Doe or Die
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Doe or Die is the debut album by New York rapper AZ. Released in 1995 (see 1995 in music), AZ was introduced to the world in Nas's Illmatic in 1994. Often regarded as a companion piece to Illmatic, Doe or Die is considered by many critics and hip hop fans as a classic album of East Coast hip hop.
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. For instance, the song, "Sugar Hill", is a highly-detailed fantasy of a lavish lifestyle that includes luxury cars, beautiful women, and beautiful scenery. In the song, AZ imagines himself vacationing in the Caribbean, while living in world-class hotels and riding yachts. Furthermore, in the song entitled, "Mo Money, Mo Murder (Homicide)," AZ and Nas create a cinematic tale recounting the murder of a powerful crime kingpin. This song is followed by a companion epilogue called "Born Alone, Die Alone" (an adaption of the crime thriller, The Godfather Part III). In "Born Alone, Die Alone," AZ, who assumes the role of an old and retired mobster, reminisces about the sins he committed in his earlier life.
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 AZ counting money, drinking expensive wine, and smoking cigars.
Track listing
| # | Title | Producer(s) | Performer (s) |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | "Intro" | AZ & Lunatic Mind | AZ |
| 2 | "Uncut Raw" | Loose; co-produced by AZ | AZ |
| 3 | "Gimme Your's" | Pete Rock | AZ & Nas |
| 4 | "Ho Happy Jackie" | Buckwild | AZ |
| 5 | "Rather Unique" | Pete Rock | AZ |
| 6 | "I Feel For You" | Amar; co-produced by AZ | AZ & Erica Scott |
| 7 | "Sugar Hill" | L.E.S. | AZ |
| 8 | "Mo Money Mo Murder (Homicide)" | DR Period | AZ & Nas |
| 9 | "Doe Or Die" | N.O. Joe | AZ |
| 10 | "We Can't Win" | Amar; co-produced by AZ | Amar & AZ |
| 11 | "Your World Don't Stop" | Ski | AZ |
| 12 | "Sugar Hill (Remix)" | L.E.S. | AZ |
Samples
Uncut Raw
- "Back From The Dead" by King Errisson
Gimme Yours
- "Here We Go" by Minnie Riperton
Ho Happy Jackie
- "Little Children" by Kool & The Gang
Rather Unique
- "Anticipation" by Les McCann
- "Just Rhymin' With Biz" by Biz Markie
Sugar Hill
- "People Make The World Go Round" by The Stylistics
Sugar Hill
- "Sugar Free" by Juicy
Mo Money Mo Murder (Homicide)
- "Cry Together" by The O'Jays
Your World Don't Stop
- "You're Welcome, Stop On By" by Lou Donaldson
Sugar Hill (Remix)
- "It Wasn't Me, It Was The Funk" by EPMD
Album singles
| Single cover | Single information |
|---|---|
"Gimme Yours (Remix)" featuring Nas [NON ALBUM SINGLE]
| |
"Sugar Hill"
| |
"Doe Or Die"
|
Album Chart Positions
| Year | Album | Chart positions | |
| Billboard 200 | Top R&B/Hip Hop Albums | ||
| 1995 | Doe Or Die | #15 | #1 |
Singles Chart Positions
| 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 Your's" | - | #51 | #30 | - | #21 |
| 1995 | "Sugar Hill" | #25 | #12 | #3 | #28 | #4 |
| 1995 | "Doe Or Die" | - | #69 | #24 | - | #28 |