In 1995 it was easy to confuse comrades and collaborators Nas and AZ, so similar in style were their street-schooled lyrical concerns and their austere, lazy-eyed rhyming styles. AZ, in fact, first came to the attention of the rap scene by contributing a verse to the former's classic 1994 single "Life's a Bitch." To compound the resemblance, he called upon Pete Rock to produce a couple tracks ("Gimme Your's" and "Rather Unique," both stellar) on this introductory recording, just as Nas had on his classic debut. The two albums are very muc… read more
In 1995 it was easy to confuse comrades and collaborators Nas and AZ, so similar in style were their street-schooled lyrical concerns and their auste… read more
In 1995 it was easy to confuse comrades and collaborators Nas and AZ, so similar in style were their street-schooled lyrical concerns and their austere, lazy-eyed rhyming styles. AZ, in … read more
Anthony Cruz (born March 9, 1972, in Brooklyn, New York), better known by his stage name AZ, is a Grammy-nominated rapper celebrated for his intricate lyricism, multi-syllabic rhyme patterns, and refined storytelling. Widely regarded as one of the most underrated emcees in hip-hop, AZ first rose to prominence with his iconic verse on “Life’s a Bitch,” from Nas’s groundbreaking 1994 album Illmatic. His smooth delivery and vivid imagery instantly made him a standout voice in the genre. In 1995, AZ released his debut album Doe or Die, which received critical acclaim and achieved commer… read more
Anthony Cruz (born March 9, 1972, in Brooklyn, New York), better known by his stage name AZ, is a Grammy-nominated rapper celebrated for his intricate lyricism, multi-syllabic rhyme pattern… read more
Anthony Cruz (born March 9, 1972, in Brooklyn, New York), better known by his stage name AZ, is a Grammy-nominated rapper celebrated for his intricate lyricism, multi-syllabic rhyme patterns, and refined storytelling. Widely regarded a… read more