AZ (rapa)

Anthony Cruz (amezaliwa tar. 9 Mei 1972 mjini Brooklyn) ni rapa wa Kimarekani mwenye asili ya Dominika. anafahamika zaidi kwa jina la kisanii kama AZ. Pia, hujulikana zaidi na zaidi kwa kuwa rafiki mkubwa wa kitambo wa rapa mwenzi - Nas na kuwa mmoja kati ya wanachama wa kundi bab-kubwa la hip hop, The Firm, ikiwa ni pamoja na Nas, Nature na Foxy Brown. AZ anafahamika sana kwa maudhui yake ya uimbaji wa kina na silabasi mbalimbali.

AZ alianza kujipatia umaarufu baada ya kuonekana kwenye albamu ya Nas' ya Illmatic katika wimbo wa "Life's a Bitch" (1994)—tena alikuwa msanii mgeni pekee kuonekana kwenye albamu hiyo. Baada ya vita ya zabuni, AZ amesaini mkataba na EMI, na muda mfupi baadaye akatoa albamu ya Doe Or Die (1995) ikatamba sana, lakini ilipata mafanikio madogo kibiashara. Single kiongozi ya albamu, "Sugar Hill", imekuwa kibao pekee kupata mafanikio makubwa kibiashara kwa AZ akiwa kama msanii wa kujitegemea, kwa kufikia nafasi ya 25 kwenye chati za Billboard Hot 100, na kutunukiwa hadhi ya Gold. Mkataba wa AZ na EMI ulihamishiwa katika studio enzi ya Noo Trybe Records/Virgin Records wakati EMI Label Group imefungwa.  Mnamo mwaka wa 1997, yeye na Nas wameonekana kwenye tangazo la biashara la Sprite
. AZ akaingia mkataba na Motown/Universal Records na kutoa albamu ya 9 Lives. Mnamo mwaka wa 2002, ametoa Aziatic. Single kutoka katika albamu, "The Essence," (akishirikiana na Nas) imepata kuchaguliwa kwenye ugawaji wa Tuzo za Grammy wa mara ya 45 kwa Ajili ya Rap Bora ya Wawili au Kundi.

Mnamo mwaka wa 2004, AZ alikuwa akipanga kutoa albamu - inge-kuwa albamu yake ya nne, Final Call, hata hivyo, lakini hatimaye ikatiwa kapuni kwa kufuatia kuvuja kwa ajabu na imetolewa kama Final Call (The Lost Tapes) mnamo 2008. Ametoa albamu zake za 4 na 5 A.W.O.L. na The Format mnamo 2005 na  2006, kwa pamoja. Halafu Undeniable ilitolewa mnamo 2008.

Na kwa mwezi wa Oktoba wa 2009, anafanyia kazi albamu yake yake ya 10 iitwayo Doe or Die 2 itakayotolewa mwanzoni mwa mwaka wa 2010.. Ana matumaini ya kuwaingiza kikosi cha utayarishaji cha awali cha Doe Or Die kama vile L.E.S., Pete Rock, DR Period na Buckwild. Ametibitisha hata kwamba amefanya nyimbo mbili na Pete Rock, ikiwa ni pamoja na "Rather Unique Part II". AZ pia ana mpango wa kuchukua biti kutoka kwa DJ Toomp, Dr. Dre na Kanye West kwa ajili ya DOD2 ikiwa ni pamoja na kumwingiza mkali wake wa mistari wa zamani Nas, pia kwa mujibu wa akaunti yake kwenye Twitter ametaja ya kwamba ameomba biti kutoka kwa RZA vilevile na kupanga kuitoa albamu kunako mwezi wa Mei au Juni 2010. Single ya kwanza kutoka albamu itakuwa "Feel My Pain" iliyotayarishwa na Frank Dukes.

