After a decade (and some change) of hype and false starts, AZ — often considered one of the most underrated lyricists in Hip Hop history — has finally released his ninth studio album, Doe Or Die II, 26 years removed from the original.
It doesn’t have the Nas guest verse he guaranteed in a 2011 interview or some of the producers he was admittedly courting such as Dr. Dre, Kanye West, DJ Premier or even some of the contributors to his beloved debut like L.E.S. or DR Period. However, across the 13-song affair (released via his Quiet Money imprint), AZ is as sharp as ever, seemingly impervious to the cultural shifts and gimmicks.
For longtime fans of the MC, there’s a lot to love. Though not a direct follow-up to the lauded “Sugar Hill” B-side “Rather Unique” from the first DOD, he links with Pete Rock for “Check Me Out,” with AZ bending his trademark wordplay around a gorgeous sample and interspersed PR ad-libs. Then there’s “Ritual,” an Alchemist-produced cipher with Conway The Machine and mixtape-era Lil Wayne, with all three rappers proving why they’re so revered.
In many ways, Do Or Die II doesn’t feel like a true-blue sequel to AZ’s classic debut album, which (alongside JAY-Z’s Reasonable Doubt and Raekwon’s Only Built 4 Cuban Linx…) popularized mafioso rap of the day. Aside from the Czarface-produced “Found My Niche” — a detailed account of his pre-Illmatic life before waking up to the reality of his trajectory and eventually dropping his iconic “Life’s A Bitch” verse — the LP feels refined, almost removed from the themes of its predecessor.
The brooding aesthetic of songs such as “Uncut Raw” and “Mo’ Money, Mo’ Murder, Mo’ Homicide” is replaced with a hardened OG perspective, like on the pair of Baby Paul-produced tracks “Keep It Real” and “Never Enough” featuring Rick Ross. The latter shows off an unlikely pairing on paper but ends up being a top-tier highlight, with Ross matching the New York mafia aesthetic yet never showing up the godfather AZ.
The project does lack a clear-cut hit-single — a “Sugar Hill,” if you will. There are also some noticeably lackluster choruses; Dave East sounds uninspired with his Biggie-interpolated hook on “Blow That S#%t” and the absence of any hook at all on “Different” feels slightly awkward.
There are also a few outliers; the Bink-produced “Bulletproof” and Rockwilder-produced “What’s Good” featuring T-Pain are solid, yet nothing special. However, they do at least change the vibe and show AZ can still learn new tricks. Despite the risky songs being unremarkable, this does little to quell AZ’s potency on this project, which holds more gems than Zambia’s Kagem Emerald Mine.
Ultimately, trying to recreate the magic of his debut would feel forced this far removed from the moment in time — not unlike Nas attempting to recreate Illmatic. Rather, “Grown man elegance mixed with ghetto allure” as he raps on “Check Me Out” is the most accurate description of this project.
Do Or Die II meets the expectations of the people who grew up with AZ’s music and understand his importance in Hip Hop, though it doesn’t quite elevate the MC or show any new layers. But with many legacy rappers either trying too hard to fit into the times, or resting on nostalgic laurels, AZ finds a way to stick to his guns without sounding dated.
AZ’s latest is what growing gracefully in Hip Hop looks and sounds like, sticking to his strengths without sounding out of touch, a lesson many other Golden Age rappers could take to heart.
Dope album
Bulletproof my favorite.5 out 5
Solid album, as expected. ??
One of the best MCs of my time! The album is just what hip hop needs (realness)!
AZ, thanks for bringing Jaheim on board! Another amazing person in the industry!
Az The Supreme A-Alike Mr.Aziatic. been bangin the older god since day 1. Yep. He got some Flamin verses all over the game. Wish him and prodigy would of did a little more together
Cold ass Album to me!! The only song I don’t care for is the one with T-Pain. Other than that the album is the shit.
Fire album still keeping his integrity and coming with real bars you can actually apply not just entertainment in its entirety ?
If he had a firm collab , a strong story telling song, a proper t pain hook, a club banger and a proper heat makers beat he would have a stone cold classic
This album is great! It leaves me wanting to hear more! AZ hasn’t lost anything and I think this is one of his best offerings. This is certainly what Hip-Hop needs right now. Grown up, act your age, rap with modern boom bap sounds.
Real hi hop album. Better than most trash modern trap songs. AZ outshines JZ lyrically.
VERY FAIR SCORE. THIS ALBUM TOOK A BIT TOO LONG TO DROP BUT ITS STILL QUALITY AND HAS A LOT OF DOPE MOMENTS. THE FLOW IS STILL EFFORTLESSLY FINESSE AND THE MUSIC IS RIGHT.
AZ took his time to put this classic project together and he accomplished the goal!!!!
Really wanna hear Nas & AZ back together again but can I say (I’m not a huge fan) Lil’ Wayne’s verse on Ritual is pure fire! I don’t think I’ve ever liked a Wayne verse this much. Solid album all around!
should be 4.5 or better. best lp out as far a musicianship, lyrics / flows. Nothing out is coming even close to this L.P. “you hear the harps!!!!”
4 and a half out of 5 ????
### legend
This album is fire 🔥
This album is fire 🔥