547:. The album was mostly well received by critics, one such positive review from Brad Mills at Allmusic, states: "AZ has been looked upon to do amazing things with his music. Has he lived up to those high expectations on this album he has from start to finish. The beats on this album are complex, inventive, and almost perfectly suited for AZ's style of rhyming. He's carefully crafted this album rather than slapped it together overnight to meet his quota, and it shows. It helps immensely that he's brought along people like DR Period, Az Izz, Nas, and Buckwild, but they don't outshine the younger AZ as he holds his own well. AZ has come up with his best work in a long time on this album."
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672:. In 2010, Dr. Dre and Kanye West were said to be too busy to produce for the album, but AZ said he was patiently waiting for them to complete their next solo records so they could join the production team. He was also seeking production from DJ Premier. During a 2011 interview with XXLMag, AZ confirmed that Nas would be featured on the album.
617:, his seventh studio album, was released on April 1, 2008, through Quiet Money and Koch Records. The album debuted at number 141 on the U.S. Billboard 200 chart, selling over 25,000 copies in its first week. In October 2009, AZ confirmed he was working on a sequel to his debut studio album, titled
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listed AZ as the "Most
Underrated of All Time". AZ also made it onto the site's "Top 50 MCs of Our Time (1987–2007)", where he was reiterated as "arguably the most underrated lyricist ever".
1204:"AZ Discusses Eminem's "Infinite," His Unfinished Tracks With Nas And "Cristal Competition" With The Notorious B.I.G. | Get The Latest Hip Hop News, Rap News & Hip Hop Album Sales"
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519:, peaking at #23 on the Billboard 200 and #4 on the Top Hip Hop / R&B Albums. The leading single, "Problems", with its accompanying music video, reached #34 on the Hot Rap Singles.
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also features the bonus track "Royal Salute", a retaliation to 50 Cent's song "What If" which included a line aimed at AZ. On
October 7, 2007, Quiet Money released
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for the album, as well as reaching out to his old rhyme partner Nas. The first single from the album "Feel My Pain" was produced by
1098:"Producer Baby Paul Talks AZ's "Doe or Die 2", New Projects | Get The Latest Hip Hop News, Rap News & Hip Hop Album Sales"
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385:, until the vocational school closed down in the late 1980s. In the early 1990s, he became friends with Nas, a young rapper from
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received notable commercial success, peaking at #15 on the
Billboard 200, and #1 on the U.S. Top R&B/Hip Hop Albums chart.
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589:. The album's lead single is its title track "The Format", which was produced by DJ Premier, with "Vendetta" as its B-Side.
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AZ started writing rap lyrics when he was 12 years old. He attended Eli
Whitney High School, with fellow Brooklyn rapper
556:, his fifth album, was released, becoming the first AZ album to be released on his own imprint, Quiet Money Records.
1177:"AZ "My Niggas" (prod. by Buckwild) by clockworkmusic on SoundCloud – Create, record and share your sounds for free"
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features a duet between AZ and long-time friend and collaborator, Nas, "The
Essence", which was nominated for a
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was released by EMI Records on
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232:, is an American rapper. Best known for his affiliation with hometown native and fellow East Coast rapper
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485:. Doe or Die produced several singles, including "Mo Money, Mo Murder", "Gimme Yours", "Doe or Die" and "
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and invited AZ to work with him in the studio. AZ appeared on the album intro and had a verse on "
343:(2002). The latter contained the song "The Essence" (featuring Nas), which earned a nomination for
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1230:"Ghostface Killah "36 Seasons" Release Date, Tracklist, Production Credits & Album Stream"
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1000:"AZ's 'Doe or Die' Turns 20: Brooklyn Rapper Looks Back on Its History & Impact"
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chart despite unfavorable critical response; the group disbanded two years later.
