nature)	Cruz Olivier Barnes	Poke & Tone	5:14
7.	"The Pay Back"	Cruz Pudour C. Jones	Goldfinga Gucci Jones	3:06
8.	"Just Because"	Cruz Lewis	L.E.S.	2:53
9.	"SOSA"	Cruz Olivier Barnes	Poke & Tone	2:05
10.	"It's a Boy Thing" (featuring Nature)	Cruz Olivier Barnes	Poke & Tone	4:02
11.	"Pieces of a (Black) Man"	Cruz Olivier Barnes	Poke & Tone	3:44
12.	"Last Dayz" (featuring Monifah)	Cruz Kenny Kornegay Darryl Young Robert Kelly	Kenny 'Smoove' Kornegay Darryl "88" Young (co.)	5:19
13.	"Whatever Happened (The Birth)" (featuring RZA)	Cruz Robert Diggs	RZA	3:37
14.	"Trial of the Century" (featuring Foxy Brown and Panama P.I.)	Cruz Nashiem Myrick	Nashiem Myrick	4:27
15.	"Betcha Don't Know"	Cruz Tony Dofat	Tony Dofat	3:54
Total length:				54:03

Japanese edition bonus track

No.	Title	Writer(s)	Producer(s)	Length
16.	"Hey AZ" (featuring SWV)	Cruz Olivier Barnes	Poke & Tone

Sample credits

• Track 1 contains a sample from "Feeling Good" by Nina Simone, and a sample from "Happy Birthday Maggie" by Hans Zimmer.
• Track 3 contains a sample from "Show Me" by Glenn Jones.
• Track 7 contains samples from "Like a Tattoo" by Sade.
• Track 8 contains a sample of the recording "The Glow of Love" by Change.
• Track 16 contains a sample from "Hey DJ" as performed by the World's Famous Supreme Team.

Charts

Chart (1998)	Peak position
US Billboard 200[3]	22
US Top R&B/Hip-Hop Albums (Billboard)[4]	5