{"id":1795,"date":"2018-12-31T12:28:56","date_gmt":"2018-12-31T19:28:56","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/hiphopnewsjournal.com\/?p=1795"},"modified":"2019-05-12T18:29:10","modified_gmt":"2019-05-13T00:29:10","slug":"az-and-nas-partners-in-rhyme","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/hiphopnewsjournal.com\/staging\/az-and-nas-partners-in-rhyme\/","title":{"rendered":"AZ and Nas: Partners in Rhyme"},"content":{"rendered":"<p>AZ\u2019s album Doe or\u00a0Die 2 at this point has been nine years in the making. A follow up to his first album 1995\u2019s Doe or Die which is considered his best work. For Doe or Die 2 AZ wanted to make sure the line-up of original producers were involved including Pete Rock, L.E.S, and Buckwild. In addition to ambitiously recruiting DJ Premier, Dr. Dre, Kanye West, and Eminem to be involved as well. One other key ingredient from the original album that must also be included in the follow up is the presence of Nas.<\/p>\n<h3><strong>AZ \u2013 20<sup>th<\/sup> Anniversary of Doe or Die<\/strong><\/h3>\n<p><iframe width=\"1080\" height=\"608\" src=\"https:\/\/www.youtube.com\/embed\/NUJM9aysPlI?feature=oembed\" frameborder=\"0\" allow=\"accelerometer; autoplay; encrypted-media; gyroscope; picture-in-picture\" allowfullscreen><\/iframe><\/p>\n<p>&nbsp;<\/p>\n<p>AZ and Nas\u2019s relationship dates back to the days of <strong><em>Illmatic<\/em><\/strong>. An album many would argue is one of the greatest ever. AZ was the only guest on the album, featured on \u201cThe Genesis\u201d and Life\u2019s A\u2026\u201d At some point during this time period Nas recorded the track \u201cUnderstanding\u201d which also featured AZ as well as Biz Markie. AZ\u2019s contribution to the album led to a record deal with EMI Records and the release of <strong><em>Doe or Die<\/em><\/strong>.<\/p>\n<h3><strong>Nas \u2013 The Genesis feat. AZ<\/strong><\/h3>\n<p><iframe width=\"1080\" height=\"810\" src=\"https:\/\/www.youtube.com\/embed\/Rhv5Wv5ehnA?feature=oembed\" frameborder=\"0\" allow=\"accelerometer; autoplay; encrypted-media; gyroscope; picture-in-picture\" allowfullscreen><\/iframe><\/p>\n<h3><\/h3>\n<h3><strong>Nas \u2013 Life\u2019s a B*tch feat. AZ<\/strong><\/h3>\n<p><iframe width=\"1080\" height=\"810\" src=\"https:\/\/www.youtube.com\/embed\/HEwSfbE9IXc?feature=oembed\" frameborder=\"0\" allow=\"accelerometer; autoplay; encrypted-media; gyroscope; picture-in-picture\" allowfullscreen><\/iframe><\/p>\n<h3><\/h3>\n<h3><strong>Nas \u2013 Life\u2019s a B*tch (remix) feat. AZ<\/strong><\/h3>\n<p><iframe width=\"1080\" height=\"810\" src=\"https:\/\/www.youtube.com\/embed\/G5gh_lHVUYI?feature=oembed\" frameborder=\"0\" allow=\"accelerometer; autoplay; encrypted-media; gyroscope; picture-in-picture\" allowfullscreen><\/iframe><\/p>\n<h3><\/h3>\n<h3><strong>Nas \u2013 Understanding feat. AZ &amp; Biz Markie<\/strong><\/h3>\n<p><iframe width=\"1080\" height=\"810\" src=\"https:\/\/www.youtube.com\/embed\/xlOSpEeFYWA?feature=oembed\" frameborder=\"0\" allow=\"accelerometer; autoplay; encrypted-media; gyroscope; picture-in-picture\" allowfullscreen><\/iframe><\/p>\n<p>&nbsp;<\/p>\n<p>Nas contributed on three tracks for <strong><em>Doe or Die <\/em><\/strong>including \u201cIntro\u201d, \u201cGimme Yours\u201d and \u201cMo Money, Mo Murder\u201d. The album just like <strong><em>Illmatic <\/em><\/strong>would eventually be certified platinum. In 1996 the super group The Firm was formed which consisted of Nas, AZ, Foxy Brown, and Cormega. Cormega would eventually be replaced by Nature.