Diskografia

Albamu za studio
 Doe or Die (1995)
 Pieces of a Man (1998)
 9 Lives (2001)
 Aziatic (2002)
 A.W.O.L. (2005)
 The Format (2006)
 Undeniable (2008)
 Doe or Die 2 (2010)

Albamu za ushirika
 The Firm: The Album (akiwa pamoja na kundi zima la  The Firm) (1997)

Kompilesheni albamu na Mixtapes
 S.O.S.A. (Save Our Streets AZ) (2000)
 Decade 1994–2004 (2004)
 The Return Of S.O.S.A. (Part 1) (2005)
 The Memphis Sessions: The Remix-Tape (2007)
 Niggaz 4 Life (2008)
 Final Call (The Lost Tapes) (2008)
 Anthology (B-Sides & Unreleased) (2008)
 The Return Of S.O.S.A. (Part 2) (2008)
 Legendary (2009)
 G.O.D. (Gold, Oil & Diamonds) (2009)

Mionekano
 1992: "Understanding" Nas Pre-Illmatic Demo Tape
 1994: "The Genesis", "Life's A Bitch" Nas Illmatic
 1995: "Wake Up Show Anthem" With Big L, Chino XL, Doug E. Fresh & Masta Ace Sway & King Tech Wake Up Show 2
 1996: "A+Z" A+ The Latch-Key Child
 1996: "When The Cheering Stops" With Zhané, Ray Buchanan & Scott Galbraith (from NFL Jams (Import))
 1996: "Lady [DJ Premier Remix]" D'Angelo Lady 12"
 1996: "Album Intro", "Affirmative Action" With Foxy Brown & Cormega Nas It Was Written
 1996: "La Familia" Foxy Brown I'll Be 12"
 1996: "I Miss U [Come Back Home Remix]" Monifah Moods... Moments LP/ Miss U 12"/You 12"
 1996: "Something About You (Darkchild Remix)" New Edition single
 1998: "Head Over Heels [Trackmaster's Remix]" Allure Head Over Heels 12"
 1998: "Rock Me [JD Remix]" V.A. Caught Up OST
 1998: "Promises" With LaTocha Scott Of Xscape & Ray Buchanan (from NFL Jams (Intersound))
 1999: "Let's Live" With Animal The Union Hard Labor
 1999: "24/7 [Remix]" Kevon Edmonds 24/7 12"
 1999: "Thug Connection" With Kool G Rap Papoose Alphabetical Slaughter 12"
 2000: "Takin' Ova Da Streets" The Bleach Brothers Takin' Ova Da Streets 12"
 2000: "Groove On [Remix]" Half-A-Mil Groove On 12"
 2000: "Quiet Money" Half-A-Mil Million
 2000: "Quiet Money [Blood Money]" With Animal & Half-A-Mil The Union Organized Rhymes
 2000: "It's War" DJ Skribble Traffic Jams
 2001: "Layaway" Jon B. Pleasures U Like
 2001: "The Flyest" Nas Stillmatic
 2002: "Holla Back" With Nawz & Tito Kool G Rap The Giancana Story
 2002: "Keep On Lovin' You [Remix]" Dave Hollister Keep On Lovin' You 12"
 2004: "Redemption" Cormega Legal Hustle
 2006: "Professional Style" The Alchemist Chemistry Files
 2006: "The Hardest Pt. I" Styles P The Ghost Sessions - Mixtape
 2007: "No Holding Back" With Cormega Statik Selektah Spell My Name Right: The Album
 2007: "Who Am I?" with Cormega & Nature Cormega Who Am I?: The Soundtrack
 2008: "Too Real" Foxy Brown Brooklyn's Don Diva
 2008: "It's So Hard" with Ali Vegas, Styles P & Danny McClane
 2008: "Road To Success" ASN
 2008: "On The Road" ASN With Keisha Shontelle & Fuc That
 2009: "Harbormasters" with Ghostface Killah & Inspectah Deck Chamber Music
 2009: "D.O.A." (Death of Autotune) [Remix]" Jay-Z
 2010: "I'm Ill" Doe or Die 2

Marejeo

Viungo vya nje
 

Waliozaliwa 1972
Wanamuziki wa Marekani
Wanamuziki wa hip hop
Watu walio hai