AZ Chike releases major-label debut 'No Rest for The Wicked'

AZ Chike has turned a breakout guest appearance into a major-label debut. The Los Angeles rapper, aged 31 and born Damaria Kayshawn Walker, released 'No Rest for The Wicked' on Sept. 18 via Warner Records.

The release coincided with another marker. Billboard named him its Hip-Hop Up-And-Comer for September, in an interview published on Sept. 22 Billboard.

The album runs to 14 tracks. Production contributions come from Pharrell Williams, Sounwave, Terrace Martin, Hit-Boy and Tyler, the Creator, according to Billboard.

Tyler, the Creator appears on two collaborations. One of them is 'Look Like My Mama'. Sounwave and Kendrick Lamar assisted with sequencing the record, a process that decides the running order.

Listeners will know AZ Chike from 'Peekaboo'. He appeared on the track from Kendrick Lamar's album 'GNX'. It reached No. 13 on the Billboard Hot 100, the US singles chart.

He addresses that breakout directly. On 'No Rest for The Wicked', he mentions the 'GNX' appearance in one song Complex. It is a short step from independent releases. He put out multiple independent full-lengths before signing to Warner Stereogum.

Other titles on the track list include 'Mercy', 'Keys', 'Sky Rockets', "God's Favorite" and 'Need Your Love'. A deluxe edition is forthcoming, AZ Chike told Billboard in the September interview.

The live rollout is already organised. His headlining tour starts at White Oak Music Hall in Houston on Oct. 5. The wider North American run kicks off in October and concludes in November.

There is also television and video activity around the album. AZ Chike had just finished filming an episode of LeBron James' 'The Shop' at the time of the Billboard interview. Ahead of release, he and Tyler, the Creator recreated scenes from 'Sinners' for a collaboration Complex.

For fans, this means more music is close. The standard 14-track edition is out now, tour dates are set, and a deluxe is on the way.