<\/p>\n<h3><strong>AZ \u2013 Intro feat. Nas<\/strong><\/h3>\n<p><iframe width=\"1080\" height=\"608\" src=\"https:\/\/www.youtube.com\/embed\/fre4gW6xIWk?feature=oembed\" frameborder=\"0\" allow=\"accelerometer; autoplay; encrypted-media; gyroscope; picture-in-picture\" allowfullscreen><\/iframe><\/p>\n<h3><\/h3>\n<h3><strong>AZ \u2013 Gimme Yours feat. Nas<\/strong><\/h3>\n<p><iframe width=\"1080\" height=\"810\" src=\"https:\/\/www.youtube.com\/embed\/uJFQyf9qn7c?feature=oembed\" frameborder=\"0\" allow=\"accelerometer; autoplay; encrypted-media; gyroscope; picture-in-picture\" allowfullscreen><\/iframe><\/p>\n<h3><\/h3>\n<h3><strong>AZ \u2013 Gimme Yours (remix) feat. Nas<\/strong><\/h3>\n<p><iframe width=\"1080\" height=\"810\" src=\"https:\/\/www.youtube.com\/embed\/zdmiwgdwzR8?feature=oembed\" frameborder=\"0\" allow=\"accelerometer; autoplay; encrypted-media; gyroscope; picture-in-picture\" allowfullscreen><\/iframe><\/p>\n<h3><\/h3>\n<h3><strong>AZ \u2013 Mo Money, Mo Murder feat. Nas<\/strong><\/h3>\n<p><iframe width=\"1080\" height=\"810\" src=\"https:\/\/www.youtube.com\/embed\/5gwtCEtnm6g?feature=oembed\" frameborder=\"0\" allow=\"accelerometer; autoplay; encrypted-media; gyroscope; picture-in-picture\" allowfullscreen><\/iframe><\/p>\n<p>&nbsp;<\/p>\n<p>The group would make their debut on Nas\u2019s 1996 album <strong><em>It Was Written<\/em><\/strong> on the track \u201cAffirmative Action\u201d. A remix would be put out as well. The following year because of Nas and AZ\u2019s chemistry they were recruited for a Sprite Commercial rapping over Double Trouble\u2019s \u201cDouble Trouble at the Ampitheatre\u201d. Originally from the 1983 hip hop classic film <strong><em>Wild Style<\/em><\/strong>. Leading up to the release of The Firm\u2019s project simply titled <strong><em>The Album<\/em><\/strong>.<\/p>\n<h3><strong>Nas \u2013 Affirmative Action feat. The Firm<\/strong><\/h3>\n<p><iframe width=\"1080\" height=\"608\" src=\"https:\/\/www.youtube.com\/embed\/rtgovDDroPo?feature=oembed\" frameborder=\"0\" allow=\"accelerometer; autoplay; encrypted-media; gyroscope; picture-in-picture\" allowfullscreen><\/iframe><\/p>\n<h3><\/h3>\n<h3><strong>Nas \u2013 Affirmative Action (remix) feat. The Firm<\/strong><\/h3>\n<p><iframe width=\"1080\" height=\"810\" src=\"https:\/\/www.youtube.com\/embed\/uA_9pU--lsA?feature=oembed\" frameborder=\"0\" allow=\"accelerometer; autoplay; encrypted-media; gyroscope; picture-in-picture\" allowfullscreen><\/iframe><\/p>\n<h3><\/h3>\n<h3><strong>AZ &amp; Nas \u2013 Sprite Commercial<\/strong><\/h3>\n<p><iframe width=\"1080\" height=\"608\" src=\"https:\/\/www.youtube.com\/embed\/JIN6rZjab0M?feature=oembed\" frameborder=\"0\" allow=\"accelerometer; autoplay; encrypted-media; gyroscope; picture-in-picture\" allowfullscreen><\/iframe><\/p>\n<h3><\/h3>\n<h3><strong>Double Trouble \u2013 Double Trouble at the Ampitheatre<\/strong><\/h3>\n<p><iframe width=\"1080\" height=\"608\" src=\"https:\/\/www.youtube.com\/embed\/SLI_0f2BPps?feature=oembed\" frameborder=\"0\" allow=\"accelerometer; autoplay; encrypted-media; gyroscope; picture-in-picture\" allowfullscreen><\/iframe><\/p>\n<p>&nbsp;<\/p>\n<p>Because