 | Tracklist:
1. Intro
2. Uncut Raw
3. Gimme Your's
4. Ho Happy Jackie
5. Rather Unique
6. I Feel For You
7. Sugar Hill
8. Mo Money, Mo Murder
9. Doe Or Die
10. We Can't Win
11. Your World Don't Stop
12. Sugar Hill (Remix)
| Ranking: #34 for 1995 | |
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On 16 Lists
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| Summary: AZ may have matched Nas on his ‘Illmatic’ guest spot but his debut is nowhere near as good. |
3 of 3 thought this review was well written
“My first album had no famous guest appearances
The outcome: I'm crowned the best lyricist”-Nas from ‘Got Ur Self A Gun’
Sixteen years after Illmatic, that statement remains true since no one with guest appearances on that album can be considered famous. Nas and AZ’s careers took very different paths after that classic collaboration, Nas went on to have a very successful career while AZ was relegated to having every move he made be compared to Nas. Few things ever live up to the hype and the beginning of Nas and AZ’s careers were very similar, they created a major buzz due to guest spots and their first singles built anticipation for their debut albums. Illmatic lived up to and perhaps surpassed the hype but sadly Doe or Die, while a very good album will always be compared unfavorably to Illmatic.
AZ goes for more of a Mafioso angle on his debut, spinning tales about riches and cocaine. On opening track ‘Uncut Raw’, AZ comes out with guns blazing, with a surprisingly energetic, multi-syllabic flow:
Life is a struggle, that's why niggas I know stay on the juggle
Some hustle to double, others hug you to mug you
Poverty-stricken, they even turn a church kid into stickin
It seems sickenin, but what? Whatever makes the pockets thicken
Elsewhere, Nas shows up to do a very weak chorus on ‘Gimme Yours’, spoiling a good Pete Rock beat. On ‘Mo Money, Mo Murda’ however, Nas supplies a couple of outstanding verses, returning the favor for ‘Life’s a Bitch’ over some faint strings provided by underrated producer DR Period. First single ‘Sugar Hill’ may not be what you were expecting from AZ after hearing him on Illmatic but assisted by L.E.S. and a female chorus, this was AZ’s shining (solo) moment.
The one constant on Doe or Die, is AZ’s smooth flow and outstanding, intricate lyrics which are enjoyable even when the production is not. An all-star cast of producers got together for Illmatic and while a few of those same people contributed on Do or Die (Pete Rock, L.E.S.), the beats on here are very hit or miss. It’s a bit disappointing to hear AZ on the title track re-using the first two bars of his legendary ‘Life’s a Bitch’ verse, but besides that, his verses are very high caliber, only to be ruined by the hook.
When your fame is built upon one amazing verse, you’re held to a very high standard, one that is difficult to uphold and unfortunately, Do or Die doesn’t live up expectations as it is neither Illmatic nor does it show the quality of his verse on ‘Life’s a Bitch’. Those are near impossible levels to maintain and AZ has found that out through his career, he will never make another Illmatic but hey, neither will Nas. In a vacuum, Do or Die is a great album, even spectacular at times but it seems to be in the shadows as Illmatic’s forgotten little brother.
Recommended tracks:
Sugar Hill
Mo Money, Mo Murda
Uncut Raw
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| Recent reviews by this author | | | |
Album Rating: 3.5
It's too bad that people always compare this to 'Illmatic' (much like I did for this entire review)
| | | Album Rating: 4.5
Nice review man. Really like this album, but yeah, he'll always be compared to Nas.
Digging: Steamy Ray Vaughan - A Little Bit of Rattlesnake Digging: Steamy Ray Vaughan - A Little Bit of Rattlesnake | | |
His verse on Life's a Bitch is my favorite verse in all hip-hop i've heard thus far.
I really need to hear this.
Digging: Autechre - Amber
| | | Album Rating: 4.5
Ive always loved the title track. Samples Grandmaster Flash quite nicely.
Digging: Guns N' Roses - Appetite For Destruction | | | Album Rating: 4
tbh this could have been up there with illmatic, az just didnt have the budget
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I've never actually heard this all the way through but I've always like Uncut Raw, Mo Money Mo Murder and Sugar Hill
nice review somb
Digging: Killer Mike - R.A.P. Music Digging: Killer Mike - R.A.P. Music
| | | Album Rating: 4.5
Mo Money, Mo Murder is easily my favorite here. Whole thing is really solid though.
| | | Album Rating: 4
That Nas quote is just fucked up
| | | Album Rating: 4
I actually like Nas's hook on Gimmie Yours, it's kind of catchy
| | | Album Rating: 4
great album
Digging: - | | | Album Rating: 4.5
Just heard this in full for the first time, although Ive heard pieces of it several times before. It really is Illmatic-Lite, although that almost seems disrespectful to it, cause its a really fucking good album.
| | | Album Rating: 4.5
Shit, just read AZ is planning on releasing Doe or Die II this year. God damn this could be such a great year for hip-hop.
| | | Album Rating: 4
Am i the only one who think nas' verse on life's a bitch was better than AZ's?
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this is awesome
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he really does himself no favors when he quotes the life's a bitch verse though
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I agree with FearUs, Nas's verse in Life's a Bitch is golden. Let that not take away from AZ's verse, that's a classic too.
| | | Album Rating: 5
"Uncut Raw" is absolute fire, and always will be. That shit could rival anything Nas was doing at the same time. Such a classic album but it appears to even still be sadly underrated and unknown in general. If you love Illmatic (and who the fuck doesn't?), you need this album.
Digging: Black Moon - Enta Da Stage Digging: Black Moon - Enta Da Stage | | | Album Rating: 4
beats are too cheesy for this to be classic
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I just can't get over the oh so shitty production. I know this guy has talent his flow is tight as hell... but the production is not only shitty but cheesy as well and very annoying.
Digging: Ice Cube - AmeriKKKa's Most Wanted Digging: Ice Cube - AmeriKKKa's Most Wanted
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