AZ (Rap) Music
Artist Overview
Brooklyn-bred AZ made about as big a splash as an MC could hope for in 1994. He supplied both the key verse and vocal hook for "Life's A Bitch" off Nas's seminal ILLMATIC. Then, his own debut LP, '95s DO OR DIE, catapulted to the top of the era's gritty-but-thoughtful East Coast rap scene, helping to bridge the gap between Eric B. & Rakim and Black Star. However, after The Firm--a supergroup comprised of AZ, Nas, Foxy Brown and others--flopped commercially, his own success tailed off as well. But AZ is still recording actively if independently, and his 2007 full-length, UNDENIABLE, demonstrated his influence on the younger generation, with guest spots from hot up-and-comers like Saigon.
Brooklyn-bred AZ made about as big a splash as an MC could hope for in 1994. He supplied both the key verse and vocal hook for "Life's A Bitch" off Nas's seminal ILLMATIC. Then, his own debut LP, '95s DO OR DIE, catapulted to the top of the era's gritty-but-thoughtful East Coast rap scene, helping to bridge the gap between Eric B. & Rakim and Black Star. However, after The Firm--a supergroup comprised of AZ, Nas, Foxy Brown and others--flopped commercially, his own success tailed off as well. But AZ is still recording actively if independently, and his 2007 full-length, UNDENIABLE, demonstrated his influence on the younger generation, with guest spots from hot up-and-comers like Saigon.


