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Life & Arts

AZ's hip-hop debut was one for the ages

Overlooked 'Doe or Die' epitomized 1990s rap; now it's a must-have

by ELI JABBE
The Daily Cougar

Doe or Die, an album from Brooklyn rapper AZ belongs in any hip-hop collection. The unappreciated debut from Anthony Cruz was definitely one of the highlights of the mid-1990s East Coast hip-hop.

New York hip-hop definitely had great debuts from several solo rappers in the mid-'90s. First was Nas' classic debut, Illmatic, in 1994, followed by another debut later that year in the form of Biggie Smalls' Ready to Die. In 1995, AZ released Doe or Die, which had many similarities to Illmatic but wasn't quite a classic like Nas' debut or Biggie's. And of course Jay-Z's classic debut Reasonable Doubt was released in 1996. 

Even before these debuts were released, Jay-Z, Nas and AZ briefly teamed as a group, which obviously would have been one of the best groups of lyricists ever if they had stayed together. AZ can also be seen with fellow Brooklyn rappers Jay and Biggie in the video for Jay's single "Dead President."

Just like Illmatic, AZ's debut is very short at 12 tracks. The production is mostly great, as Pete Rock and L.E.S., who both produced tracks on Illmatic, contribute solid tracks. Nas' presence is very much felt on this album, as he appears on several tracks. First, the intro features AZ and Nas conversing. Next is "Uncut Raw," in which AZ shows off a rapid flow. Next is "Gimme Yours" which features a nice Pete Rock beat and Nas' off-key singing on the chorus. Using creative rhymes, AZ talks about being persistent in his goals, saying, "Life's a performance so players play with endurance," and, "It's realism so I visualize it to live it / Moving cleverly with intentions of longevity / Strong pedigree's got me touching papers other would never see."

"Rather Unique," produced by Pete Rock, is an unforgettable in which AZ talks about how he's different from other rappers, saying, "Peep this uniqueness / nonbelievers I'm leaving speechless."

There are too many memorable lines to quote from this classic. Another standout track is the L.E.S.-produced "Sugar Hill", which features a chorus similar to the that on Biggie's hit "Juicy." This song is an anthem for those striving to reach their goals: AZ talks about being unrelenting, saying, "Me and my team, Caribbean cuisine, I guess being down for so long I'm all in store to see my dreams." The next track is yet another classic collaboration from Nas and AZ in the same league as "Mo Money Mo Murder. Mo Homicide." Over a slow track featuring strings sampled from the O'Jay's "Cry Together," the two trade classic verses for more than five minutes. Both illustrate their storytelling skills, and AZ isn't outshined by Nas thanks to lines like, "Now you're forced to listen / I've got the mind of a grad from Princeton."

Just like other 1990s East Coast rappers like Nas and Wu-Tang Clan, AZ was a member of the 5 percent (a faction of the Nation of Islam) so there are many 5 percent references and ideology scattered throughout the album. AZ is also similar to Nas -- and many other artists -- in that he was never able to recreate the level of brilliance of Doe or Die on later albums. Much like Scottie Pippen to Michael Jordan, AZ has been in Nas' shadow through most of his career. And like the plight of Houston's Z-Ro, AZ has never quite gotten the exposure he's deserved. If you only have one AZ album in your collection, make sure it's Doe or Die, one of the best of the 1990s.
 

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