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Doe or Die

{{Use mdy dates|date=June 2025}}

{{Infobox album

| name = Doe or Die

| type = Album

| artist = AZ

| cover = az_doe_or_die.JPG

| alt = The cover depicts a funeral. In the center of it is a portrait of AZ, surrounded with flowers. In front of the portrait is an opened coffin, with money inside of it. At the top of the cover is the text "Doe or Die" in a blocky green font. On the right side, next to the coffin lid, is the dark red text "AZ", placed at an angle to the viewer.

| released = {{start date|1995|10|10}}

| recorded = 1994–1995

| venue =

| studio =

| genre =

| length = 45:24

| label = EMI

| producer =

| prev_title =

| prev_year =

| next_title = The Album

| next_year = 1997

| misc = {{Singles

| name = Doe or Die

| type = Studio

| single1 = Sugar Hill

| single1date = June 27, 1995

}}

}}

Doe or Die is the debut studio album by rapper AZ, released October 10, 1995, by EMI Records. The album features guest appearances by artists such as Nas and Miss Jones, and production from N.O. Joe, Pete Rock, L.E.S., and Buckwild, among others. The album spawned the single "Sugar Hill" - which was certified gold by the RIAA in 1995.

Upon release, Doe or Die achieved notable critical and commercial success. The album peaked at No. 15 on the Billboard 200,{{Cite magazine|url=http://www.billboard.com/charts/billboard-200/1995-10-28|title=Top 200 Albums|magazine=Billboard|access-date=2017-07-10}} and No. 1 on the U.S. Top R&B/Hip Hop Albums chart.{{Cite magazine|url=http://www.billboard.com/charts/r-b-hip-hop-albums/1995-10-28|title=R&B/Hip-Hop Albums|magazine=Billboard|access-date=2017-07-10}} Doe or Die produced several singles, including, "Mo Money, Mo Murder," "Gimme Yours (remix)," "Doe or Die" and "Sugar Hill" - which was certified Gold by the RIAA in 1995.{{cite web| url =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| title =Riaa - Gold & Platinum - Riaa.com| website =Recording Industry Association of America| url-status =dead| archiveurl =https://archive.today/20130201135406/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| archivedate =2013-02-01}} The album went on to sell over a million copies{{cite web | url = http://www.hiphop-universe.com/underground/hip-hop-universe/136815-az-interview-talks-about-relationship-nas-beef-50-a.html | title = AZ Interview | access-date = 2011-09-30 | archive-date = 2014-02-02 | archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20140202152229/http://www.hiphop-universe.com/underground/hip-hop-universe/136815-az-interview-talks-about-relationship-nas-beef-50-a.html | url-status = dead }} A sequel, Doe or Die II, was released on September 10, 2021.

Content

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.{{Citation needed|date=September 2023}} Further emphasizing these themes, the cover of Doe or Die portrays AZ as an honoree of an elaborate mob funeral. Within the cover, a portrait of AZ is surrounded by flowers, while the body of the rapper is buried in a casket that contains large amounts of dollars.{{cite interview|last=Cruz|first=Anthony|subject-link=AZ (rapper)|interviewer-last=Diep|interviewer-first=Eric|title=AZ Remembers the History & Impact of ‘Doe or Die’ on Its 20th Anniversary|website=Billboard|date=October 10, 2015|url=https://www.billboard.com/music/music-news/az-doe-or-die-anniversary-classic-album-interview-6722887/|access-date=September 24, 2023}} In addition, the liner notes and the back of the album features images of AZ counting money, drinking expensive wine, and smoking cigars.{{Citation needed|date=September 2023}}

Reception

{{Music ratings

| rev1 = AllMusic

| rev1Score = {{Rating|4.5|5}}{{AllMusic|last=Swihart|first=Stanton|class=album|id=r224544|access-date=September 24, 2023}}

| rev2 = Los Angeles Times

| rev2Score = {{Rating|3|4}}{{cite magazine|last=Coker|first=Cheo H.|date=November 5, 1995|title=Calendar: Record Rack – AZ, 'Doe or Die'|url=https://www.latimes.com/archives/la-xpm-1995-11-05-ca-64971-story.html|magazine=Los Angeles Times|page=68|publisher=|access-date=September 24, 2023}}