of the talent involved within the group and a joint production effort between Dr. Dre and The Trackmasters the album was expected to make a big splash. When all was said and done the album sold a million copies, falling well below expectations. The most memorable track from the project was the second single \u201cPhone Tap\u201d produced by Dr. Dre. The first single \u201cFirm Biz\u201d in hindsight was considered a miscalculation. However it did produce an underrated remix. Lastly a track surface titled \u201cTime\u201d produced by Dr. Dre which was initially unreleased until years later that should have been on the album.<\/p>\n<h3><strong>The Firm \u2013 Phone Tap (prod. by Dr. Dre)<\/strong><\/h3>\n<p><iframe width=\"1080\" height=\"810\" src=\"https:\/\/www.youtube.com\/embed\/HM9zpTTZirk?feature=oembed\" frameborder=\"0\" allow=\"accelerometer; autoplay; encrypted-media; gyroscope; picture-in-picture\" allowfullscreen><\/iframe><\/p>\n<h3><\/h3>\n<h3><strong>The Firm \u2013 Firm Biz<\/strong><\/h3>\n<p><iframe width=\"1080\" height=\"608\" src=\"https:\/\/www.youtube.com\/embed\/0F6LGmalibE?feature=oembed\" frameborder=\"0\" allow=\"accelerometer; autoplay; encrypted-media; gyroscope; picture-in-picture\" allowfullscreen><\/iframe><\/p>\n<h3><\/h3>\n<h3><strong>The Firm \u2013 Firm Biz (remix)<\/strong><\/h3>\n<p><iframe width=\"1080\" height=\"608\" src=\"https:\/\/www.youtube.com\/embed\/Tq-uot3u8ZM?feature=oembed\" frameborder=\"0\" allow=\"accelerometer; autoplay; encrypted-media; gyroscope; picture-in-picture\" allowfullscreen><\/iframe><\/p>\n<h3><\/h3>\n<h3><strong>The Firm \u2013 Time (prod. by Dr. Dre)<\/strong><\/h3>\n<p><iframe width=\"1080\" height=\"810\" src=\"https:\/\/www.youtube.com\/embed\/eaugjuKN4jw?feature=oembed\" frameborder=\"0\" allow=\"accelerometer; autoplay; encrypted-media; gyroscope; picture-in-picture\" allowfullscreen><\/iframe><\/p>\n<p>&nbsp;<\/p>\n<p>Despite the letdown AZ released his 1998 sophomore album <strong><em>Pieces of a Man <\/em><\/strong>which featured Nas on \u201cHow Ya Livin\u201d. It wouldn\u2019t be until Nas\u2019s 2001 <strong><em>Stillmatic<\/em><\/strong> album that the duo would be heard together on \u201cThe Flyest\u201d. The following year Nas returned the favor on \u201cEssence\u201d from AZ\u2019s album <strong><em>Aziatic<\/em><\/strong>. Around that same time the tandem recorded \u201cHolla Back\u201d with Kool G Rap but was never officially released. The last known track Nas and AZ worked on was \u201cSerious\u201d recorded around 2005 that made its way eventually onto the 2009 AZ compilation, <strong><em>Anthology (B-Sides &amp; Unreleased)<\/em><\/strong><em>.<\/em><\/p>\n<h3><strong>AZ \u2013 How Ya Livin feat. Nas<\/strong><\/h3>\n<p><iframe width=\"1080\" height=\"810\" src=\"https:\/\/www.youtube.com\/embed\/UFFpFeTZXFA?feature=oembed\" frameborder=\"0\" allow=\"accelerometer; autoplay; encrypted-media; gyroscope; picture-in-picture\" allowfullscreen><\/iframe><\/p>\n<h3><\/h3>\n<h3><strong>Nas \u2013 The Flyest feat. AZ<\/strong><\/h3>\n<p><iframe width=\"1080\" height=\"810\" src=\"https:\/\/www.youtube.com\/embed\/0zRUM6zbAvs?feature=oembed\" frameborder=\"0\" allow=\"accelerometer; autoplay; encrypted-media; gyroscope; picture-in-picture\" allowfullscreen><\/iframe><\/p>\n<h3><\/h3>\n<h3><strong>AZ \u2013 Essence feat. Nas<\/strong><\/h3>\n<p><iframe width=\"1080\" height=\"608\" src=\"https:\/\/www.youtube.com\/embed\/cwxpsEoO9tA?feature=oembed\" frameborder=\"0\" allow=\"accelerometer; autoplay; encrypted-media; gyroscope; picture-in-picture\" allowfullscreen><\/iframe><\/p>\n<h3><\/h3>\n<h3><strong>AZ \u2013 Essence (remix) feat. Nas<\/strong><\/h3>\n<p><iframe width=\"1080\" height=\"810\" src=\"https:\/\/www.youtube.com\/embed\/7mtTQYqcLqA?feature=oembed\" frameborder=\"0\" allow=\"accelerometer; autoplay; encrypted-media; gyroscope; picture-in-picture\" allowfullscreen><\/iframe><\/p>\n<h3><\/h3>\n<h3><strong>Kool G Rap \u2013 Holla Back feat. Nas &amp; AZ<\/strong><\/h3>\n<p><iframe width=\"1080\" height=\"810\" src=\"https:\/\/www.youtube.com\/embed\/suoX2Vh2uDc?feature=oembed\" frameborder=\"0\" allow=\"accelerometer; autoplay; encrypted-media; gyroscope; picture-in-picture\" allowfullscreen><\/iframe><\/p>\n<h3><\/h3>\n<h3><strong>Nas \u2013 Serious feat. AZ<\/strong><\/h3>\n<p><iframe width=\"1080\" height=\"810\" src=\"https:\/\/www.youtube.com\/embed\/e_trX08bCLY?feature=oembed\" frameborder=\"0\" allow=\"accelerometer; autoplay; encrypted-media; gyroscope; picture-in-picture\" allowfullscreen><\/iframe><\/p>\n<p>&nbsp;<\/p>\n<p>Hopefully 2019 is finally the year that AZ puts out <strong><em>Doe or Die 2<\/em><\/strong>. In interviews he has conveyed that he has tracks from the original producers of <strong><em>Doe or Die<\/em><\/strong>. Hopefully he will land the other legendary producers desired to round out the production. The most important component though is to be reunited with Nas. Nas introduced him to the world and made memorable music with AZ. It would be the last ingredient to make Doe or Die 2 a classic like the original.<\/p>\n<blockquote class=\"wp-embedded-content\" data-secret=\"s3xABKB4ES\"><p><a href=\"https:\/\/hiphopnewsjournal.com\/nas-with-kool-g-rap-and-mc-serch-early-career\/\">Nas with Kool G Rap and MC Serch: Early Career<\/a><\/p><\/blockquote>\n<p><iframe class=\"wp-embedded-content\" sandbox=\"allow-scripts\" security=\"restricted\" style=\"position: absolute; clip: rect(1px, 1px, 1px, 1px);\" src=\"https:\/\/hiphopnewsjournal.com\/nas-with-kool-g-rap-and-mc-serch-early-career\/embed\/#?secret=s3xABKB4ES\" data-secret=\"s3xABKB4ES\" width=\"600\" height=\"338\" title=\"&#8220;Nas with Kool G Rap and MC Serch: Early Career&#8221; &#8212; Hip Hop News Journal\" frameborder=\"0\" marginwidth=\"0\" marginheight=\"0\" scrolling=\"no\"><\/iframe><\/p>\n<blockquote class=\"wp-embedded-content\" data-secret=\"rpRl6QGIMO\"><p><a href=\"https:\/\/hiphopnewsjournal.com\/nas-and-dr-dre-during-the-90s-bicoastal-conflict-and-beyond\/\">Nas and Dr Dre: During the 90s Bicoastal Conflict and Beyond<\/a><\/p><\/blockquote>\n<p><iframe class=\"wp-embedded-content\" sandbox=\"allow-scripts\" security=\"restricted\" style=\"position: absolute; clip: rect(1px, 1px, 1px, 1px);\" src=\"https:\/\/hiphopnewsjournal.com\/nas-and-dr-dre-during-the-90s-bicoastal-conflict-and-beyond\/embed\/#?secret=rpRl6QGIMO\" data-secret=\"rpRl6QGIMO\" width=\"600\" height=\"338\" title=\"&#8220;Nas and Dr Dre: During the 90s Bicoastal