AZ (rapper)

**Anthony Cruz** (born March 9, 1972), better known by his stage name **AZ**, is an American rapper. He was born in Brooklyn, New York. He is famous for being a long-time and frequent rhyme partner of Nas. He is also a member of the hip hop group The Firm with Nas, Foxy Brown, Cormega and Nature.

In a countdown of the 10 Most Underappreciated Rappers—Most Underrated Rappers of All Time, the editors of About.com listed AZ as number one on the list. He was as well featured on About.com's list of the Top 50 MCs of Our Time (1987–2007). That was where he was identified as "arguably the most underrated lyricist ever."

## Early life

AZ was born in Bedford–Stuyvesant, Brooklyn. He is of African American and Dominican descent. He grew up in East New York, Brooklyn, with his mother and sister.

AZ began writing rap lyrics when he was 12 years old. He attended Eli Whitney High School with fellow Brooklyn rapper Jay-Z until the vocational school closed down in the late 1980s.

In the early 1990s, he became friends with Queens rapper Nas.

## Career

AZ appeared on Nas' album _Illmatic_ in 1994. After AZ signed with EMI, he released his first album, _Doe or Die_ (1995). The album's lead single, "Sugar Hill", became AZ's major commercial success as a solo artist. It reached number 25 on the _Billboard_ Hot 100 and was certified Gold by the RIAA.

In 1997, AZ joined the hip hop group The Firm with Nas, Nature and Foxy Brown. They released their only album as a group, _The Album_.

In 1998, AZ released his second solo album, _Pieces of a Man_.

After _Pieces of a Man_ was released, AZ signed with Motown and Universal Records. He released the album _9 Lives_. In 2002, he released the album _Aziatic_. A single from the album, "The Essence" (featuring Nas), was nominated at the 2003 Grammy Awards for Best Rap Performance by a Duo or Group.

### Studio albums

- _Doe or Die_ (1995)
- _Pieces of a Man_ (1998)
- _9 Lives_ (2001)
- _Aziatic_ (2002)
- _A.W.O.L._ (2005)
- _The Format_ (2006)
- _Undeniable_ (2008)
- _Legendary_ (2009)
- _Doe or Die II_ (2021)

### Compilation albums

- _S.O.S.A. (Save Our Streets AZ)_ (2000)
- _Decade 1994–2004_ (2004)
- _Final Call (The Lost Tapes)_ (2008)
- _Anthology (B-Sides & Unreleased)_ (2008)
- _Doe or Die: 15th Anniversary_ (2010)
- _Greatest Hits, Vol. 1_ (2017)
- _Lost & Found_ (2019)

### Mixtapes

- _The Memphis Sessions: The Remix-Tape_ (2007)
- _N.4.L. (Niggaz 4 Life)_ <small>(Hosted by DJ Absolut)</small> (2008)
- _G.O.D. (Gold, Oil & Diamonds)_ (2009)
- _L.O.D.B (Last of a Dying Breed)_ <small>(Hosted by AZ and DJ Mr. FX)</small> (2013)
- _L.O.D.B II (Last of a Dying Breed)_ <small>(Hosted by AZ and DJ Mr. FX)</small> (2013)
- _Legacy_ <small>(Hosted by DJ Doo Wop)</small> (2019)

