Doe or Die

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Doe or Die
Studio album by AZ
Released October 10, 1995
Recorded 1994–1995
Genre Hip hop, Mafioso Rap
Length 45:30
Label EMI
7243 8 32631 2 7
E2-32631
Producer Pete Rock, Loose, Buckwild, L.E.S., DR Period, Amar Pep, N.O. Joe, Ski, Lunatic Mind
Professional reviews
AZ chronology
- Doe or Die
(1995)		 Pieces Of A Man
(1998)

Doe or Die is the debut album by New York emcee AZ, released in 1995.

Contents

[edit] Overview

Alongside Raekwon's Only Built 4 Cuban Linx…, Doe or Die is often considered as one of the prototypical albums of the Mafioso rap genre. The album incorporates fictitious tales chronicling the underworld lifestyle of organized crime. These cinematic narratives often depict a mobster's ascent to fame and wealth.

Further emphasizing the Mafioso-theme, the cover of Doe or Die portrays AZ as a victim of an elaborate mob funeral. Within the cover, a stylish portrait of AZ is surrounded by flowers, while the body of the rapper is buried in a casket that contains large amounts of dollars. In addition, the liner notes and the back of the album features images of AZ counting money, drinking expensive wine, and smoking cigars. Sugar Hill, the album's lead single, was certified Gold.[1]

[edit] Track listing

# Title Length Producer(s) Performer (s)
1 "Intro" 1:18 AZ & Lunatic Mind AZ & Nas
2 "Uncut Raw" 2:59 Loose AZ
3 "Gimme Yours" 3:07 Pete Rock AZ & Nas(Chorus)
4 "Ho-Happy Jackie" 3:34 Buckwild AZ
5 "Rather Unique" 4:49 Pete Rock AZ
6 "I Feel for You" 3:03 Amar Pep AZ & Erica Scott
7 "Sugar Hill" 4:09 L.E.S. AZ & Miss Jones
8 "Mo Money, Mo Murder, Mo Homicide"* 6:32 DR Period AZ & Nas
9 "Doe or Die" 4:40 N.O. Joe AZ
10 "We Can't Win" 3:23 Amar Pep AZ, Amar Pep & Barsham
11 "Your World Don't Stop" 3:33 Originally produced by Spunk Biggs; remixed by Ski AZ
12 "Sugar Hill (Remix)" 4:18 L.E.S. AZ
  • "Mo Money, Mo Murder, Mo Homicide" features a hidden track called "Born Alone, Die Alone."

[edit] Samples

Uncut Raw

  • "Back from the Dead" by King Errisson

Gimme Yours

Ho Happy Jackie

Rather Unique

Sugar Hill

Mo Money Mo Murder (Homicide)

Your World Don't Stop

  • "You're Welcome, Stop on By" by Lou Donaldson
  • "Who Am I" by The O'Jays

Sugar Hill (Remix)

Gimme Yours Eric Sermon Remix

[edit] Album singles

  • "Sugar Hill"
    • Released: June 27, 1995
    • B-side: "Rather Unique"
  • "Gimme Yours (Remix)" featuring Nas [Non-album single]
    • Released: December 5, 1995
    • B-side: "Uncut Raw"
  • "Doe Or Die"
    • Released: April 2, 1996
    • B-side: "Mo Money, Mo Murder (Homicide)"

[edit] Chart history

Album
Year Album Chart positions
Billboard 200 Top R&B/Hip Hop Albums
1995 Doe or Die 15 1
Singles
Year Song Chart positions
Billboard Hot 100 Hot R&B/Hip-Hop Singles & Tracks Hot Rap Singles Rhythmic Top 40 Hot Dance Music/Maxi-Singles Sales
1995 "Gimme Yours" 115 51 30 - 21
"Sugar Hill" 25 12 3 28 4
"Doe or Die" - 69 24 - 28

[edit] References

  1. ^ "Riaa - Gold & Platinum - Riaa.com". http://riaa.com/goldandplatinumdata.php?resultpage=1&table=SEARCH_RESULTS&action=&title=&artist=AZ&format=&debutLP=&category=&sex=&releaseDate=&requestNo=&type=&level=&label=&company=&certificationDate=&awardDescription=&catalogNo=&aSex=&rec_id=&charField=&gold=&platinum=&multiPlat=&level2=&certDate=&album=&id=&after=&before=&startMonth=1&endMonth=1&startYear=1958&endYear=2009&sort=Artist&perPage=25. 

[edit] External links

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