Based on a violin snippet of ‘Cry Together’ by The O’Jays, it’s a majestic crime tale that features AZ and Nas planning high-stakes hits and “ sippin Cristal in crystal.”Īt a time when Nas was on an untouchable level, AZ was the one of the few that managed to keep up with him, and in this particular case – outshine QB’s finest. producer Buckwild is a mellow jazz piece, which features AZ on the warning side against those paper-chasing females.Īnd then there’s ‘Mo Money, Mo Murder, Mo Homicide’ – arguably the centrepiece of Doe or Die. The cautionary ‘Ho Happy Jackie’ courtesy of D.I.T.C.
Illmatic production star, Pete Rock blesses AZ with the noirish, mafioso-inspired ‘Gimme Yours’, and also delivers the outstanding ‘Rather Unique’ – a Big Daddy Kane-sampling track that’s simply bursting at the seams with smooth braggadocio. Musically, the album’s soundscape is quite diverse swinging between grimy street cuts (‘Uncut Raw’) and sunnier G-Funk hits (‘Sugar Hill’). Though often hidden among the shadows of more commercially successful and arguably more influential records, AZ’s 1995 debut album is one of the many 90s East Coast albums that never seems outdated. and Buckwild, he released, to much anticipation, Doe or Die.
Summing up inner-city philosophies, the daily hustle and the general cynicism of the NYC lifestyle, all within a single verse, and delivered through flawless lyrical technique AZ quickly became one of the most sought after emcees.Īfter securing a deal with record label EMI and roping in Nas as well as production credits from Pete Rock, L.E.S. If Nas’ appearance on Main Source’s ‘Live at the Barbeque’ is generally touted as the greatest guest verse in hip hop history, then I’d have to say AZ’s verse on Illmatic’s ‘Life’s a Bitch’ would have to be a close second.
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