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AZ
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AZ Anthony Cruz (born March 9, 1972 in Brownsville, Brooklyn, New York), better known as AZ, is an American rapper currently residing in Englewood, New Jersey. He is mainly known for his association with Nas, his membership in the supergroup The Firm, and his many successful solo albums.
Biography:
AZ was born Anthony Cruz to an African-American mother and a Dominican father. AZ first came to prominence by appearing on Nas’ landmark album Illmatic on the song “
Life’s a Bitch” (1994)—he was the only guest emcee to appear on that album. After a bidding war, AZ signed with EMI, and soon released Doe Or Die (1995) to more critical acclaim than commercial sales. The album’s lead single, “Sugar Hill”, became AZ’s only major commercial success as a solo artist, reaching the top 25 on the Billboard Hot 100 chart, and achieving Gold status. AZ’s EMI contract was transferred to sister label Noo Trybe Records/Virgin Records when the EMI Label Group was shut down.
In 1997, he and Nas appeared in an Sprite commercial.
AZ’s fanbase grew considerably after he joined The Firm, a supergroup comprised of AZ, Nas, Foxy Brown, and Nature, with Dr. Dre and The Trackmasters producing. The Firm’s only album, The Album, was regarded as critically disappointing. Pieces of a Man, AZ’s second solo release, didn’t sell well. Independently, AZ released S.O.S.A. to little fanfare in 2000. Soon, however, AZ signed with Motown/Universal Records and released 9 Lives.
Biography:
AZ was born Anthony Cruz to an African-American mother and a Dominican father. AZ first came to prominence by appearing on Nas’ landmark album Illmatic on the song “
Life’s a Bitch” (1994)—he was the only guest emcee to appear on that album. After a bidding war, AZ signed with EMI, and soon released Doe Or Die (1995) to more critical acclaim than commercial sales. The album’s lead single, “Sugar Hill”, became AZ’s only major commercial success as a solo artist, reaching the top 25 on the Billboard Hot 100 chart, and achieving Gold status. AZ’s EMI contract was transferred to sister label Noo Trybe Records/Virgin Records when the EMI Label Group was shut down.In 1997, he and Nas appeared in an Sprite commercial.
AZ’s fanbase grew considerably after he joined The Firm, a supergroup comprised of AZ, Nas, Foxy Brown, and Nature, with Dr. Dre and The Trackmasters producing. The Firm’s only album, The Album, was regarded as critically disappointing. Pieces of a Man, AZ’s second solo release, didn’t sell well. Independently, AZ released S.O.S.A. to little fanfare in 2000. Soon, however, AZ signed with Motown/Universal Records and released 9 Lives.
Top Albums
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The Format (Special Edition)
AZ Buy- Download Album
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Doe Or Die
AZ Buy- Download Album
- Amazon MP3 Search
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- Amazon $5.00
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A.W.O.L.
AZ Buy- Download Album
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Legendary
AZ Buy- Download Album
- Amazon MP3 $9.49
- 7digital $4.00
- iTunes $9.99
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- Amazon $10.25
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Top Tracks
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The Format
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Sugar Hill
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Uncut Raw
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I Am The Truth
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Ho Happy Jackie
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Get High
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I Feel For You
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Doe Or Die
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Intro
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Animal
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Your World Don't Stop
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Make Me
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This is What I Do
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Gimme Your's
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Shoutbox
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TheEntity_ wrote:
Live your life >>>>>
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e-mune wrote:
ok what the fuck is going on? where did all these plays come from over night?
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betoonking wrote:
Doe or Die is beyond great.
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yanghanqing wrote:
perpect!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
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SevenTongues wrote:
Brilliant.
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uh_oh_jlm wrote:
I like AZ better than Nas....yeah I said it
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kicky6 wrote:
i cant get enough of doe or die (rather unique specifically)
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RippedtGhraphiX wrote:
AZ the Real... Nas Is the greatest MC ever But AZ ripped him to shred's on Illmatic's - Life's A Bitch.. Love you homie.. [NO DOUBT!!!]
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mch1c wrote:
Naw man, his production isn't very consistent. Like I said a few of his tracks have some of my favorite beats. It's just he doesn't keep it going throughout the whole album. I did see he was talking to RZA about some tracks for DOD2, so if he gets those tracks from RZA, some from Premier, etc. he would be better off.
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thority wrote:
He has a few tracks with some of my favorite beats, but for the most part he needs better production. Some of his production sucks. AZ is definitely one of the best and probably the most underrated, some of that could be because the production for the most part. [3] unfortunately, lyrically he's there with the greatests
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dgk3188 wrote:
AZ the Visualiza! Allah-Zig-Zag-Zig
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booshpower wrote:
He has a few tracks with some of my favorite beats, but for the most part he needs better production. Some of his production sucks. AZ is definitely one of the best and probably the most underrated, some of that could be because the production for the most part. [2]
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Officialswitch wrote:
AZ the king!
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theoryjean wrote:
his voice sortof sounds like big L
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andychea wrote:
I am Legend is a prime example of why kno one buys cd's anymore! why would you want to pay for average half assed material like that
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andychea wrote:
not feelin' the production on I am legend at all...
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axel_fiedler wrote:
on last.fm he's definitly not underrated ;-)
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DLoCo1 wrote:
AZ is the beSt i luv his music :)
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mch1c wrote:
He has a few tracks with some of my favorite beats, but for the most part he needs better production. Some of his production sucks. AZ is definitely one of the best and probably the most underrated, some of that could be because the production for the most part.
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bakesmusic wrote:
AZ - Animal is so real.
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Recent Activity
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revolution718, XL2Nice, Conjurer701 and 8 other people added AZ to their libraries. 1 hour ago
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mikalaus tagged AZ with ‘hiphop’. 16 hours ago
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mikalaus, joeyung, Bsnoop031 and 37 other people added AZ to their libraries. 16 hours ago
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KillaB-zilla tagged AZ with new york and hip-hop. Monday afternoon
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okda28, MbZdkc, xgetxmirkedx and 43 other people added AZ to their libraries. Monday morning
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Flesh-n-Bone wrote about AZ – Aziatic in Top 10 Hip Hop Albums by Year (1979-2004). October 2009
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Flesh-n-Bone wrote about AZ – Doe Or Die in Top 10 Hip Hop Albums by Year (1979-2004). October 2009
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Emil_lkpg wrote about AZ – Doe Or Die in asdasd. October 2009
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Betterdayz502 wrote about AZ – Aziatic in Top 50 Albums (Recommend me albums based on my taste). September 2009
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Betterdayz502 wrote about AZ – Doe Or Die in Top 50 Albums (Recommend me albums based on my taste). September 2009
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update: top50
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15 Oct 2009 | Add comment
Groups (113)
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AZ
52 members
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Rakim Allah
56 members
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REAL HIP HOP FOREVER!
52 members
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NYC Hip Hop
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Blu & Exile
55 members
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