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in 1996. Cruz first saw recognition for his guest appearance on Nas' 1994 single "
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Upon EMI's dissolution, he was transferred to its sister labels,
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team of beatsmiths L.E.S., DR Period, Pete Rock, and
Buckwild.
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272:(1995), which was met with critical acclaim. Its lead single, "
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On March 27, 2012, AZ released the first street single from
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639:. AZ also had ambitions on trying to acquire beats from
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1045:"AZ Wants Dr. Dre, Kanye West And Nas For Doe Or Die 2"
621:. He hoped to enlist the original production team from
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Grammy Award for Best Rap
Performance by a Duo or Group
496:, being certified Gold by the RIAA in September 1995.
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228:(born March 9, 1972), better known by his stage name
597:, adding six bonus tracks including "Royal Salute".
236:, they formed the New York City-based hip hop group
1151:"Nas Will Appear on Doe or Die II, AZ "Guarantees""
1071:"Preview – AZ-Feel_My_Pain_(Prod_Frank_Dukes)-.mp3"
892:"Foxy Brown is majorly dissed on a major release"
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1179:. Soundcloud.com. March 26, 2012. Archived from
986:"Rapper AZ Says He Battled Jay-Z In High School"
1567:American rappers of Dominican Republic descent
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317:, through which he released his second album,
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389:. Nas started working on his debut album
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331:to release his third and fourth albums,
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1642:20th-century African-American musicians
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927:. About.com:Rap/Hip-Hop. Archived from
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1026:"2003 Grammy Award Nominees Announced"
860:Best Rap Performance by a Duo or Group
505:, AZ's second album, was released via
345:Best Rap Performance by a Duo or Group
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1637:21st-century American male musicians
1632:20th-century American male musicians
1587:Hispanic and Latino American rappers
1463:Anthology (B-Sides & Unreleased)
1043:Arnold, Paul W (December 22, 2009).
707:was released on September 10, 2021.
690:In 2014, AZ was heavily featured on
370:to an African-American mother and a
469:, alongside several albums, namely
266:to release his debut studio album,
13:
1123:Arnold, Paul W (October 4, 2010).
457:, among others. Upon its release,
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1470:G.O.D. (Gold, Oil & Diamonds)
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1202:Arnold, Paul W (March 29, 2012).
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262:(1994). Cruz was then signed by
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1617:20th-century American rappers
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923:Adaso, Henry (June 3, 2010).
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280:) peaked at number 25 on the
109:Brooklyn, New York City, U.S.
1572:East Coast hip hop musicians
1477:Doe or Die: 15th Anniversary
1096:Paine, Jake (June 3, 2010).
958:Jewels, Gems & Treasures
925:"10 Most Underrated Rappers"
669:Doe or Die: 15th Anniversary
595:The Format (Special Edition)
368:Bedford–Stuyvesant, Brooklyn
7:
1456:Final Call (The Lost Tapes)
1206:. HipHop DX. Archived from
1127:. HipHop DX. Archived from
418:Doe or Die, Pieces of a Man
10:
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1100:. HipHopDX. Archived from
1073:. LimeLinx. Archived from
1047:. HipHopDX. Archived from
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658:In 2010, former member of
509:. His third album, 2001's
407:offered AZ a record deal.
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299:(1997) peaked atop the
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826:Awards and nominations
703:After several delays,
550:On September 6, 2005,
432:
403:was released in 1994,
374:father. He grew up in
57:Background information
1597:Rappers from Brooklyn
1562:American male rappers
1434:Compilations/mixtapes
1262:. September 10, 2021.
1260:"Doe or Die II by AZ"
1131:on September 29, 2012
973:#20YrsLtr: Doe or Die
603:Undeniable, Legendary
431:AZ performing in 1997
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297:The Firm's sole album
291:certification by the
1416:Collaborative albums
1183:on February 19, 2014
1157:on February 10, 2013
1051:on December 25, 2009
1032:on October 20, 2012.
