2.16.2010

AZ - So Underrated?


AZ is a rapper from Brooklyn, New York and he has been a long time rhyme partner of Nas. Also he was in The Firm alongside Nas and Foxy Brown. AZ first came in to the hiphop world on a track called "Life's a Bitch" in 1994 which it is Nas track. He was the only guest emcee to appear on Nas first album illmatic. This led to Doe or Die which is first first album which drop in 1995 and it had Nas on a few tracks. I really like the album as it got it own style to others.

Then more albums came from AZ Pieces of a Man (1998,)9 Lives (2001)and Aziatic (2002). In these albums they had guests like Nas, Foxy Brown, Nature, RZA, Beanie Seal etc. A single from the album, "The Essence," (featuring Nas) was nominated for the 2003 Grammy Awards for Best Rap Performance by a Duo or Group.

Then we saw an album called A.W.O.L which had some hard tracks on. Then his five album was called The Format which had a track called The Format produced by DJ Premier. It sampled "Survival of the Fittest" by Mobb Deep, "Pt. 2" by Method Man & Redman, "This Side of Forever" by Roberta Flack all on the track. AZ last album was Undeniable in 2008 and it was a very solid album I thought.

As of October 2009, he is working on his 8th studio album titled Doe or Die 2 to be released in early 2010. He hopes to enlist the original production team to Doe Or Die such as L.E.S., Pete Rock, DR Period & Buckwild. He has even confirmed a couple of tracks with Pete Rock, including "Rather Unique Part II". AZ also has ambitions on trying to nab beats from DJ Toomp, Dr. Dre & Kanye West for DOD2 including reaching out to his old rhyme partner Nas, also according to his Twitter he has requested a beat from RZA as well and plans on releasing the album by May or June 2010.

Peace.

4 comments:

Justin said...

good post man! like it..

Life of lelo said...

az is is dope

Anonymous said...

I'll just interview u instead.

Nas Holston said...

everybody who listened to his first album knows that he's way underrated. wonder why he never blew up like Nas.