AZ

  • Brooklyn, NY
    hometown
  • Hip-Hop/Rap
    genre
  • 1992
    started
  • Bio
    full story
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About AZ


One of the numerous thoughtful gangsta rappers to emerge from New York during the mid-'90s, AZ enjoyed critical success early in his career, particularly with his debut album, Doe or Die (1995), but commercial success largely eluded him over the years. Born in Brooklyn, he initially garnered attention with his guest feature on "Life's a Bitch," one of the standout tracks on Nas' landmark debut album, Illmatic (1994). In the wake of Doe or Die's critical success, AZ collaborated with Nas in the ill-fated supergroup the Firm and released Pieces of a Man (1998), another critical favorite. But for the most part, that was it from AZ for several years as he fell by the wayside, not surfacing in a big way again until a pair of Motown releases, 9 Lives (2001) and Aziatic (2002), that didn't sell any better than his previous efforts. He subsequently took his music underground, periodically releasing albums such as A.W.O.L. (2005). In 2004 the double-disc retrospective Decade 1994-2004 looked back over his career to date, gathering up various highlights. ~ Jason Birchmeier, Rovi

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Music

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  • The Come Up
    az
    Video
    The Come Up
  • 37700
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    • Sugar Hill
      http://listen.vo.llnwd.net/g1/6/5/9/5/0/106605956.mp3
    • We Movin
      http://listen.vo.llnwd.net/g1/6/5/9/1/2/996421956.mp3
    • Mo Money, Mo Murder (Homicide)
      http://listen.vo.llnwd.net/g1/4/6/4/5/2/106625464.mp3
    • Wanna Be There
      http://listen.vo.llnwd.net/g2/3/2/7/7/7/904477723.mp3
    • Rather Unique
      http://listen.vo.llnwd.net/g1/1/1/3/6/0/106606311.mp3
    • Doe Or Die
      http://listen.vo.llnwd.net/g1/3/7/5/4/6/106964573.mp3

Photos

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  • AZ
    Jonathan Mannion
  • Photo:Carline Jean
    AZ
    Photo:Carline Jean

News

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  • AZ
    J. Cole Goes Through Hell And Back On 'Born Sinner' Album
    MTV News
    June 18, 2013
    Promising that 'it's way darker this time,' Cole uses his sophomore album to tell a personal story of sin and redemption.
    Read More
  • AZ
    J. Cole Goes Through Hell And Back On 'Born Sinner' Album
    MTV News
    June 18, 2013
    Promising that 'it's way darker this time,' Cole uses his sophomore album to tell a personal story of sin and redemption.
    Read More
  • AZ
    Drake Sets 'Would You Like A Tour?' Dates With Future, Miguel
    MTV RapFix
    June 17, 2013
    Drake has announced dates for his upcoming 41-city tour with Miguel and Future called " Would You Like A Tour ?" and the answer to that question is p...
    Read More
  • AZ
    Drake And Miguel Ask 'Would You Like A Tour'?
    MTV News
    June 17, 2013
    Forty-one-city North American tour kicks off September 25 with a show in Portland.
    Read More
  • AZ
    Drake And Miguel Ask 'Would You Like A Tour'?
    MTV News
    June 17, 2013
    Forty-one-city North American tour kicks off September 25 with a show in Portland.
    Read More
  • AZ
    Lil Wayne Gets Probation In AZ Drug Case | Billboard.com
    www.billboard.com
    probation following his New York sentence, Tilson said. The rapper's tour bus, carrying 11 others, was stopped and searched by Border Patrol authoriti...
    Read More
  • AZ
    Rage Against the Machine Enlist Kanye, Sonic Youth, Oberst in AZ Boycott
    www.pitchfork.com
    for musicians to boycott the state of Arizona. So far, they've rounded up an impressive list of artists to commit to the boycott: Kanye West, Sonic Yo...
    Read More
  • AZ
    AZ: 'My Ni**as' | Prefix
    www.prefixmag.com
    Tweet The hip-hop world has known about AZ's promised sequel to 1995's classic Doe or Die for quite some time. And like other oft-delayed projects, we...
    Read More
  • AZ
    Head for the Hills to Play 10th Anniversary Show for Flagstaff, AZ's Orpheum
    www.jambands.com
    The Orpheum Theater in Flagstaff, AZ will celebrate its tenth anniversary with a free performance by Colorado newgrass band Head for the Hills. The 21...
    Read More
  • AZ
    DJ Premier Talks 'Illmatic' Sessions, Meeting AZ, And Nas' Ear For Beats
    www.vibe.com
    During VIBE's sitdown with DJ Premier for our Great Debate videos, the hip-hop Almanac had tales for days. Here, the legendary producer shares details...
    Read More
  • AZ
    Listen: New Music From AZ 'We Movin' | Prefix
    www.prefixmag.com
    Tweet AZ first broke onto the music scene with his collaboration on Nas' "Life's a bitch," to then shortly after releasing his debut album Doe or Die ...
    Read More
  • AZ
    J. Cole's 'N---az Know': What We Learned On The Brand-New Track
    MTV News
    We can expect J. Cole to beat his chest from now until June 18, the day his sophomore LP tBorn Sinner hits retail right alongside Kanye West's much-an...
    Read More
  • AZ
    AZ Drops New Mixtape, 'L.O.D.B (Last Of A Dying Breed)'
    www.xxlmag.com
    Before AZ releases his long-awaited Doe Or Die sequel, the rap vet dishes this greatest hits mixtape fittingly titled, L.O.D.B. (Last of A Dying Breed...
    Read More
  • AZ
    Stream AZ Last Of A Dying Breed Mixtape | Prefix
    www.prefixmag.com
    Tweet As we wait for AZ's highly anticipated album Doe or Die II to drop, AZ a.k.a Anthony Cruz has teamed up with producer Baby Paul to give us the L...
    Read More

Discography

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  • Legendary (2009)
    AZ
    Legendary (2009)
    Real Talk Entertainment
  • I Am Legend (2009)
    AZ
    I Am Legend (2009)
    Siccness.net
  • The Game Don't Stop (2009)
    AZ
    The Game Don't Stop (2009)
    J-Love Enterprises
  • N4L (2008)
    AZ
    N4L (2008)
    Iceman Music Group
  • Undeniable (2007)
    AZ
    Undeniable (2007)
    Fast Life Music, Inc.
  • The Format (2006)
    AZ
    The Format (2006)
    Quiet Money
  • A.W.O.L. (2005)
    AZ
    A.W.O.L. (2005)
    Quiet Money/Fastlife
  • Final Call (2004)
    AZ
    Final Call (2004)
    Koch
  • Aziatic (2002)
    AZ
    Aziatic (2002)
    Motown Records
  • 9 Lives (2001)
    AZ
    9 Lives (2001)
    Motown Records
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