Agreed. I always felt he doesn't get enough credit for helping expand multi-syllabic rhymes to what I call multi-multi-syllabic rhyming. Like having back to back lines where 9 of the 12 syllables rhyme; maybe there's an actual word for it.
Back in 96 Eminem released a track titled "Infinite" which sounded a lot like this. Em received some criticism for it. Maybe that lead to the birth of Slim Shady.
Crazy thing why AZ didn't blow is because he was just a lil too complex. Mase, funny enough, kind of rapped like him before he got signed to Bad Boy and kept the rhyme scheme style, except he catered it to the casual hip hop listener without compromising too much. Mase knew how to write records that were for the radio without compromising the lyrics and rhyme scheme which is an ACHIEVEMENT in itself. AZ wrote a few commercial records, it's just that he had a string of bad luck with the labels promoting him.
I think he also just had the misfortune of being compared to his predecessor Nas, I don’t think his work ever got to fully exist outside of the Illmatic comparisons. Being their styles were so similar. Doe or Die is such a slept on classic, maybe had it come out a year before Illmatic and not after his career would be different.
@@410BK without illmatic, he doesn't get the record deal. It's more with the stubbornness of wanting to make a few radio hits. All the 90s rappers were like that, even biggie. The ones that were convinced blew up. Simple. Look at pun, method man, pac, ll cool j. All of them let go of their ego for a few radio joints and it paid off. Nas finally listened on his second album.
Uncut Raw; Mo Money Mo Murder (feat. Nas), and Can’t Win, are also certified bangers by AZ. I loved him when I was a teen and I guess I just forgot about him for a while until I found Doe Or Die in a giant box of CD’s nearly 12 years later. Such an underrated artist.
AZ is an artist that i have mostly overlooked most of my life, but I've never heard anything horrible from him. like everyone else in the comments, i suggest "The Format", which was released 14 years into his rap career.
When I was in hs a DJ played this at a party and I think we all were like wtf is this. Loved it. I put my cousins on to the album. I met AZ in an airport once I was a young punk lol and idk if he could have been cooler. Stopped to talk to me and everything. I get the impression he's one of the real cool guys in the game.
This is a heavy NYC talk great to see u keep up Boom 😂 I think I remember that source issue with Biggie on the cover or Junior Mafia. We was mad at Snoop then. Not Pac lol Oh Life's A Bitch is the Best Verse For Verse EVVVER... N my Humble BIAS opinion 😂😂
I never liked this beat from Pete it sounded like an R&B beat from that era, listen to AZ - The Format prod. by Dj Premier it'll sound better in the car
@@ABoomerReacts are you ready for a Scratch & Cut track without rapping? I got a good one, called "Scratch & Kut" by Sir Scratch and K-Kut. Funny, isn't it?
Az is got to be one of the most underrated mcs of all time he got one of the best voices in hip hop and crazy lyrics
No question, AZ and Cormega got underrated because they were around Nas and Prodigy i feel
I had never heard of him before he got requested. And he's so good!
Agreed. I always felt he doesn't get enough credit for helping expand multi-syllabic rhymes to what I call multi-multi-syllabic rhyming. Like having back to back lines where 9 of the 12 syllables rhyme; maybe there's an actual word for it.
@@ABoomerReacts mo money mo murder with Nas is another instant classic
@@MJ-yi5ou Thanks! That song is def on my list.
AZ music makes people kind!
Everyone should listen to him 24/7 then. 😁😁
😂 when the beat dropped.
My heart is going to give out on one of these songs.
@@ABoomerReacts 😂
Back in 96 Eminem released a track titled "Infinite" which sounded a lot like this. Em received some criticism for it. Maybe that lead to the birth of Slim Shady.
One of my favorite rap songs ever! AZ is severely underrated. Pete Rock gave him a perfect track.
- Pete Rock on the beat..... the king of background ad-libs
Crazy thing why AZ didn't blow is because he was just a lil too complex. Mase, funny enough, kind of rapped like him before he got signed to Bad Boy and kept the rhyme scheme style, except he catered it to the casual hip hop listener without compromising too much. Mase knew how to write records that were for the radio without compromising the lyrics and rhyme scheme which is an ACHIEVEMENT in itself. AZ wrote a few commercial records, it's just that he had a string of bad luck with the labels promoting him.
I think he also just had the misfortune of being compared to his predecessor Nas, I don’t think his work ever got to fully exist outside of the Illmatic comparisons. Being their styles were so similar. Doe or Die is such a slept on classic, maybe had it come out a year before Illmatic and not after his career would be different.
@@410BK without illmatic, he doesn't get the record deal. It's more with the stubbornness of wanting to make a few radio hits. All the 90s rappers were like that, even biggie. The ones that were convinced blew up. Simple. Look at pun, method man, pac, ll cool j. All of them let go of their ego for a few radio joints and it paid off. Nas finally listened on his second album.
This is my favourite AZ track 🔥🙌
One of the best b-sides ever!!!!
Anthony Cruz one of my favorite lyricists ever 🔥🔥🔥🔥🔥🔥
Uncut Raw; Mo Money Mo Murder (feat. Nas), and Can’t Win, are also certified bangers by AZ. I loved him when I was a teen and I guess I just forgot about him for a while until I found Doe Or Die in a giant box of CD’s nearly 12 years later. Such an underrated artist.
