The Firm "The Album" (October 21, 1997)

Nas and his cohorts have all the right ingredients for the perfect music Molotov; gold and platinum artists and producers, street credibility, a femme fatale, and a young protege. Yet The Firm routinely jumps back and forth over the skinny fence that separates failure from success. The foursome do, however, provide vigorous deliveries, renaissance rhymes, reflections on social conditions, and nicely timed mike tosses. Dr. Dre is on fire for some tracks; on some cheesy yesteryear shit for others. And although Nas is the apparent headliner, the verve and poetic acumen of his secondary architects prove the album's high points. Nas sounds crisp and clear but often comes off as unfocused, too infatuated with the high life and overly concerned with with polishing his laurels. But his clique's nimble-tongued members come through. They've got points to prove and doubts to squash. AZ, preparing for his forthcoming album, Pieces of a Man, steps up with tight, intertwined street stanzas that gain depth with every listen. Delivering on the initial promise he showcases on Nas's 1994 "Life's A Bitch," the Visualiza threads metaphysical thoughts, occult teachings, a taste for the glamorous life, and hip-hop's ever present one-upmanship into awesome aural lattices.... And Foxy is full of the kind of post-pubescent confidence that comes with having just recognized the power of the p#ssy. She's never been a better rhymestress than she is on The Firm.... Equally interested in cunnilingus as in being a cunning linguist, Foxy turns the tables around like a female Too Short, leaving pearl juice dripping from the speakers. You forget that she's an 18-year old kid playing grown-up. The up-and-coming Canibus assumes his regular role as show-stealer. But a plethora of guest appearances--including Noreaga and Half-a-Mil, Pretty Boy and Wizard--all get significant mike time,  blurring the focus of The Firm.... Ultimately, The Firm is heavy on motif, okay on concepts, and DOA on plot, while its overbearing skits and filler material pull the project into the mire of gimmickry. The Firm, though, even with star turns from AZ, Nas, and Foxy, misses its mark. This tight-knit work fam looks good together, sounds good together, but... is a little bit shaky. You'll be hitting fast-forward before your morning cup of joe wears off. - Vibe Magazine.

There are still songs on this I love, but the Vibe review wasn't wrong either ... 

AZ "Doe or Die" (October 10, 1995 / Spin Magazine)

The season has been good for B-Boy acquisitionists. From the hustler-turned-Versace-shade-wearer lingo of the Notorious B.I.G. to Chef Raekwon's episodic narratives of Lexus drivers and Cuban Link sporters, to Mobb Deep's stark pronouncements of need-the-loot-now-don't-fuck-wit-me-or-catch-a-bad-one, New York's latest crop of rhyme animals are living the "gimme" ethic to the fullest. Call it the Eastern sibling of the West's gangsta ethos. But New York's hardcore skips racial and cultural divides in its quest for inspiration. Heads have appropriated the mythos of figures like celluloid Cuban druglord Tony Montana, and real life New York crime boss John Gotti, to produce work marked by a curious balance of earnest yearning and bad-bwoy talk. On the surface, newcomer AZ would appear to fit into this mode quite snugly. First introduced to the hip-hop arena through a guest appearance on Nas's Illmatic, AZ has returned with a debut of his own, Doe or Die. His lead single, "Sugar Hill," does delve wholeheartedly into the material pool: "At times I window watch out the Marriott / Zonin' on ownin' co-ops / Foreign drop top coupes and yachts." However, the song is sprinkled throughout with the element that sets AZ apart from his capital-collectin' peers, acute political awareness: "Making it hard trying to figure out who's out to trap me / Pataki [Governor of New York] got all kind of undercovers that's coming at me / Perhaps he won't be happy till they snatch me and place me / Where half us blacks be / Sittin' in Coxsackie." Nas steadily rips on Christianity. Biggie may be invested with suicidal tendencies. But only AZ offers a grounded critique of the larger structures wreaking havoc upon the urban-dwelling body. Revisit/more below...

Doe or Die unfolds in a well-sketched procession. On the appropriately title "Gimme," AZ pours forth a tale of loot capers and ghetto aspirations in a rapid-patterned delivery reminiscent--but for the high tonality--of the godfather of the hip-hop hustle ethic, Kool G Rap. A duet with Nas, "Mo Money, Mo Murder, Mo Homicide," hypnotically peruses the pleasures and pitfalls of fast cash. Much like Illmatic, Doe or Die's most significant letdown occurs on the musical end. Pete Rock's swing rhythms and smooth keyboard textures, N.O. Joe's Southern-style funk, and D.R.'s lead-out, bass heavy Brooklyn sound do manage to give AZ a powerful platform for half of the album. The other beat-crafters simply can't keep pace. Nevertheless, Doe or Die achieves its purpose: AZ has breathed new air into the lungs of New York hard-rocks. - Spin Magazine (December, 1995). Interesting to read back and see that mild critique of Illmatic's production, however I do agree with some of the beats on Doe or Die, which is why I've always argued that if the unreleased tracks and the few 12" remixes were added, Doe or Die would've surely been an undeniable classic!