### Singles

|rowspan="2"|Year|rowspan="2"|Song|colspan="3"|Chart positions|rowspan="2"|RIAA certifications|rowspan="2"|Album||||
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
|align="center" rowspan=2|1995|"Sugar Hill" <small>(featuring Miss Jones)</small>|align="center"|25|align="center"|12|align="center"|3|* RIAA: Gold|rowspan=3|_Doe or Die_||
|"Gimme Yours" <small>(featuring Nas)</small>|align="center"|115|align="center"|51|align="center"|30|align="center"|—|||||
|align="center" rowspan=1|1996|"Doe or Die"|align="center"|—|align="center"|69|align="center"|24|align="center"|—|||
|align="center" rowspan=3|1997|"Hey AZ" <small>(featuring SWV)</small>|align="center"|—|align="center"|50|align="center"|—|align="center"|—|rowspan=1|non-album single|
|"Firm Biz" <small>(with Nas and Foxy Brown featuring Dawn Robinson)</small>|align="center"|—|align="center"|—|align="center"|—|align="center"|—|rowspan="2"|_The Firm: The Album_|||
|"Phone Tap" <small>(with Nas and Nature featuring Dr. Dre)</small>|align="center"|—|align="center"|—|align="center"|—|align="center"|—|||||
|align="center" rowspan=1|1998|"What's the Deal" <small>(featuring Kenny Greene)</small>|align="center"|—|align="center"|—|align="center"|—|align="center"|—|rowspan=1|_Pieces of a Man_|
|align="center" rowspan=3|2001|"Problems"|align="center"|—|align="center"|90|align="center"|34|align="center"|—|rowspan=2|_9 Lives_|
|"Everything's Everything" <small>(featuring Joe)</small>|align="center"|—|align="center"|—|align="center"|—|align="center"|—|||||
|"I'm Back" <small>(featuring Daddy Rose)</small>|align="center"|—|align="center"|63|align="center"|—|align="center"|—|rowspan=2|_Aziatic_|||
|align="center" rowspan=1|2002|"Take It Off"|align="center"|—|align="center"|—|align="center"|—|align="center"|—|||
|align="center" rowspan=1|2005|"The Come Up"|align="center"|—|align="center"|—|align="center"|—|align="center"|—|rowspan=1|_A.W.O.L._|
|align="center" rowspan=1|2007|"The Format"|align="center"|—|align="center"|—|align="center"|—|align="center"|—|rowspan=1|_The Format_|
|align="center" rowspan=1|2008|"Undeniable"|align="center"|—|align="center"|—|align="center"|—|align="center"|—|rowspan=1|_Undeniable_|
|align="center" rowspan=1|2010|"Feel My Pain"|align="center"|—|align="center"|—|align="center"|—|align="center"|—|rowspan=1|_Doe or Die: 15th Anniversary_|
|align="center" rowspan=1|2013|"We Movin'"|align="center"|—|align="center"|—|align="center"|—|align="center"|—|rowspan=5|_non-album single_|
|align="center" rowspan=1|2014|"Red Magic"|align="center"|—|align="center"|—|align="center"|—|align="center"|—|||
|align="center" rowspan=1|2015|"Back to Myself" <small>(featuring Soshy)</small>|align="center"|—|align="center"|—|align="center"|—|align="center"|—|||
|align="center" rowspan=1|2017|"Save Them" <small>(featuring Raekwon and Prodigy)</small>|align="center"|—|align="center"|—|align="center"|—|align="center"|—|||
|align="center" rowspan=1|2019|"It's Time"|align="center"|—|align="center"|—|align="center"|—|align="center"|—|||
|align="center" rowspan=2|2020|"Found My Niche"|align="center"|—|align="center"|—|align="center"|—|align="center"|—|rowspan=4|_Doe or Die II_|
|"Different"|align="center"|—|align="center"|—|align="center"|—|align="center"|—|||||
|align="center" rowspan=2|2021|"The Wheel" <small>(featuring Jaheim)</small>|align="center"|—|align="center"|—|align="center"|—|align="center"|—|||
|"Motorola Era" <small>(featuring 2 Chainz)</small>|align="center"|—|align="center"|—|align="center"|—|align="center"|—|||||

## Infobox (musical artist)

- **name**: AZ
- **image**: Az-03.jpg
- **caption**: AZ in 1998
- **birth name**: Anthony Cruz
- **birth place**: New York City, U.S.
- **years active**: 1993–present
- **current member of**: The Firm (hip hop group), The Firm