Nas creates AZ


Nasir Jones first album, Illmatic, is critically acclaimed as one of, if not the, best single album ever released or recorded in the brief history of rap music. Hell, in certain circles, this cd is considered among the best musical recordings to take place in the 20th century.For many reasons, this album will be remembered as the point at which rap music became a legit art form. The stylings of KRS-1, the lyrical wizardry of Rakim, and the bantering humor of a Slick Rick were all drawn together to create an album whose impact sparked the mainstream acceptance and growth of America’s definitive sound.

But there is a dark side to this…

On the track, “Life’s a Bitch” one of Nas’ homies from the QB projects, a rapper by the name of AZ was given life. He breezed over and through one of L.E.S.’s most laid back and jazzy tracks with an unforgettable verse and delivery, promising that “as long as we leavin thieven, we’ll be leavin with some kind of doe” among other gems.

To bad for him the ride crashed to a halt almost immediately. AZ was able to follow up his appearance with some modest contributions on The Firm’s : The Album as well as a career’s worth of solo projects from Aziatic, to S.O.S.A. (Save Our Streets AZ) , to Pieces of a Man…but alas, it simply was not to be.

While AZ reached a strong level of success for a bastard child, he remains one birthed into the game without direction. He was never able to amount to the success of his “father” Nas, and as a result has faded into obscurity

AZ the VisualizaVisualizin the realism of life and actuality Fuck who's the baddest a person's status depends on salaryAnd my mentality is, money orientatedI'm destined to live the dream for all my peeps who never made it causeyeah, we were beginners in the hood as five percentersBut somethin must of got in us cause all of us turned to sinners Now some, restin in peace and some are sittin in San Quentin Others such as myself are tryin to carry on traditionKeepin the schwepervesence street ghetto essence inside us Cause it provides us with the proper insight to guide usEven though, we know somehow we all gotta go but as long as we leavin thievin we'll be leavin with some kind of dough so, and to that day we expire and turn to vapors me and my capers-ll be somewhere stackin plenty papersKeepin it real, packin steel, gettin highCause life's a bitch and then you die