AZ "Doe Or Die II" (Album Stream)

Brooklyn's own AZ has finally released the follow up to his 1995 debut with a sequel dripped in its own brand of nostalgia. With production from Bink, Kaygee, Baby Paul, The Alchemist, Buckwild, Rockwilder, Heatmakerz, Czarface and the legendary Pete Rock, this 13-track set fits superbly in his extensive catalog of underrated music (debut aside). The LP also features Idris Elba, Jaheim, Rick Ross, Lil' Wayne, Conway the Machine, Dave East and T-Pain. Would I have called it Doe or Die II? Perhaps not, but I do see this as one of the better releases AZ has released in recent memory, and in his career as a whole. I'm told that autographed CDs are selling for roughly $85, but be advised, autographs are written on the outer wrapping, so if you plan to listen to the actual CD, it's not a sound investment. Just saying. That aside, it's good to see artists supporting the fans of physical copies, and the album is worth a listen below. The tracks range from R&B garbage to solid hip-hop...

Happy Born Day, AZ! (Playlist)

Born in Brooklyn, New York, AZ is a Grammy-nominated rapper who 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. 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. However, The Firm's only album, The Album, was regarded as critically disappointing. AZ has released over a dozen projects over the course of his career, maintaining a smooth, rhythmic cadence; multi-syllable rhyme schemes, internal rhymes, unconventional rhymes, and his vast vocabulary. While commercial success always eluded him, AZ will go down as one of the nicest MCs to emerge from the mid-90s. Below is a glimpse at some of my favorite tracks from AZ's extensive catalog - check it out, and wish him a Happy Born Day today! 

Below are a couple promo items, hit the archives for more...

The Firm "The Firm Album" (Cassette Sampler, 1997)

"The Firm was like this hip-hop supergroup. All three of them - Nas, AZ, and Foxy Brown - had reached a level of success by this time, so getting the three of them together was a real challenge. AZ was an hour late, Nas was an hour late, and Foxy was even later, like hours and hours, so I decided to work with AZ and Nas first and got some individual shots. I remember Nas was wearing this big "QB" (Queensbridge) medallion. I shot this at Sony Studios soundstage. I was always really inspired by the Blue Note albums, so I used filters for the lights and also added a filter on the lens, and that gives it the red tone. When you apply red filters to black-and-white photos in particular, it does something really magical to skin tones." - Jamil GS (Contact High). Just about anything that could be said of The Firm's 1997 group album has already been said, surely, but just wanted to revisit the album on its anniversary and aside from the photoshoot above, also share the original album sampler (via cassette) that was hosted by DJ Clue and released to promote the LP. It's dope that Cormega is back in the fold of things and is featured on the King's Disease LP. Of course, respect to Nature, who had one of the best mix tape runs at that time. He bodied everything he touched on those early Clue mix tapes. Anyhow, released on 10/21/97.... listen to the sampler below.

Firm Biz ad from The Source's cover issue with Nas, Foxy & AZ...

AZ "Doe Or Die" (October 10, 1995)

The first sentence of the Doe Or Die press kit boasts, "On Doe Or Die, AZ delivers one of the strongest debuts in Hip-Hop history." In an early advertisement, Nas shares, "It's the new renaissance. He's demonstrating life through poetry in its most modern form and his style is unfaded and unlimited. It's the ancient voice from Africa, from Asia, and from Europe: the lost souls of America. His voice is the lost souls..." Vibe reviewed the album saying, "AZ takes refuge inside the rhythmic walls of creation. He emerges as a scholar of ghetto sociology and a master storyteller who reports the realities of the day with frontline precision." Speaking to The Source about lyricism, AZ says, "Anytime you listen to my music, you will get some kind of jewels out of it, 'cause what I say for five minutes could last for five years. That's how I pump. So, lyrics mean a lot to me. I need something to touch me, man." I think AZ shortchanged his impact when he said 5 years, as it's now over 2 decades later, but I understand what he meant. In Elements magazine he took it a step further on lyrics, "I bring life to mics, I bring life to existence. I paint pictures into people's head, food for thought." I agree with all of these quotes, if that's not obvious. I've also argued in the past about "Sugar Hill" and "Rather Unique" being one of the better A/B side 12" releases, and if you include the Erick Sermon, RZA, and Buckwild remixes onto Doe Or Die, it's an even more epic debut album release! Doe Or Die was released on October 10, 1995 - revisit the album below...

The original sticker and press kit sent for AZ's Doe Or Die...