Conflict and Beyond&#8221; &#8212; Hip Hop News Journal\" frameborder=\"0\" marginwidth=\"0\" marginheight=\"0\" scrolling=\"no\"><\/iframe><\/p>\n<blockquote class=\"wp-embedded-content\" data-secret=\"qkw3tFNyKm\"><p><a href=\"https:\/\/hiphopnewsjournal.com\/mary-j-blige-and-nas-royal-alliance\/\">Mary J Blige and Nas: Royal Alliance<\/a><\/p><\/blockquote>\n<p><iframe class=\"wp-embedded-content\" sandbox=\"allow-scripts\" security=\"restricted\" style=\"position: absolute; clip: rect(1px, 1px, 1px, 1px);\" src=\"https:\/\/hiphopnewsjournal.com\/mary-j-blige-and-nas-royal-alliance\/embed\/#?secret=qkw3tFNyKm\" data-secret=\"qkw3tFNyKm\" width=\"600\" height=\"338\" title=\"&#8220;Mary J Blige and Nas: Royal Alliance&#8221; &#8212; Hip Hop News Journal\" frameborder=\"0\" marginwidth=\"0\" marginheight=\"0\" scrolling=\"no\"><\/iframe><\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>AZ\u2019s album Doe or\u00a0Die 2 at this point has been nine years in the making. A follow up to his first album 1995\u2019s Doe or Die which is considered his best work. For Doe or Die 2 AZ wanted to make sure the line-up of original producers were involved including Pete Rock, L.E.S, and Buckwild. [&hellip;]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":346,"featured_media":1818,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"_et_pb_use_builder":"","_et_pb_old_content":"","_et_gb_content_width":""},"categories":[2,4,3],"tags":[746,757,2177,2271,2267,2268,216,512,175,177,1471,58,201,2272,720,2269,2273,176,2270,217],"yst_prominent_words":[],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/hiphopnewsjournal.com\/staging\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/1795"}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/hiphopnewsjournal.com\/staging\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/hiphopnewsjournal.com\/staging\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/hiphopnewsjournal.com\/staging\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/346"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/hiphopnewsjournal.com\/staging\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=1795"}],"version-history":[{"count":5,"href":"https:\/\/hiphopnewsjournal.com\/staging\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/1795\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":2030,"href":"https:\/\/hiphopnewsjournal.com\/staging\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/1795\/revisions\/2030"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/hiphopnewsjournal.com\/staging\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/1818"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/hiphopnewsjournal.com\/staging\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=1795"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/hiphopnewsjournal.com\/staging\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=1795"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/hiphopnewsjournal.com\/staging\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=1795"},{"taxonomy":"yst_prominent_words","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/hiphopnewsjournal.com\/staging\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/yst_prominent_words?post=1795"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}