Album Review: AZ, Doe or Die 2

AZ

Doe or Die 2 (released Sept. 10, 2021)

It’s funny how Nas’ and AZ’s careers have paralleled over the past 30 years.

In 1994, Nas drops his solo debut, arguably the greatest rap record of all time – an unquestionable 5-star classic. AZ – who, by the way, stole the show with an unforgettable guest verse on that very same album – dropped his own solo effort the next year, again a 5-star affair.

When Nas clapped back at critics and re-established his legacy in 2001 with Stillmatic, AZ again followed suit, rebounding from the mixed reviews of 9 Lives to deliver Aziatic, which still stands as one of his best albums to date.

Today, Nas has further cemented his legacy with his critically acclaimed King’s Disease series. So it’s about time for AZ Sosa to remind y’all of his greatness as well.

Don’t misunderstand these comparisons, though. AZ has never been a follower, he’s very much his own man. In fact, if we’re being real, his discography, pound for pound, may be more cohesive than Nas’ ever was. That legacy of quality bars and consistent flows is as strong as ever on Doe or Die 2, the looooooooooong awaited sequel to AZ’s star-making but too often overlooked debut.

It’s fitting that the album begins with words from Idris Elba that “It was never about the messenger, always about the message.” Even when AZ has been denied the star treatment he deserves, his effortless lyricism and OG wisdom continues to transcend.

Need proof? “Just 4 U” is everything that defines AZ – elegant, lush production from Bink and blistering bars from the master of ceremonies:

I lack limits
Overachiever, the home of believers
Live since Latifah
Ice cold with the divas
Rollin cheeba
Puffin, rappin to beats
In broad day they bodied ol’ boy, what happened is deep

AZ crams life lessons into an endless stream of quotable bars on “The Wheel” (“Frames over the optics, I refrain from gossip” and “respect first, then we focus on net worth”) while Jahiem contributes his trademark soulful rasp for an great hook. Poor Jahiem, that brother has been going through it lately – stay away from the hot takes and dogs, my G.

“Different” has AZ reflecting on COVID, Kobe and cops while “Keep It Real” has him again rattling off gems like a semi-auto (“Never fold, was told not to fraternize with the foolishnesses/Codes, get dollars but don’t doze, it shows.”

Production has sometimes been AZ’s Achilles heel in the past but Doe or Die 2 is pretty sound, no pun intended, thanks to some heavy hitters joining the sonic soiree. Pete Rock brings classic East New York boom bap – down to the timeless scratches – to “Check Me Out.” Baby Paul has the sax on deck for “Never Enough” with Rick Ross, who daydreams about buying a bunch of churches and chicken spots … because Rick Rawse. I can’t tell if he’s talking about houses of faith or Church’s chicken franchises, who knows with that guy. But the most star-studded affair has to be “Ritual,” which sounds like AZ, Conway the Machine and Lil Wayne are holding a cypher in the Twilight Zone. Wayne’s comeback tour continues here with lots of Mixtape Weezy-era bars (“The Feds tried to book me, found out that book was an almanac” and “Drip like Lubriderm/I was bumpin’ AZ and The Firm when you was a worm”).

Doe or Die 2 does so many things right, with one slight exception – several of the album’s hooks fall a bit flat, even when the songs are solid. “Bulletproof” is a perfectly fine track that drops a couple of notches due to the so-so hook. Dave East essentially reworks a Biggie line for the “Blow that S***” hook, which feels a little uninspired. “Different” doesn’t even have a hook at all, and while that’s not a rarity in hip-hop the execution here makes the song feel a bit unfinished.

With the exception of “Found My Niche,” which plays out like a prequel to AZ’s Illmatic introduction, Doe or Die 2 doesn’t feel that much like a direct sequel to the landmark debut. It instead feels like a modern-day affirmation of AZ’s boundless talent. Round two might not be as earth-shattering as its predecessor but, like his boy Nas, talent like AZ’s never goes out of style.

Hard to call it a comeback when the essence never left.

Best tracks: “Just 4 U,” “The Wheel,” “Ritual”

4 stars out of 5