Nas & AZ "Built To Last" (Mix)

The latest tribute from the Built To Last crew is their Nas & AZ mix aka Supreme Team. The mix delivers 42 minutes with some of the finest cuts from two of the best emcees to ever touch the mic. As Nas' sole feature on Illmatic, AZ blessed "Life's A Bitch" and the two emcees have been connected ever since. 'Built To Last' Radio Show is hosted by Corrado and I Joe, each Thursday from 8-9pm on Radio campus FM in Toulouse, France. Enjoy the mix below and celebrate great emcees!

AZ the Visualiza "Next" Feature In Vibe Magazine (Nov, 1995)

Back again with another 'Next' feature in Vibe, this one from November 1995 and featuring AZ (The Visualiza). By this time, AZ had already released his classic, life-changing verse on 'Life's A Bitch' off Nas' classic, 'Illmatic.' Off the strength of that, the Brooklyn-born MC was signed to EMI in a bidding war and released his debut album, 'Doe or Die,' on October 10, 1995. Speaking from his perspective at the time, AZ shares: “I just gather my thoughts and let my mind drift, ‘cause overall, all we got is memories and dreams… Thinking about my peoples that I lost in the world — and those that’s incarcerated — helps me feel like I gotta carry on the dream for those who never made it.” Those thoughts were a reflection of his original bars on 'Life's a Bitch,' and a mindstate that resonated with fans then ... and now. I sat with 'Doe or Die' for a long time, and remixes by Erick Sermon, the RZA, and Buckwild that weren't included on the album make it all the more official. And, let's not forget that 'Rather Unique' may be one of the best B-Sides to a lead single ('Sugar Hill') ... ever. AZ's sophisticated bars and unique voice set the tone for an album that is now part of Hip-Hop history, especially to those of us who came up in New York in '94-96. Underrated for 20+ years. 

AZ "Pieces of a Man" + "Hey AZ" (1998)

I can remember articles and advertisements for a full year before AZ's second album, 'Pieces of a Man,' actually came out on Noo Trybe Records (on this day) in 1998. The advance single was 'Hey AZ' with SWV, which I liked, but either it didn't connect or due to the delays, it was not featured on the LP. The production was mostly handled by the Trackmasters with support from L.E.S., the RZA, K-Smoove, Tone Capone, Nashiem Myrick, and Goldfinga. AZ recorded 'Pieces of a Man' while simultaneously recording his parts in 'The Firm' album, which was an underwhelming delivery. You could argue he was targeting the mainstream more with 'Pieces,' which left me in a position where I disliked some of the tracks. 'Trading Places,' 'What's The Deal,' 'Just Because,' 'It's a Boy Thing,' and 'Betcha Don't Know' - in my opinion - should have been left on the cutting room floor. The rest of the album I rock with for delivering on what I'd come to expect from AZ after 'Doe or Die.' I can see why fans would be divided on whether to champion this project or not; even to this day, I'm not sure how I feel about it. No question, I was a big fan of 'Doe or Die,' where others weren't and I've always considered AZ to be one of the more underrated lyricists to contribute to NYC Hip-Hop, but I do think this album fell a bit short. Still, check out 'Sosa,' 'The Pay Back,' 'Last Dayz', 'How Ya Livin,' and 'New Life' for the best of what's available on the album, and the video for 'Hey AZ' below.

Sprite Advertisements (Videos)

Most of us remember back when Sprite was airing commercials with our legends, but do you also remember the Sprite Series' vinyl releases too? There were about 2 dozen of them, released in clear plastic sleeves & translucent Sprite-green vinyl. I had a whole stack of them. Steve Stoute calls it the 'Tanning of America,' explaining hip-hop's marketing ability in mainstream media, and to white America. Truth is, it's been happening for decades, and even our favorite artists secured the bag from various brands. Lugz, Sprite, St. Ides, Pepsi, Reebok, the list goes on. In the case of Sprite, they chose dope artists and they did it with originality and creativity; most seen in bringing KRS & MC Shan together for a mock battle - who could argue that wasn't timeless? A few years back, they licensed lyrics on the cans, which caught my attention. Below are 3 of my favorite Sprite commercials: Nas & AZ, KRS & MC Shan, and Pete Rock & CL Smooth - heavy on the nostalgia!