| rev3 = The New Rolling Stone Album Guide

| rev3Score = {{Rating|3|5}}{{Cite book|last1=Brackett|first1=Nathan|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=lRgtYCC6OUwC&q=doe+or+die&pg=PA672|title=The New Rolling Stone Album Guide|last2=Hoard|first2=Christian David|date=2004|publisher=Simon & Schuster|page=31|isbn=978-0-7432-0169-8}}

| rev4 = RapReviews

| rev4Score = 8.5/10{{cite web|author=Mr. S|title=AZ :: Doe or Die :: EMI Records|url=https://rapreviews.com/archive/BTTL_doeordie.html|website=RapReviews|date=March 23, 2002|access-date=September 24, 2023}}

| rev6 = The Source

| rev6Score = {{Rating|4|5}}{{cite magazine|last=Poluhoff|first=Nicholas|date=November 1995|issue=74|title=Record Report: AZ – Doe or Die|url=http://www.thesource.com/articles/2852/AZ-1995/128/Archive---Classic-Reviews|magazine=The Source|page=91|location=New York|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20101211183648/http://www.thesource.com/articles/2852/AZ-1995/128/Archive---Classic-Reviews|archive-date=December 11, 2010|access-date=October 24, 2023|url-status=dead}}

| rev7 = Spin

| rev7Score = 7/10{{cite magazine|last=Hinds|first=Selwyn Seyfu|date=December 1995|title=Records: AZ – Doe or Die|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=dtbUh9Aju4IC&dq=az+doe+or+die&pg=PA123|magazine=Spin|pages=123–124|location=|publisher=|access-date=September 24, 2023}}

}}

Upon its release, Doe or Die received generally favorable reviews from most music critics. Stanton Swihart from AllMusic compared certain aspects of it to Nas' debut album Illmatic, stating "The two albums are very much the twin sides of the same double-headed coin. They are so closely connected, in fact, that it's difficult to pinpoint where Doe or Die's points of departure are located." He viewed it as "one of the strongest, most promising debut efforts of 1995" and one of the strongest rap albums of the year. Christian Hoard from Rolling Stone called it a "literate, sensitive look at street life that sits comfortably, as a companion, next to Nas' masterpiece (Illmatic)." Selwyn Seyfu Hinds from Spin noted the well-defined structure of the album, comparing AZ's delivery to Kool G Rap's.

Although praising the album's lyricism, Los Angeles Times writer Cheo H. Coker criticized the album's production, describing some of it as "lackluster beats". In a retrospective review, a critic for RapReviews labeled Doe or Die as "AZ's best album to date", with the "most replay value". The reviewer believed it deserves to be mentioned alongside albums such as Only Built 4 Cuban Linx..., It Was Written, and Reasonable Doubt for popularizing the Mafioso style rap, highlighting the fact that Doe or Die preceded two of them. Simultaneously, he criticized some of the album's production and its lack of consistency. He ended the review, saying "All in all, this album is slept on and should be viewed as a gem that must be in every true head's collection".

Track listing

class="wikitable"
#

!Title

!Performer(s)

!Producer(s)

!Time

1

|"Intro"

|

|AZ,
Lunatic Mind

|1:18

2

|"Uncut Raw"

|

  • AZ

|Loose

|2:59

3

|"Gimme Yours"

|

  • Intro/chorus: Nas
  • Verses: AZ

|Pete Rock

|3:07

4

|"Ho Happy Jackie"

|

  • AZ

|Buckwild

|3:34

5

|"Rather Unique"

|

  • AZ

|Pete Rock

|4:49

6

|"I Feel for You"

|

  • Verses: AZ
  • Backing vocals: Erica Scott

|Amar Pep

|3:03

7

|"Sugar Hill"

|

|L.E.S.

|4:09

8

|"Mo Money, Mo Murder"

|

  • AZ, Nas

|DR Period,
Outro: Lunatic Mind

|6:32

9

|"Doe or Die"

|

  • AZ

|N.O. Joe

|4:39

10

|"We Can't Win"

|

  • Intro/first verse/outro: Amar Pep
  • Second verse/hook: Barsham
  • Third verse: AZ

|Amar Pep

|3:23

11

|"Your World Don't Stop"

|

  • AZ

|Ski

|3:33

12

|"Sugar Hill (Remix)"

|

  • AZ

|L.E.S.

