AZ is an American rapper and composer who has been a longtime buddy of East Coast rapper Nas and a frequent collaborator on his work. He was one-fourth of the hip hop band The Firm, including Nas, Foxy Brown, and Cormega. Doe or Die, 9 Lives, Undeniable, Doe or Die II, The Format, Pieces of a Man, A.W.O.L.
Legendary, Asiatic, The Come Up, Problems, Take It Off, Save Them (ft. Raekwon and Prodigy), Found My Niche, Different, Feel My Pain, Gimme Yours (ft. Nas), and Red Magic are some of his solo albums and tracks.
AZ was also called the “Most Underestimated [Rapper] of All Time” by About.com, and he was included in the “Top 50 MCs of Our Time (1987-2007)” list, where he was described as “probably the most underrated lyricist ever.”
Early Years
AZ was born to a Dominican mother and an African-American father in Bedford–Stuyvesant, Brooklyn. With his mother and sister, he grew up in East New York, Brooklyn. When AZ was 12 years old, he began creating rap rhymes. He got friends with Nas, a young Queens rapper, in the early 1990s.
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Nas began work on his debut album, Illmatic, and requested Cruz to collaborate in the studio with him. AZ had a stanza on “Life’s a Bitch” and was featured in the album’s opener. Cruz was given a record deal by EMI Records after the publication of Illmatic in 1994.
Career
Doe or Die, Pieces of a Man, and 9 Lives were all released between 1995 and 2001. EMI Records published Doe or Die on October 10, 1995. Nas makes a cameo appearance on the album, which also has production by N.O. Joe, Pete Rock, L.E.S., and Buckwild, among others.
Doe or Die was a commercial hit upon its initial release. On the Billboard 200, the album reached #15, and Along with numerous albums, including Jay-Reasonable Z’s Doubt and Nas’s It Was Written, Doe or Die is credited with popularising the topic of mafioso rap.
Doe or Die released a number of songs, including “Mo Money, Mo Murder, Mo Homicide,” “Gimme Your’s (remix),” “Doe or Die,” and “Sugar Hill,” which was certified Gold by the Recording Industry Association of America in 1995.
Earnings And Assets
Rapper AZ is said to have a net worth of $5 million. AZ has amassed all of his wealth as a result of his successful rap career.
Cruz started creating rap songs while he was a child. In the early 1990s, he and Nas cooperated on Nas’ debut album, Illmatic. Cruz was later offered a record deal by EMI Records when they published a song called Life is Bi***.
Doe or Die, AZ’s debut album, was released on October 10, 1995. The album was a huge commercial success. The album debuted at number 15 on the Billboard 200 and at number one on the US Top R&B/ Hip Hop Albums chart. The CD costs approximately $9.30 on Amazon. Most likely, he has amassed a considerable fortune through song sales.
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Among the many albums and songs he has released are Pieces Of Man, A.W.O.L, The Format, Legendary, Doe or Die 2, Undeniable, and many others. Undeniable debuted at number 141 on the US Billboard 200 chart, selling over 25,000 copies in its first week.
Anthony Cruz also has a website where he advertises his clothing line. He most likely earns a lot of money through his website and clothing sales. AZ also plays in concerts and tours, and he must be well compensated for his efforts.
Family And Relationships
Anthony Cruz has kept his personal life out of the spotlight. He has yet to reveal details about his parents and relatives, such as their names and ages. It’s unclear if he doesn’t want his family to be in the spotlight or if they don’t like it.
According to sources, his mother is African-American and his father is Dominican. AZ’s ancestors are of African and Dominican descent.
Anthony Cruz is unmarried and unattached, according to rumors. AZ has also kept his personal life hidden from view. There’s no proof that AZ has been romantically linked to many women because he’s managed to keep his personal life out of the public. It’s unclear whether he’s married or not. Let’s see who ends up being AZ’s girlfriend or wife.
Despite his anonymity, Anthony Cruz has never been involved in any rumors or arguments. He has kept his profile clean and clear. AZ has never been involved in any notable disagreements or feuds because he is doing his work to the best of his ability without causing harm to anyone else.
Zodiac Sign
The zodiac sign of AZ is Pisces. Pisces, the twelfth sign of the zodiac, is represented by people born between February 19th and March 20th. Pisces are noted for their emotional sensitivity, graciousness, and awareness. The zodiac sign Virgo is the most compatible with Pisces.
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Albert Einstein, Justin Bieber, Rihanna, Olivia Rodrigo, Victor Hugo, Camila Cabello, Stephen Curry, George Washington, Tyler The Creator, and Adam Levine are all famous Pisces celebrities. Neptune is the governing planet of Pisces. Neptune is the planet of inspiration in astrology.
What Does Rapper Az’s Name Mean?
Anthony Cruz was born in Brooklyn, New York, and was given the nickname Asiatic, or AZ for short. AZ originally got fame as a rapper with “Life’s a bi***,” a hit from Nas’s 1994 album Illmatic, which he grew up in the same Brooklyn housing project as Nas, Mobb Deep, and Mic Geronimo.
Frequently Asked Questions
What does AZ stand for the rapper?
Anthony Cruz, better known by his stage name AZ, is an American rapper from Brooklyn, New York, who was born on March 9, 1972. He is well known for being a longtime friend of Nas and for being a member of the hip hop group The Firm.
What projects is AZ from?
AZ originally got fame as a rapper with “Life’s a bi***,” a hit from Nas’s 1994 album Illmatic, which he grew up in the same Brooklyn housing project as Nas, Mobb Deep, and Mic Geronimo. The record went on to sell over a million copies and brought AZ a lot of notoriety.
Where is AZ from?
New York