Thanks! All of those songs are on my list. The Format has been getting the most love in the comments.
AZ is an artist that i have mostly overlooked most of my life, but I've never heard anything horrible from him. like everyone else in the comments, i suggest "The Format", which was released 14 years into his rap career.
Looks like The Format will be my next AZ reaction ( not counting Life's a Bitch).
When I was in hs a DJ played this at a party and I think we all were like wtf is this. Loved it. I put my cousins on to the album. I met AZ in an airport once I was a young punk lol and idk if he could have been cooler. Stopped to talk to me and everything. I get the impression he's one of the real cool guys in the game.
I love to hear nice stories about meeting celebrities. It doesn't always go well.
@@ABoomerReacts haha yea you live in Cali right? I lived there for a while
@@castle07dw Californians usually leave celebrities alone
@@ABoomerReacts yea I think I got that way. If I would have met someone I was really into I probably would have said something
Have you looked into Pete Rock yet? Definitely one of the handful of most essential hip-hop producers every fan should know.
Pete Rock and CL smooth - T.R.O.Y. would be perfect introduction for this channel.
@@ck240sx I feel like he did T.R.O.Y. already... I could be wrong
Yeah.... here's T.R.O.Y. reaction ua-cam.com/video/5D5lvoOjUGw/v-deo.html
Thanks, Christopher! I reacted to it.
👍👍👍👍👍👍
Hey Brian hope you’re doing well, life’s a b*tch is a great song by nas ft AZ which I have recommended before on a nas video. 👍
Yessss
Saturday Dec 17!
@@ABoomerReacts looking forward to it 😀
If only more boomers reacted to music like this. Excellent reaction!
Thank you! I appreciate that!
This is better than I thought it would be... 😅
Hip hop.
NEEDA GET SUM MEXICAN RAPPERS ON HERE….KID FROST,SIR DYNO ,BROWNSIDE ,KNIGHTOWL , A LIGHTER SHADE OF BROWN ,SPM , & STILL WAITING ON BIG TONE💯💯✌️
Respect the Shooter is still on my list but I don't have any requests for those other artists except for SPM and I'm not reacting to him.
@@ABoomerReacts 💯✌️SALUTE
I knew I should have watched this first🤣...."Life's a Bitch" is a classic.
My reaction will post on Dec 17
The Come Up was his best song (outside Life's a Bitch)
The Format is the song getting the most love today.
@@ABoomerReacts would it sway you if I tell you that DJ Premier also produced The Come Up and has some great scratch work as always?
@@chuck430 It's like you're waving kryptonite at me. 😜😜
Nas ft. AZ - The Flyest
Thanks, Beau! That song is def on my list.
This is a heavy NYC talk great to see u keep up Boom 😂
I think I remember that source issue with Biggie on the cover or Junior Mafia. We was mad at Snoop then. Not Pac lol
Oh Life's A Bitch is the Best Verse For Verse EVVVER... N my Humble BIAS opinion 😂😂
Thanks, Jason! It posts on Dec 17
@@ABoomerReacts oh get I will have my proper accessories for the occasion 💨😅
@@SJQNYC I have no idea what you're talking about. 😜😜 Be sure to have your accessories ready for my reaction to MOP next week.
@@ABoomerReacts I'm sure u don't Boom 🤫🤣
Oh I must certainly will I would guess the song but I'm pretty sure I can fig it out 😆 🤣
check out the AZ "The Format"
Thanks! That song is def on my list.
Boomer is officially my brother now😢. I feel like we share the same life experiences.
I'd be happy to be your brother even if it's virtual.
check out ho happy jackie..one of my faves from az
Thanks, Graham! That song is def on my request list.
Az (I’m Known) (Once again) (The Essence Ft Nas) (Sosa)
Thanks, Don! The Essence was already on my list and I added the other 3.
@@ABoomerReacts There good shouts 👍🏿
9:25 - 9:27 this needs to made into a gif 😂
I'm ready for it!
HALF A MIL and AZ sound a lot alike
Maybe because their both from BK
RIP Half A MIL
I've never heard of Half A Mil. Maybe because his career was cut short.
Look him up sometime he was getting ready to blow up...
If I remember correctly, I think AZ wrote for Half-a-Mil
Can you react to his song the come up
That has been a popular request so it's def on my must-do list.
I concur, it’s a better track than Sugar Hill.
I never liked this beat from Pete it sounded like an R&B beat from that era, listen to AZ - The Format prod. by Dj Premier it'll sound better in the car
The Format has been requested more than once today.
Scratches and cuts put in where a traditional chorus would be.. is considered the chorus or "hook" in hip hop.
Good! Cuz I'm here for it.
@@ABoomerReacts are you ready for a Scratch & Cut track without rapping? I got a good one, called "Scratch & Kut" by Sir Scratch and K-Kut. Funny, isn't it?
@@xXxXx-----xXxXx There is no rapping on it?
@@ABoomerReacts there are vocals, but just some cuts of their names
@@xXxXx-----xXxXx Thanks! I'll add them to my list.