|4:18

Personnel

{{col-begin}}

{{col-2}}

  • AZ - performer
  • Nas - performer
  • Amar Pep - producer, performer
  • Buck Wild - producer
  • Void Caprio - engineer
  • D/R Period - producer
  • John Gamble - engineer
  • Jack Hersca - engineer
  • John Kogan - engineer
  • L.E.S. - producer
  • Lunatic Mind - producer
  • Henry Marquez - art direction
  • N.O. Joe - arranger, producer

{{col-2}}

  • Joe Pirrera - engineer
  • Pete Rock - producer
  • Erica Scott - vocals
  • Ski - remixing
  • Jamey Staub - engineer
  • Jason Vogel - engineer
  • Lindsey Williams - executive producer
  • Miss Jones - vocals
  • Barsham - performer
  • Spunk Biggs - producer
  • Lunatic mind - producer
  • Loose - producer

{{col-end}}

Album singles

  • "Sugar Hill"
  • Released: June 27, 1995
  • B-side: "Rather Unique"
  • "Gimme Yours (Remix)" [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)"

Charts

class="wikitable"

! Chart (1995)

! Peak
position

US Billboard 200

|align="center"|15

US Top R&B/Hip Hop Albums

|align="center"|1

Singles

class="wikitable"

!rowspan="2"| Year

!rowspan="2"| Song

!colspan="5"| Chart positions

US
Hot 100

! US
R&B

! US
Rap

! US
Rhythm

! US Dance
Sales

rowspan="3"| 1995

| "Gimme Yours"

|align="center"|115

|align="center"|51

|align="center"|30

|align="center"|—

|align="center"|21

"Sugar Hill"

|align="center"|25

|align="center"|12

|align="center"|3

|align="center"|28

|align="center"|4

"Doe or Die"

|align="center"|—

|align="center"|69

|align="center"|24

|align="center"|—

|align="center"|28

''Doe or Die: 15th Anniversary''

A 15th anniversary edition of Doe or Die was released on November 30, 2010, by AZ's own Quiet Money Records. Doe or Die: 15th Anniversary features production from Frank Dukes, Dave Moss, Statik Selektah, Baby Paul, Lil' Fame from M.O.P., and Roctimus Prime.{{Cite web |url=http://www.hiphopdx.com/index/news/id.11386/title.producer-baby-paul-talks-azs-doe-or-die-2-new-projects |title=Producer Baby Paul Talks AZ's "Doe or die 2", New Projects | Get the Latest Hip Hop News, Rap News & Hip Hop Album Sales | HipHopDX |access-date=2011-09-10 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20100826163859/http://www.hiphopdx.com/index/news/id.11386/title.producer-baby-paul-talks-azs-doe-or-die-2-new-projects |archive-date=2010-08-26 |url-status=dead }} The album also features vocals from R&B singer June Summers.{{cite web|url=http://www.doeordie2.com/magazine/read/az--doe-or-die-15th-anniversary-album-track-listing-_393.html |title=AZ- Doe or die 15th Anniversary Album Track Listing!!!!! - DOD2 - Lets go! |accessdate=2012-02-14 |url-status=dead |archiveurl=https://web.archive.org/web/20120302024812/http://www.doeordie2.com/magazine/read/az--doe-or-die-15th-anniversary-album-track-listing-_393.html |archivedate=2012-03-02 }} All the songs from the original Doe or Die are remixed with a new beat.{{Cite web |url=http://www.hiphopdx.com/index/news/id.12037/title.az-reveals-details-of-doe-or-die-15th-anniversary-edition |title=AZ Reveals Details of "Doe or die: 15th Anniversary Edition" | Get the Latest Hip Hop News, Rap News & Hip Hop Album Sales | HipHop DX |access-date=2011-09-10 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120929235544/http://www.hiphopdx.com/index/news/id.12037/title.az-reveals-details-of-doe-or-die-15th-anniversary-edition |archive-date=2012-09-29 |url-status=dead }}

See also

References

{{Reflist}}

External links

  • [http://www.discogs.com/AZ-Doe-Or-Die/master/42181 Doe or Die] at Discogs

{{AZ (rapper)}}

{{Authority control}}

{{DEFAULTSORT:Doe Or Die}}

Category:1995 debut albums

Category:Albums produced by Buckwild

Category:Albums produced by L.E.S. (record producer)

Category:Albums produced by Pete Rock

Category:Albums produced by Ski Beatz

Category:EMI Records albums

Category:AZ (rapper) albums

Category:Mafioso rap albums