AZ Album: “Doe Or Die”

I am reviewing this album years after its release and so I have the luxury of knowing the impact this album has had on hip hop over time.

AZ was introduced to the world at large on Nas' "Life's a Bi*ch" track on the classic Illmatic album. After hearing that flow, people wanted to hear more from this cat.

Enter "Doe Or Die". This album boasts some classic tracks, both on the underground and mainstream levels. "Sugar Hill", with Miss Jones, was the most commercially successful track on the album. "Doe Or Die" was then the next track for which a single and a video were done. Both tracks are classics. "Rather Unique", a Pete Rock track sampling the cool electronic keys of Les McCann, is an underground gem.

AZ's rhymes are flawlessly delivered and the production is solid and soulful. It seems to me as though AZ has forever been trying to reach the mainstream with his music. Recent albums have proven that will never happen, but his true fans like things better thay way.

Skipping the intro, "Uncut Raw" has AZ rapidly spitting out of this world lyrics - "This is as pure as opion purified" "Puffin exotic trees without seeds rolled up in leaf paper" - very entertaining beginning. He and Nas pair up for two collaborations in "Gimmie Yours" & the timeless "Mo Money Mo Muder Homicide" "Rather Unique" has a laid back beat with perfect lyricism and a catchy hook. "Got a style sick as hell, sicker than sickle cell anemia, slaughter your circulatory like lukemia" amazing. Throughout this entire album AZ brings lyrics that bless all ears. Why is he so overlooked? Hmm maybe Nas is right Hip Hop is Dead... This album packs several five star hits in my eyes, but does mistep with the "sugarhill remix" (new beat, same lyrics). One version is enough for me. Anyway, this man's wordplay is incredible.

I reccomend Lil Jon to anyone who doesn't enjoy this album, because you obviously don't like Hip Hop.

This joint consists of fat Cuban havanas and ice-chilled magnums of Moet. Cognac-smooth beats and the skills of AZ the rhymer, push this disc to the rap summit. High altitude attitudes - you'll even hear Mr. Gore-Tex himself, the illmatic Nas Escobar on belay! These eloquent lyrical urban dudes verbally ice axe their new school trail up the rap kingdom's most extreme mountain, AZ and his Suga' Hill Posse invade the booming elevations of hiphop like some kind of mad-style crazy rap Sherpas!

Call it hiphop aristocracy. Lifestyles of the break beatin' famous. THE East-Side's eloquent verbal dominator AZ comes correct on this 95 classic! He's a rapid fire, machine gun rapper, and yes indeedy - AZ packs the required daily dosage of hiphop firepower. Fire this one up on a Saturday night in front the fire with ol' girl - cuz it's all about hiphop love. I say to you, from here in the land of MTV's Real World: Snap this one up like a hungry Free Willy unleashed at SeaWorld with squirming bucket full of tuna! Ahhh yeah, AZ be finger lickin' good! END

If you want an album that could embody the early 90's hip hop scene on the east coast "Doe Or Die" would be one of them. It is amazing how underrated AZ is, he is as under rated as Kool G Rap. It seems like AZ was built to tell street tails and that is what he does on "Uncut Raw" this song is like his version of "N.Y. State of Mind." this whole album is unbelievable, from relaxing tunes like "Rather Unique" and "Sugar Hill" to songs that are politically charged such as "We Can't Win" you will not skip a track and i bet that you will rewind a whole song 10 times just to hear his voice that was made for rap because i did it on "I Feel For You" so if you don't have this album you need to get it.

I have always liked AZ the first time I heard him on Illmatic. He has to be one of the most underated rappers in the game for sure. He is still doing his thing and it has been over 13 years now. The two cuts that I really like is Sugar Hill and Rather Unique. I can say that Sugar Hill is a classic hip hop song and always goes on a mix cd when it comes time to make one from the 90's. AZ is till putting out goos music and seems to have his spark back and a buzz about him.