I appreciate the opening line of the verse: вЂњThe first bars IвЂ™ve ever spitted I scarred the gameвЂќ which subtly references his feature spot on вЂњLifeвЂ™s A B****вЂќ He definitely claims relevancy from the jump, but then his humility shows when he says вЂњCatch me, f*** sales, long as the streets accept meвЂќ. From the jump, AZ starts name dropping вЂњSosaвЂќ from Scarface of course, given his entire persona of Mafioso life and rapping, itвЂ™s merited. I always pay attention to these for reasons which IвЂ™ve mentioned in previous album reviews, as it sets the tone and is indicative of what we can expect in upcoming tracks. He kicks off his album much like everyone else. With a ton of people involved in producing this album, itвЂ™s difficult to anticipate the cohesiveness, but IвЂ™m positive weвЂ™ll be pleasantly surprised. LetвЂ™s take a look at the album that truly categorized AZ amongst the most talented but underrated rappers of all time. His lyrical brilliance, his flow and storytelling tactics are on point and the result is one that belongs in every music library. His talent, intelligence, insight and wisdom is infused into every track. We have the chance to highlight and take an in depth look at AZвЂ™s debut album вЂњDoe Or DieвЂќ and to give this album itвЂ™s much needed recognition and appreciation.ДЄfter his appearance on вЂњLifeвЂ™s A B****вЂќ and sometime before being inducted into NasвЂ™ run at a вЂњHip Hop MafiaвЂќ with The Firm, AZ recorded his first solo project and blessed the Hip Hop world with a certified masterpiece. HeвЂ™s easily one of the three most underrated and under appreciated MCвЂ™s of all time (IMO) and an often forgotten gem of Hip HopвЂ¦ but thatвЂ™s where DAR comes in. Of course IвЂ™m referring to none other than AZ. Today, weвЂ™re talking the one rapper who has almost always lived in the shadow of Nas and has been his friend since the days of вЂњ IllmaticвЂќ. I dreamed of guns and tons of coke on a car chaseДЇantastic reference that epitomizes a вЂњmafioso rapвЂќ style with almost flawless delivery.

A single from the album, вЂњThe Essence,вЂќ (featuring Nas) was nominated for the 2003 Grammy Awards for Best Rap Performance by a Duo or Group.( Republished from ,В By AZ вЂ“ Doe Or Die After this albumвЂ™s release, AZ signed with Motown and Universal Records and released 9 Lives. The album fared well but did not chart quite as well as his debut and did not feature a crossover single like вЂњSugar HillвЂќ. In 1998 AZ released his second solo album, Pieces of a Man. In 1997 AZ joined the group The Firm with Nas, Nature and Foxy Brown and released their only album as a group, The Album. AZвЂ™s EMI contract was transferred to sister label Noo Trybe Records and Virgin Records when the EMI Label Group was shut down. The albumвЂ™s lead single, вЂњSugar HillвЂќ, became AZвЂ™s major commercial success as a solo artist, reaching #25 on the Billboard Hot 100 chart, and achieving Gold status. AZ signed with EMI, and soon released his debut album Doe or Die in 1995 to critical acclaim. He was also included on вЂ™s list of the Top 50 MCs of Our Time (1987вЂ“2007), where he was described as вЂњarguably the most underrated lyricist ever.вЂќ AZ first became known by appearing on NasвЂ™s landmark 1994 album Illmatic on the song вЂњLifeвЂ™s A BitchвЂќ, as well as featuring vocals on the opening track вЂњThe GenesisвЂќ. In a countdown of the 10 Most Underappreciated Rappers-Most Underrated Rappers of All Time, the editors of listed AZ as #1 on the list. He is known for being a longtime and frequent music partner of Nas and also a member of hip hop group The Firm alongside Nas, Foxy Brown, Cormega and Nature.

Anthony Cruz (born March 9, 1972), better known by his stage name AZ, is an American rapper from East New York, Brooklyn, New York.

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