AZ
Nas's most celebrated collaborator and partner in The Firm.
via Wikipedia: AZ (rapper) · see source
Anthony Cruz (born March 9, 1972), better known by his stage name AZ, is an American rapper best known for his work with fellow East Coast rapper Nas. The two formed the New York City-based hip hop group the Firm in 1996, along with Foxy Brown, Cormega and Nature. Cruz most notably guest appeared on Nas' 1994 single "Life's a Bitch." Online magazine About.com listed AZ as the "Most Underrated [Rapper] of All Time" and named him "arguably the most underrated lyricist ever" on its "Top 50 MCs of Our Time (1987–2007)."
- Character
- Featured Artist & Collaborator
- Affiliation
- The Firm (with Nas, Foxy Brown, Cormega, Nature)
- First appearance
- Illmatic (1994) – 'Life's a Bitch'
- Status
- Active, respected veteran in hip-hop
Lore & Background
AZ and Nas's connection started in the early 1990s when AZ, from Brooklyn, became friends with Nas, a young rapper from Queens. Nas was working on his debut album Illmatic and invited AZ to work with him in the studio. AZ appeared on the album intro and had a verse on "Life's a Bitch." After Illmatic was released in 1994, EMI Records offered AZ a record deal. Their partnership deepened when they formed the Firm in 1996 with Foxy Brown, Cormega and Nature. The group's sole album (1997) peaked atop the Billboard 200 chart despite unfavorable critical response; the group disbanded two years later. Years later, AZ's fourth album Aziatic (2002) contained the song "The Essence" (featuring Nas), which earned a nomination for Best Rap Performance by a Duo or Group at the 45th Annual Grammy Awards.
Reader's Guide
AZ's most famous contribution to Nas's catalog is his guest appearance on Nas' 1994 single "Life's a Bitch." This track launched AZ's career and led to EMI Records offering him a record deal. Their collaboration expanded when they formed the Firm in 1996, a group that also included Foxy Brown, Cormega and Nature. The Firm's sole album (1997) peaked atop the Billboard 200 chart. On AZ's fourth album Aziatic (2002), the song "The Essence" featuring Nas earned a Grammy nomination for Best Rap Performance by a Duo or Group at the 45th Annual Grammy Awards. For fans exploring their work, start with "Life's a Bitch" from Nas's Illmatic (1994), then The Firm: The Album (1997), and finally "The Essence" from AZ's Aziatic (2002).
Did You Know?
- AZ was born on March 9, 1972, in Bedford–Stuyvesant, Brooklyn to an African-American mother and a Dominican father.
- He attended Eli Whitney High School with fellow Brooklyn rapper Jay-Z until the school closed in the late 1980s.
- AZ's debut album Doe or Die (1995) was released on EMI Records and its lead single "Sugar Hill" peaked at number 25 on the Billboard Hot 100 and received gold certification by the RIAA.
- AZ's tenth studio album Truth Be Told was released on December 1, 2023, entirely produced by Buckwild.
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