Anthony “AZ” Cruz’s claim-to-fame was being the sole guest appearance on Nas’ 1994 debut “Illmatic”, having a verse on the song “Life’s a Bitch”. Gaining a record deal off the strength of that appearance, he released his 1995 debut “Doe or Die” to critical acclaim. Taking up with the New York mafioso themes at the time, his subsequent albums followed a similar trend, with his eleventh album “Doe or Die III” being no different. Released 30-plus years after his debut, the third installment of the series looks and sounds more like a proper sequel than its 2021 predecessor did, with several track titles being direct nods to those on the inaugural “DoD” album. And to once again invoke Nas’ name, “Doe or Die III” has been released under Mr. Jones’ own Mass Appeal label, kind of making this album’s issuance something of a full circle for Nas and AZ.
The album intro produced by K-Def begins with AZ looking back at his career now that he’s passed the 50 year-mark, viewing it with a hindsight that’s far from being wizened. To that end, he drops a single verse laced with back-to-back multis detailing his mob-influenced high-stakes hustler aesthetic. The piano-driven “No Need for Lactose” is a Ron Browz production and sufficient for AZ to lay down street tales from his perspective. “Gimme the World” is misleading, not because of the lush production courtesy of Large Professor, but because Jadakiss is featured…only on the hook. The track would’ve been hotter had Jada spat a verse. Los Angeles-based production duo Mike & Keys make their first album appearance on “Uniqueness”, a crooning soulful number with young Sosa boasting about his experience from East New York in Brooklyn to now, delivered with his trademark slightly nasal flow and affinity for literate rhymes. Despite the title, the Mumu Fresh-assisted “So High” is not a weed song. The album’s first single is an ode to the luxurious fruits of young Sosa’s illicit labors. Over a slightly funk-tinged production courtesy of Bink!, AZ showers his lyrics with brand-name fashion and upscale references specifically designed to make it rain:
The classic “Ho Happy Jackie“ also gets a sequel, first in the form of a spoken word skit with production by Mike & Keys and second with the Statik Selektah-produced “Still Jackie”. AZ’s storytelling ties this back to the original, especially with last bar: “From acne, no hair and gear that was tacky…” The requisite Nas appearance doesn’t really come as much of a “Surprise” on the Mike & Keys track of the same name. Esco and Sosa haven’t lost their chemistry as the poet laureate of Queensbridge handles the hook and holds down the second verse. “Fresh Water” has a bouncy production from Bink! and has AZ showing off his rap skills outside of mob motifs, providing autobiographical rhymes about his own come-up as a rapper in several neighborhoods in NYC’s boroughs.
Buckwild of D.I.T.C. laces “Winners Win” with some R&B boom-bap, enough for AZ to spit alongside his own son, Amar Noir. He has his father’s nasal flow and while not on AZ’s level, he can still hold his own as far as the bars go. The jazzy “I Was Once There Too”, produced by Statik Selektah, is nostalgic as AZ pays homage to his rap influences. The N.O. Joe-produced “Love My Life” is a certified head-nodder, lampshading AZ’s longevity (“The sequel, hope it lead to no evil / It’s caution amongst the feeble / the softest ones’ll leave you”). The “We Made It” outro produced By Ron Browz ends in contrast to the album intro, particularly with how AZ raps with his voice cracking as though he’s on the verge of breaking down in tears. Even though it’s roughly 34 minutes, “Doe or Die III” is the rightful heir to the original, balancing lush and gritty productions with AZ’s cinematic narratives.
AZ :: Doe or Die III
7.5Overall Score