864:"The Essence" (with
811:Collaboration Albums
19:For other uses, see
1602:Underground rappers
1424:The Firm: The Album
1210:on January 22, 2014
818:The Firm: The Album
515:, was released via
21:AZ (disambiguation)
1104:on August 26, 2010
1006:. October 10, 2015
912:allmusic Biography
537:AZ's fourth album
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295:(RIAA). Moreover,
256:", from his album
121:East Coast hip hop
86:The Rap James Bond
1577:EMI Group artists
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635:, DR Period, and
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435:AZ's debut album
329:Universal Records
311:Noo Trybe Records
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1519:Related articles
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167:1993–present
163:Years active
67:Anthony Cruz
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1547:1972 births
1333:Discography
935:October 13,
846:Nomination
711:Discography
653:Frank Dukes
523:2002–2007:
467:mafioso rap
416:1995–2001:
405:EMI Records
337:(2001) and
240:along with
211:Formerly of
178:Quiet Money
152:Discography
135:Occupations
126:mafioso rap
1541:Categories
1502:Sugar Hill
1392:Undeniable
1385:The Format
1350:Doe or Die
878:References
871:Nominated
777:Undeniable
769:The Format
729:Doe or Die
697:36 Seasons
685:Doe or Die
664:Doe or Die
649:Kanye West
624:Doe or Die
614:Undeniable
591:The Format
587:DJ Premier
562:The Format
532:The Format
487:Sugar Hill
479:and Nas's
463:Doe or Die
459:Doe or Die
438:Doe or Die
362:Early life
278:Miss Jones
274:Sugar Hill
269:Doe or Die
242:Foxy Brown
144:songwriter
100:1972-03-09
63:Birth name
51:AZ in 1998
1399:Legendary
1244:March 30,
1187:March 30,
1161:March 30,
1135:March 30,
1004:Billboard
785:Legendary
694:'s album
633:Pete Rock
567:Lil' Fame
499:In 1998,
492:Billboard
447:Pete Rock
399:". After
356:About.com
302:Billboard
283:Billboard
192:Noo Trybe
182:Real Talk
1526:The Firm
1509:Firm Biz
1378:A.W.O.L.
1234:HipHopDX
761:A.W.O.L.
681:Buckwild
641:DJ Toomp
637:Buckwild
627:such as
553:A.W.O.L.
528:A.W.O.L.
525:Aziatic,
455:Buckwild
443:N.O. Joe
401:Illmatic
392:Illmatic
259:Illmatic
238:the Firm
215:The Firm
1487:Singles
1371:Aziatic
1364:9 Lives
1281:Twitter
1010:May 11,
849:Result
753:Aziatic
745:9 Lives
666:titled
645:Dr. Dre
540:Aziatic
512:9 Lives
494:Hot 100
422:9 Lives
347:at the
340:Aziatic
334:9 Lives
285:Hot 100
246:Cormega
1214:May 2,
975:(2016)
896:EW.com
843:Award
821:(1997)
802:(2023)
796:(2021)
788:(2009)
780:(2008)
772:(2006)
764:(2005)
756:(2002)
748:(2001)
740:(1998)
732:(1995)
629:L.E.S.
579:Phonte
571:M.O.P.
517:Motown
453:, and
451:L.E.S.
411:Career
387:Queens
325:Motown
250:Nature
197:Virgin
172:Labels
141:Rapper
114:Genres
840:Year
575:Emile
471:Jay-Z
383:Jay-Z
28:Jay-Z
1246:2017
1216:2012
1189:2012
1163:2012
1137:2012
1110:2010
1083:2010
1057:2009
1012:2020
937:2010
855:2003
647:and
605:and
585:and
530:and
420:and
327:and
313:and
289:gold
248:and
187:Koch
94:Born
83:Sosa
1279:on
866:Nas
569:of
473:'s
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304:200
264:EMI
234:Nas
202:EMI
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1277:AZ
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