While in Toronto, Canada for the Rock the Bells Tour last summer, AZ chopped it up with The Come Up Show, which recently released the interview. During the chat, AZ spoke on whether he feels he’s underrated and that even if he is, he’s still in a good position.
“I mean, it’s all good. I’m doing me. I made the transition from the majors to the independent, so at the end of the day, there’s a whole different machine behind you. You’ve gotta be the machine. As long as my sword stays sharp, I’m cool. At the end of the day, I’m always here. I’m the beginning that never began, I’m A to the Z. So I don’t worry about underrated or who’s hot, who’s not. The paper’s there. I own all my publishing and my masters, so I’m in a good position, you dig?”
He also spoke on his upcoming album Doe or Die 2, the sequel to his 1995 debut. He explained that he’ll be taking his music to a “whole other level” with the project, which is currently without a release date.
“Doe or Die 2 is on a whole other level. That’s 15, 16 years in the making. It’s going to be a little more big boyish, but it’s gonna be a good look, ya dig?”
RELATED: AZ Updates On “Doe Or Die 2,” Speaks On Nas Collaboration
Yo life’s a bitch and then you die the only AZ song worth listening to
You either stupid or like 12 years old. Either way its doesnt matter AZ is one of the most underrated mc’s in the game but at the same time can go lyric for lyric with just about anyone. Go learn something besides ymcmb
One of the nicest MCs of all time, and maybe the most consistent ever. You never heard AZ spit a wack verse, and you’ve never seen him make a fool out of himself. A classy dude, in a era where rappers have no idea what class is.
I’m so tired of hearing AZ try and hype his flatlined career. I respect his hustle, but he’s not indie by choice. There is zero demand for this dude.
Shut the fuck up…you speak like there’s absolutely no possible way that anyone is checking for this dude if you aren’t. Who the fuck are you?? AZ has always been dope as fuck. He deserved far more attention than he has gotten and took it in stride, doing it for the love of rap and nothing else.
STFU and die you loser
AZ is a hip hop legend.
Give respect to an artist that didn’t sell out and is true to his sound and roots.
Selling thousands of records doesn’t equate to a great artist. If you dont’ believe this then you are most probably a Drake fan or some other loser
Shit yall are crazy!! AZ is more lyrical than Nas. Fuck Wayne and his Muppet sounding mumbles.
he’s not trying to hype his career u faggot. read the fucking article and get the YMCMB tattoo lasered off your asscheeks.
AZ IS WACK, WASHED UP NIGGA, WHAT DID HIS LAST ALBUM SELL? LOOOOOOOL
13 LETTERS YMCMB OVOXO MMG
So whoever sells the most makes them the best or the one with the most talent?? Hell no, Shut the fuck up youngster!!!!
GO FUCKIN BLOW SO ICEY BOY, HES A HOMO JUST LIKE U..U LITTLE FAGS ARE GONNA GROW UP TO BE BUMS JUST LIKE LILB..ILL SAY IT AGAIN..UR GENERATION SUCKS COCK
Why you are guys getting mad at this cat? Hes just saying the shit – I think its funny. Its completely out of touch with reality and he/she knows this. The best is OVOXO.
man’s a livin legend..
Yessir lol shut the fuck up, its not about the money its about saying true to the game dumb ass nobody’s washed up you should “wash up” that cock sucking hater status you got on fucking clown
I dont care what anyone thinks, AZ has never put out a wack album. granted they may have not all been hip hop classics but they were all good in my opinion. I will definitly peep that doe or die 2 and support good shit. And for those who read YESSIR’s comments, remeber, dont feed the trolls.
true, I even really enjoyed his last couple of releases.
Why does he deserve more attention? Because he did a song with Nas on Illmatic a hundred years ago? Name one album that any kid off the street remembers, or can cite even one song. You’d be hard pressed to find any. You people are mental ward crazy. You idol worship these bums, then lash out when others don’t share the same opinion.
Azaitic and Do or Die!!! Do you listen to music or just skim through it. No one is idolizing any one all people are saying is AZ has been over looked for to long. Its nice to hear that he will be dropping an album that will contain real hip-hop and not the bullshit you listen to.
Name one album that any kid off the street remembers, or can cite even one song. You’d be hard pressed to find any.
^ are you sure of this to provide accuracy? Don’t forget you will have to poll all the people worldwide. Also notice I said people not just kids, kids are not the only people who listen to rap, if I remember correctly they can’t populate the shows.
THEN GO PUT ON UGGS AND CAPRI PANTS AND LISTEN TO WAYNE FAGGOT!! MAYBE WERE JUST SICK OF THE FUCKIN GARBAGE BEIN FORCE FED TO US ON THE RADIO AND TV…FACE IT UR GENERATION SUCKS COCK..WE HAD ERIC B AND RAKIM, EPMD, 2PAC, BIGGIE, PUBLIC ENEMY, EIGHTBALL AND MJG, WU TANG, GETO BOYS. WHAT DO U GOT?? LIL B AND NICKI MINAJ. NOW GIVE UR COMPUTER BACK TO MOMMY…AND GO GET UR FUCKIN SHINE BOX
When i was a kid i loved the 70s music what hip hop was sampling, barely a teenager and did’nt say old These young kids should consider themselves privileged to be able to study the history of music and the depth of content in rappers and mcs.
I think there’s too much envy because the game is all materialistic, worthless, jewelless!!
