AZ (rapper)

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AZ (1998)

Anthony Cruz (* 9. March 1973 in New York ), better known by his stage name AZ , is an American East Coast - Rapper African American - Dominican descent. He currently resides in Englewood , New Jersey .

biography

Cruz is from East New York .

Initially it was called AZ The Visualiza . AZ was first heard in 1994 on Na's debut album Illmatic on the track "Life's A Bitch" with Olu Dara . The following year he released his own solo album called Doe Or Die with guest contributions from East Coastern AG, Momo and Z-Dub. This is considered AZ 'best album by many critics and fans. Because of this, it is often compared to Nas' debut Illmatic , but the unanimous opinion is that it does not have its consistently high quality. In 1996 the rap group The Firm was founded, consisting of Nas, Foxy Brown , Cormega and himself. However, after a few months, Cormega was replaced by rapper Nature , which led to disputes between Cormega, Nas and Nature. AZ's lyrics are mostly about New York, politics, and life in the Hood. In 2004 the album Final Call should come on the market. It was ultimately never published due to illegal copies on the Internet. In 2005 he released the album AWOL

In November 2006, his seventh album The Format was released under Quiet Money Records. It received mostly positive reviews and was also very well received by the fans. He worked with MOP , singer Jha Jha from The Diplomats , and with DJ Premier , among others .

On April 1, 2008, AZ released its eighth studio album Undeniable . For the most part, it received slightly above-average reviews, but in the opinion of most critics it could not come close to its old publications. In addition, the previously unreleased album Final Call was finally released in 2008 on the Koch Records label under the name Final Call: The Lost Tapes . The title is borrowed from the name of Nas' Lost Tapes .

Discography

Studio albums

year title Top ranking, total weeks, awardChart placementsChart placements
(Year, title, rankings, weeks, awards, notes) 		Remarks
UK UK US US
1995 Doe or Die - US15 (6 weeks)
US
First published: October 10, 1995
1998 Pieces of a Man - US22 (6 weeks)
US
First published: April 7, 1998
2001 9 lives - US23 (7 weeks)
US
First published: June 12, 2001
2002 Aziatic - US29 (9 weeks)
US
First published: June 11, 2002
2005 AWOL - US73 (2 weeks)
US
First published: September 6, 2005
2008 Undeniable - US141 (2 weeks)
US
First published: April 1, 2008

More publishments:

  • 1997: The Firm - The Album (Collabo album)
  • 2000: SOSA (Save Our Streets AZ)
  • 2004: Decade 1994 - 2004
  • 2006: The Format
  • 2007: Memphis Sessions - Remixtape
  • 2008: N.4.L. (Niggaz 4 Life) (with DJ Absolut)
  • 2008: Final Call - The Lost Tapes
  • 2008: Anthology (B-Sides & Unreleased)
  • 2009: Legendary
  • 2009: GOD (Gold, Oil & Diamonds)
  • 2010: Doe or Die: 15th Anniversary
  • 2013: LODB (Last Of A Dying Breed)
  • 2013: LODB II (Last Of A Dying Breed)

Singles

year Title
album 		Top ranking, total weeks, awardChart placementsChart placements
(Year, title, album , rankings, weeks, awards, notes) 		Remarks
UK UK US US
1995 Sugar Hill
Doe or Die 		UK67 (1 week)
UK 		US25 (20 weeks)
US
First published: June 27, 1995

Web links

swell

  1. ↑ a b Chart sources: UK US
personal data
SURNAME AZ
ALTERNATIVE NAMES Cruz, Anthony (real name)
BRIEF DESCRIPTION American East Coast rapper
DATE OF BIRTH March 9, 1973
PLACE OF BIRTH New York City