#TBT: AZ

It is often said that AZ is the most underrated rapper of all time. Like "J. Cole went double platinum with no features," it is a tired trope that somewhat undermines its own message. Regardless of whether or not AZ is the most underrated rapper of all time, he is inarguably one of the 100 greatest rappers of all time, a man who combines the lyrical talents of Jay Z, with whom he used to cypher in the lunchroom of Brooklyn's Eli Whitney High School, and the laid-back demeanor of Snoop Dogg.

This article includes four tracks from AZ's 1995 debut Doe or Die and one song from the majority of his other albums up until 2006 -- a setup that allows us to cover as much as ground as possible while regrettably leaving out "Gimme Your's" and his verse on "Affirmative Action."

Click through the gallery to bump some AZ.

Nas - "Life's A Bitch" feat. AZ | Illmatic (1994)

Did you know that AZ was the only rapper to be featured on Illmatic? His scintillating verse on "Life's a Bitch, " which contains probably the only known usage of the word “Schweppervesent," put him on the map, earned him a deal with EMI, and set the stage for his debut album the following year...

"Ho Happy Jackie" | Doe or Die (1995)

My personal favorite AZ song ever. "Ho Happy Jackie" is a story about a foolish young woman who mistakenly believes every man "goes around tricking on every chicken that he's sticking." But more importantly, it is an indispensable seasonal track that can make the dead of winter feel like summertime.

"Mo Money Mo Murder (Homicide)" feat. Nas | Doe or Die (1995)

"Mo Money Mo Murder" solidified the chemistry between AZ and Nas and foreshadowed the mafioso dealings of alter egos Sosa and Escobar they would later flesh out on The Firm.

"Sugar Hill" feat. Miss Jones | Doe or Die (1995)

AZ on "Sugar Hill," as told by Billboard:

At first, I didn't like "Sugar Hill" cause we transforming to the B-Boy era of just drums, snares and lyrics and then at the same time, Biggie had that hit out "Juicy." It was just that retro, disco feel that took hip-hop over. So my "Sugar Hill" was in that same vein, but I was kind of upset that we put that out.

"Sugar Hill," I was feeling like I sold out. This is some real talk. I felt like I had sold out listening to "Sugar Hill." I was like, "Damn, I sold out."

I just wanted to keep it strictly decent rhymes. I didn't want nothing to do, up to this day, with radio. I guess what we grew up off of was Mr. Magic, DJ Red Alert and things like that, so it was just all lyrics and beats. "Sugar Hill" was more of a groove that our aunts and uncles listened to when we were growing up, but that wasn't solely related to hip-hop. Hip-hop was drums, snares and hard lyrics. But at that time, we was speaking on the lifestyle. So I guess that music was enough so listeners can really understand the lifestyle that was going on because hip-hop started from the streets.

"Rather Unique" | Doe or Die (1995)

In an interview with Passion of the Weiss, AZ explained that Doe or Die was smoother than other mafioso-style rap albums of that era "because I was smoking a whole lot of weed." "Rather Unique" corroborates this claim: "My whole persona's kinda laid back like a recliner / And since a minor, I been fucking with marijuana."

"Phone Tap" w/ Nas, Nature, & Dr. Dre | The Firm (1997)

Dr Dre produced about half the songs on The Firm, and it is not a coincidence that these songs are the best on the album: "Five Minutes to Flush," "Firm Fiasco," "Firm Family," and especially, "Phone Tap." AZ recalled the making of "Phone Tap" during an interview with Hip Hop DX:

We was just writing. Honestly, I think that “Phone Tap” zone, I came up with that. I was like, “What if we were talking through the phone?” With all the minds in there it just fell in place in one day. That record was done in four hours. The beat came up. We rapped. We wrote it right there. It was a song. 

"Problems" | 9 Lives (2001)

9 Lives refers to AZ's composure, which is that of a feline predator. ("A lion doesn't concern himself with the opinions of sheep") Though he admits on the album's best song, "Problems," that he was once a young dog. "We all had our days of barking."

"The Essence" feat. Nas | Aziatic (2002)

Those who didn't know Nas and AZ is one of the greatest bromances in hip hop history need to listen to "The Essence." Friendship is a beautiful thing.

"The Come Up" | A.W.O.L. (2005)

AZ is a master storyteller who recognizes the importance of a good hook. On "The Come Up," he lures the reader with the opening line "You know the come up" -- then proceeds to immediately throw the kitchen sink at them in the ensuing couplet, a master class of synthesizing, detail, flow, and rhyme scheme -- "stack, get right, put the gun up / laugh, get nice, split the blunt up."

"The Format" | The Format (2006)

As we discussed in the introduction, hip hop fans frequently cite AZ as being "underrated." He is well-aware of the label, and when asked about it in an interview with The Come Up Show, he answered indifferently: “I made the transition from the majors to the independent. I own all my publishing and my masters, so I’m in a good position, you dig?”