I just recently upgraded my cassette tape of AZ’s stellar debut album Doe or Die to CD. When the finances allow I do this from time to time. After giving the album a few spins and “refreshing my memory” a few things jump out.
1. The obvious…the production was great from top to bottom. With Pete Rock, Ski, Buckwild, L.E.S., and others behind the boards the canvas was set for AZ to paint his vivid pictures.
2. Doe or Die is AZ’s Illmatic. Lyrically and sonically I don’t think he has reached (or come close) to the lyricism and/or production of his debut. Many artist struggle with this because the first album is years in the making.
However, as I think about AZ’s catalog I don’t think he has an It Was Written (Nas’s second best album) or a God Son for that matter.
Aziatic was dope, as was The Format, but not on the level (or close to) his debut. I have all of AZ’s albums and will be picking up Legendary (I Am Legend) on June 2.
With that said…..a jewel from Doe or Die is “We Can’t Win.” Not sure who is spittin at the beginning of the song, but AZ’s last verse shows the depth and his 5% lesson with lines like: “AZ the Visualiza is wise as Elijah/Here to advise ya, and bring out the realness that’s up inside ya/Intoxication, my voicebox rocks the nation/Sweet affiliation, the Doe Or Die situation”
Just my thoughts….tell me Whatchu think?
AZ: “We Can’t Win”
From the album Doe or Die (1995)
Produced by Amar
Co-produced by AZ
{ 14 comments… read them below or add one }
Was just listening to “It Was Written” right now, but yeah, this is a butter track from a classic album. You got that on cassette? Lucky.
I have the cassette tape….in 95 I didn’t upgrade to CD’s until the Rae joint came out. I thought all CD’s had bonus tracks. Plus, back then CD’s were expensive $15-18 dollars when the tapes were 7.99.
What’s funny about this album is many people were upset by the singe “Sugar Hill,” but looking back that “commercial single” sounds a lot better than what is being put out know a days a “radio” singles.
this album is good but i love that track Happy Ho JAckie the most..
heard mad lib flip the same beat on MHB ( money hungry bitches) on his quasimoto cd too
its amar and barsham on the track with him
Amar (intro) and Barsham (1st verse)?
Amazing album, though i rate Aziatic as of similar quality. But i do love the vibe on this album laid back but not soft. I’m just hoping he has decent production on his album coming out.
This track is still enlightening to this day. When this dropped, it was over cats heads. What’s so funny is this joint outlines the very same situations that we’re still under. Do your homework and overstand the deceipt.
By the way, besides this recors, Rather Unique was the ILLEST joint. Also, the verse Nas spit on Mo’ Money Mo’ Murder was ridiculous!
I still listen to Mo’ Money Mo’ Murder Mo’ Homicide from time to time
Ya i agree
love AZs first album
AZs main problem on his other albums is production
he needs to be inspired lyrically and those cheap soul beats n shit he be using are not cutting it for me…. his beats are like 6/10 when they should be at least 8/10 or more
aside from the occasional Preemo beat he really needs to get better producers or pick better beats from producers
Shit,That Sugar Hill track is what made me get the album in the first place.That joint fit AZ’s flow to a tee.For me, that was AZ’s own personal “Life’s a bitch”, if u will.
one of the first eye-opening, mind-blowing, conspiratorial songs I ever heard.
still sounds great today.
peace to AZ
I’ve always bumped this song….after repeating “Mo Money…..” at least three times before moving forward in the album, but this ish just bangs.
I guess that is what “timeless” music does…still sounds fresh years later. Another thing…..it brings back memories of what I was doing at that time (community college, running around, playing basketball, etc).
I guess I should comment on the actual track huh.LOL.I’ve always have felt this track.That 90s grimy shit.It puts me in the mind of a D.I.T.C. joint.
This album has got one of the few songs that managed to stay on my Top Ten List of favorite songs for over a decade now, namely “Mo Money, Mo Murder”, but it’s got a whole lot of other gems too. Definitely a classic!
Back when it came out, though, it seemed to me that it wasn’t generally seen as an instant classic, probably because the production was at times more radio-friendly, but like Thomas said, what was radio back then is mad dope today. Anyway, I always loved AZ’s choice of beats, I’m a sucker for those smooth grooves, even if they’re slightly disco-tinged.
Concerning AZ’s catalog, I’ve bought every single album he’s dropped, even a couple of compilations and mixtapes because I know there’s bound to be a few gems I’ll definitely love. Can’t understand why the guy’s not been more successful, if you ask me he can easily hang with the Jay-Zs and them.