“i loved the 70s music what hip hop was sampling, barely a teenager and did’nt say old These young kids should consider themselves privileged to be able to study the history of music and the depth of content in rappers and mcs.
I think there’s too much envy”
^ this speaks volumes. Some of them get it is what I’m retorting. Also IMO, some of them can feel the window of opportunity closing so they are lashing out. There is extreme emotional content when someone says “Hip Hop is dead”.
Many of them cannot sing or play instruments or create sheet music, rap would be the only way to become “rich and famous” to the point they envy any and who actually have a legitimate shot to do so and won’t truly support them. IMO, once the older generation leaves, so will the major investment interest in the genre.
If anyone cares to have an adult conversation about this, feel free to join in.
Do or die……
real talk az
Teenagers are the main demographic when it comes to purchasing albums, and watching music videos. Ask the BET crowd who AZ is and they’ll probably tell you they’ve never been to Arizona. I said ask the average kid off the street, not a 30 somethin hip hop head who grew up when Sugar Hill was a cassete single.
Very true and right on. But it doesn’t mean people in their mid twenties wont appreciate the music “ya dig”
And there is internet proof that you are inaccurate. Some of these comments are from that demographic, some youtube comments from other AZ music are that same demographic that’s where they get brought up to speed, I personally see a group of 30 per week who are in that demographic and listen to AZ ATCQ, Cella Dwellas, Wu-Tang and others from that era, some of them do not like what is force fed and are in tune with what the parents enjoy/enjoyed. Do not misjudge off of shenanigans that are posted here and on TV, it doesn’t speak for all of them.
Now if you said rap music as well as pop driven music, I wouldn’t argue. Teenagers are not purchasing classical, jazz, blues, a good portion of country music.
you an idiot, i am 20 and only listen to real hiphop. its not about age its where your head at…
last summer? what the fuck? how about hhdx write an article about something that happened recently!
See, this is the problem with the game right now. When judging how dope an MC is, everybody looks at sales, how much money he/she has, how many spins they get, how many collabs they’re on, etc (that MTV bullshit.) Bottom line: do you have your bars up? AZ came in the game beastin’ and his sword is still sharp. That’s all any real head cares about. BTW, no one mentions “Undeniable”. Dude’s bars on that joint were ridiculous…
Forget about sales or mainstream attention, AZ is still one of the on the mic.
best*
hell be taking his music to a whole other level MAYBE FOR HIS HARDCORE-FANS.
AZ LEFT ALL HIS SHINE TO NAS WHO GLADLY MADE MAJOR SALES WITH A SIMILAR RAPFLOW.
THIS DUDE HAD MAJOR RESPECT BACK IN THE DAY AND OTHER RAPPERS KISSED HIS FEET. TO CALL THIS ALBUM “DOE OR DIE PART II” IS A SIGN OF WEAKNESS.
THIS MAN HAS THE SKILLS TO INVENT HIMSELF NEW BUT HE WONT – TOO BAD. HE SHOULD SELL HEADPHONES
Not sure naming it Doe Or Die 2 is a sign of weakness. Raekwon did it w/ OB4CL2 and it was near flawless and put up respectable numbers for no commercial airplay.
Nas did it stILLmatic and it’s one of his best albums.
Shit, Jay Z has done it 3 times w/ all the Blueprint albums.
You lost me early on in your post. I’ve never seen much similarity between AZ and Nas. AZ raps much faster more often, and his rhyme pattern is quite different also – AZ seems to rhyme more often throughout his bars.
Roc Marciano wasnt the first emcee to rip off Raekwon…
My favourite AZ songs from Doe or Die: Rather Unique, Ho Happy Jackie, Gimme Yours. This dude has been one of my favourite emcees for a while. He inspired alot of rappers people hype up to this day. I’m glad he’s still putting effort into releasing new music, even If the doe or die 2 doesn’t top the the first.
all you little girls talking bout album sales and reinvention needs to go away. AZ is a legend for being a legendary spitter, fuck everything else. there’s no album he ever dropped that’s wack, he’s dropped albums with wack beats but he kills everything so you can’t say its wack. i think AZ catalog crushes nas, AZ doesn’t need nas like nas stans want you to believe. AZ has dropped a line of quality albums, incredible lyricist. i for one am very interested in checkin this album out, sounds like AZ is looking for a way out of the game and is going to try and leave with his best work. hopefully AZ keeps making music for a long time, no reason to call it quits he’s stilla killer.
Dude is dope but sound always the same thats his problem and he raps just like Nas over shitty beats
AZ is nice, nuff said. All you faggots with the negative comments posting as ‘anonymous’ is straight pussy! Like Herm Edwards said, ‘put ya name on it’ and quit hiding.
I own all my publishing and masters…that line alone should shut the misinformed up…I understand if you weren’t raised on golden era hiphop you might not gravitate towards it because you can’t relate(a large group of youngins do though).But makin derogatory statements about a artist you didn’t even took the the time to research is just dumb on a new level,your opinion has no merit if you don’t know what you’re talking about.Don’t confuse fame with skils or fame with longevity..AZ has a career,where most of his contemparies are out of here..go back to the first line I wrote..and ask yourself if your favourite rapper can say the same after 20yrs…I’ll wait..
Whose he going to sell his masters too, ziploc?
az and sauce money should do a joint album,it’ll definitely be a classic.
You mean the same Herm Edwards who isn’t even a coach anymore?