The Firm "The Album" (Rap Pages, December 1997)

"When Dr. Dre left N.W.A. to start Death Row Records with now-convicted felon Marion "Suge" Knight, he brought with him a sparkling track record peppered with numerous gold and platinum records. Unfortunately for Dre, since he escaped Death Row's death row to establish Aftermath Records, he has been unable to duplicate earlier achievements. His label debut  bombed and the Firm, a conglomerate of rappers masquerading as money launderers and cocaine traffickers, fails miserably. The Firm, consisting of Nas, Foxy Brown, AZ and newcomer Nature, first appeared on Nas's It Was Written on "Affirmative Action cut. "Affirmative Action" spun far-fetched tales of cocaine trafficking via Columbia and deals that suddenly turn sour. The insanity continues on the Firm. Instead of only one song depicting such foolishness, the entire album consists of uninspired, rehashed concepts pilfered from movies, such as Goodfellas, The Godfather, Casino and, of course, Scarface. Trackmasters shares production duties with Dre and seem satisfied with making records that probably pose as clever and original pieces of work to most of today's teens. For instance, "Hardcore" is a ripoff of Cheryl Lynn's "Encore," "Firm Biz" bites Teena Marie's "Square Biz" and "Fuck Somebody Else" boldly jacks the Jones Girk's "You Gonna Make Me Love Somebody Else."

"With the Firm's roster of MCs, one would expect this album to be laced with hit. Nothing could be further from the truth. The lyrical content of this debacle is bland. Nas continues his love affair of Latin American-mafioso-Cali cartel fantasies. Usual escapades of bartering p#ssy for loot, as well as breaking down the mathematics and intricacies of the drug trade are detailed by Foxy - again! AZ continues his career as the connected-but-not-yet "made" underling, and Nature never appears comfortable behind the mic. He ends up as the odd man out in the Firm's musical soiree. The Firms is a partnership that desperately needs to be dissolved." - Rap Pages, December 1997. Honestly? While my aim is to only post about content I enjoy - and I do think this album had a few redeeming moments - I have to agree, this album really did disappoint me a bit back in '97. So, I post this only to say, even though it features some of my favorite artists, they had a fair share of misses, too! Or, maybe I need to remove expectations from it, because with that collective, it shoulda been amazing!

Nas & AZ "Naz: The Flyest Essence" (Mixed by DJ Rhude)

Nas and AZ's chemistry in the booth is undeniable as evidenced by their body of work over the years. Despite said chemistry, the two arists have never collaborated on a full length album despite the fans pleas for it. While it probably may never happen, Datwon (Vibe, EIC) and DJ Rhude brainstormed about putting together a mixtape as a way of imagining how an album between the two could sound. As a result Naz: the Flyest Essence was born. The mix features beats from The Alchemist, Pete Rock, Large Professor, Salaam Remi and many more. Respect to DJ Rhude. Dig in...

AZ "Doe or Die" (The Source, November 1995)

"When AZ borrows Melle Mel's famous chorus from "The Message" (It's like a jungle sometimes...") on the title track for Doe or Die, he isn't doing it as a gimmick or a tribute. He's simply expanding on a theme used by all great MCs throughout hip-hop: survival. For masters like G. Rap and Rakim, tales of strivin' and survivin' were the fuel to their verbal fire. Now the mic has been passed to the next school of reality-hardened street poets. Rising out of the darkness and ignorance of the gangsta era, AZ represents the MC who tries to overcome negativity instead of succumbing to it. The track that best represents AZ's philosophy is "Homicide," a tag team effort with Nas that reflects upon the dangers of living foul. On "Born Alone, Die Alone," the song's chilling endpiece, AZ expresses raw fear and confusion: "All alone in this wilderness / who could figure life as ill as this / my vision's blurred from gorilla's mist / gunspray strays left a portion of my crew in graves." AZ also stands apart from his loochie-desiring peers, 'cause his brand of materialism is collective. In the Pete Rock-produced "Gimme," his talk about "moving cleverly with intentions of longevity" isn't selfish, but expresses a desire for the good life on behalf of ghetto sufferers everywhere." Cont'd below...

"Another talent that differentiates AZ is his ability to inject political awareness into his rhymes, portraying politicians as the perpetrators of misery that they are. "We was already molded in people's minds as moulianis / now we're more fucked up with a mayor named Giuliani," he rhymes on "Rather Unique." It's little bits of wisdom like this, and the Five Percent knowledge dropped on tracks like "We Can't Win," that display his special type of consciousness. AZ doesn't preach, nor does he claim to be a leader. He's the Visualiza, illuminating the painful truths of ghetto reality through layer upon layer of on-point rhymes. But Doe or Die ain't all about lyrical skill. AZ has assembled an all-star squad of producers to help bring the noise. Loose creates the perfect sonic background for "Uncut" with a sinister keyboard loop and tight drum track; "Hoe Happy Jackie" features funky female background vocals hooked up by Buckwild and the "Sugarhill" remix by LES has a hardness that the original version lacks. All the producers have succeeded in laying down dope tracks while keeping AZ's rapid-fire flow at the forefront. The skill level presented on Doe or Die places AZ at the forefront of East Coast rhymers, up there with Biggie, Chef Raekwon and his homie Nas. This is really some next shit." - The Source, November 1995. Is it a classic or nah?