AZ "Doe or Die" - LP, features Nas, CLASSIC
$
31
Favourite Auctions
To save auctions to your favourites, please login
If you don't have an account, please register
Description
CLASSIC.
Doe or Die
Studio album by AZ
Released: October 10, 1995
Recorded: 1994-1995
Genre: East Coast hip hop, Mafioso rap
Length: 45:30
Label: EMI
Producers: Pete Rock, Loose, Buckwild, L.E.S., DR Period, Amar Pep, N.O. Joe, Ski, Lunatic Mind
"Doe or Die" is the debut studio album by rapper AZ, released October 10, 1995 on EMI Records. The album features guest appearances by artists such as Nas and Miss Jones, and production from Pete Rock, L.E.S., and Buckwild, among others.
Upon release, Doe or Die received notable critical and commercial success. The album peaked at #15 on the Billboard 200, and #1 on the U.S. Top R&B/Hip Hop Albums chart. Doe or Die produced several singles, including, "Mo Money, Mo Murder, Mo Homicide," "Gimme Yours (remix)," "Doe or Die" and "Sugar Hill" - which was certified Gold by the RIAA in 1995. The album went on to sell over a million copies AZ has planned a sequel for the album entitled Doe or Die 2, which is currently awaiting release.
Alongside Raekwon's Only Built 4 Cuban Linx…, Doe or Die is often considered as one of the prototypical albums of the Mafioso rap subgenre. The album incorporates fictitious tales chronicling the underworld lifestyle of organized crime. These cinematic narratives often depict a mobster's ascent to fame and wealth. Further emphasizing these themes, the cover of Doe or Die portrays AZ as an honoree of an elaborate mob funeral. Within the cover, a stylish portrait of AZ is surrounded by flowers, while the body of the rapper is buried in a casket that contains large amounts of dollars. In addition, the liner notes and the back of the album features images of AZ counting money, drinking expensive wine, and smoking cigars.
Upon its release, Doe or Die received generally positive reviews from most music critics. Stanton Swihart from Allmusic gave the album 4½ out of 5 stars and compared certain aspects of it to rapper Nas' debut album Illmatic, stating "The two albums are very much the twin sides of the same double-headed coin. They are so closely connected, in fact, that it's difficult to pinpoint where Doe or Die's points of departure are located." He further stated "Certainly it was one of the strongest, most promising debut efforts of 1995, and probably one of the year's strongest rap albums period." Christian Hoard from Rolling Stone gave the album 3 out of 5 stars, and called it a "Literate, sensitive look at street life that sits comfortably, as a companion, next to Nas' masterpiece (Illmatic)." Selwyn Seyfu Hinds from Spin rated the album 7 out of 10, and stated
"Doe or Die unfolds in a well sketched procession. AZ pours forth tales of loot capers and ghetto aspirations in a rapped-patterned delivery reminiscent, but for the high tonality, of the godfather of the hip hop hustle ethic, Kool G Rap ... Doe or Die achieves its purpose."
— Selwyn Seyfu
TRACK LISTING:
# Title Performer(s) Producer(s) Samples Time
1 "Intro"
AZ, Nas
AZ,
Lunatic Mind 1:18
2 "Uncut Raw"
AZ
Loose
"Back from the Dead[disambiguation needed]" by King Errisson
2:59
3 "Gimme Yours"
Intro/chorus: Nas
Verses: AZ
Pete Rock
"Here We Go" by Minnie Riperton
"Give Me" by I Level
3:07
4 "Ho Happy Jackie"
AZ
Buckwild
"Little Children" by Kool & The Gang
"What You Won't Do for Love" by Bobby Caldwell
3:34
5 "Rather Unique"
AZ
Pete Rock
"Anticipation" by Les McCann
"Just Rhymin with Biz" by Big Daddy Kane
"Funky Drummer" by James Brown
4:49
6 "I Feel for You"
Verses: AZ
Backing vocals: Erica Scott
Amar Pep 3:03
7 "Sugar Hill"
Verses: AZ
Chorus/backing vocals: Miss Jones
L.E.S.
"Sugar Free" by Juicy
4:09
8 "Mo Money, Mo Murder "Homicide"
AZ, Nas
DR Period
"Cry Together" by The O'Jays
6:32
9 "Doe or Die"
AZ
N.O. Joe 4:40
10 "We Can't Win"
Intro/first verse/outro: Amar Pep
Second/third verse: AZ
Amar Pep 3:23
11 "Your World Don't Stop"
AZ
Spunk Biggs,
Ski
"You're Welcome, Stop on By" by Lou Donaldson
3:33
MINT.
On Jan-30-15 at 06:44:47 PST, seller added the following information:Vinyl is MINT - Jacket is Excellent.
Any lines or dots in the pictures are just the light, but I have personally re-inspected after question from buyer and I am upgrading my rating for the vinyl from "Near-Mint" to "MINT".
price rating
