Doe or Die II

Originally announced in October 2009, Doe or Die II sat in development hell for 12 years. In an interview in December 2009, AZ stated that he hoped to enlist the original production team from Doe or Die including L.E.S., Pete Rock, DR Period, and Buckwild. He also expressed a desire to enlist producers DJ Toomp, Dr. Dre, and Kanye West, as well as reach out to longtime collaborator Nas for a guest feature.{{cite web|url=http://www.hiphopdx.com/index/news/id.10323/title.az-wants-dr-dre-kanye-west-and-nas-for-doe-or-die-2|title=AZ Wants Dr. Dre, Kanye West And Nas For Doe Or Die 2|last=Arnold|first=Paul W|date=December 22, 2009|publisher=HipHopDX|access-date=December 26, 2009|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20091225103419/http://www.hiphopdx.com/index/news/id.10323/title.az-wants-dr-dre-kanye-west-and-nas-for-doe-or-die-2|archive-date=December 25, 2009|url-status=dead}} The intended lead single, "Feel My Pain", produced by Frank Dukes, was released in May 2010.{{cite web|url=https://rapradar.com/2010/05/18/new-music-az-feel-my-pain/|title=New Music: AZ "Feel My Pain"|website=RapRadar|last=Duong|first=Paul|date=May 18, 2010|access-date=July 24, 2022}} Later that year, Baby Paul of Da Beatminerz confirmed that he would be producing for the album and serving as its executive producer.{{cite web |last=Paine |first=Jake |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 |publisher=HipHopDX |date=June 3, 2010 |access-date=September 15, 2010 |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=August 26, 2010 |url-status=dead }} In October, AZ suggested that the album was nearly complete but stated that Dr. Dre and Kanye West were too busy to produce for the album at the time. He had hoped that the album would be out in 2011 after the two producers had completed their respective solo projects. In November, Doe or Die: 15th Anniversary was released to tide fans over until the arrival of Doe or Die II.{{cite web|last=Arnold |first=Paul W |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 |publisher=HipHop DX |date=October 4, 2010 |access-date=March 30, 2012|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=September 29, 2012 }} In August 2011, AZ confirmed that Nas would be featured on the album.{{cite web |url=http://www.xxlmag.com/news/2011/08/nas-will-appear-on-doe-or-die-ii-az-%E2%80%9Cguarantees%E2%80%9D |archive-url=https://archive.today/20130210030517/http://www.xxlmag.com/news/2011/08/nas-will-appear-on-doe-or-die-ii-az-%E2%80%9Cguarantees%E2%80%9D |url-status=dead |archive-date=February 10, 2013 |title=Nas Will Appear on Doe or Die II, AZ "Guarantees" |publisher=Xxlmag.Com |date=August 31, 2011 |access-date=March 30, 2012 }}

In March 2012, AZ released the song "My Niggas" in promotion of the album, which features production from longtime collaborator Buckwild. AZ stated the same month that he was aiming for a Q3 2012 release date. He stated that he was still picking beats for the second half of the album and was seeking production from Eminem and DJ Premier.{{cite web|last=Arnold |first=Paul W |url=http://www.hiphopdx.com/index/news/id.19193/title.az-discusses-eminems-infinite-his-unfinished-tracks-with-nas-and-cristal-competition-with-the-notorious-big |title=AZ Discusses Eminem's "Infinite," His Unfinished Tracks With Nas And "Cristal Competition" With The Notorious B.I.G. | Get The Latest Hip Hop News, Rap News & Hip Hop Album Sales |publisher=HipHop DX |date=2012-03-29 |accessdate=2012-05-02}}

In November 2015, AZ gave an update on the state of the album, saying, "I'm going into overdrive through the winter, and I guarantee no later than the first or second quarter of next year it'll be out. As for the producers, I'm trying to switch it up and add some new flavor. I'm gonna keep Buckwild, [DJ] Premier, and Pete Rock, but I have a lot of new producers to bring some new flavor to the table. It's so far, so good."{{cite web|url=https://ambrosiaforheads.com/2015/11/az-says-doe-or-die-2-is-still-coming-with-beats-by-dj-premier-pete-rock/|title=AZ Says Doe Or Die 2 Is Still Coming, With Beats By DJ Premier & Pete Rock|website=Ambrosia for Heads|date=November 11, 2015|access-date=July 24, 2022}}

In September 2016, when asked about the album's delays, AZ stated, "The sonics [of hip hop] are changing. Times is changing. I want to do this for myself at the end of the day, and for my core audience, just to put Doe or Die II out; I’ve been sayin' it for a while. [...] It's just the business behind it [that is causing the delays], and how I want to attack it. [...] It's samples, it's licensing, it's just getting the right distribution." He also suggested that Doe or Die II would be his final studio album and that he was planning on releasing something by the end of 2016.{{cite web|url=https://ambrosiaforheads.com/2016/09/az-the-firm-doe-or-die-2-retirement-audio/|title=AZ Vows "Doe Or Die 2" Will Be His Final Album & It's Coming This Year (Audio)|website=Ambrosia for Heads|date=September 19, 2016|access-date=July 24, 2022}}

In May 2020, AZ hinted that the album would be receiving a summer 2020 release date after releasing the single "Found My Niche".{{cite web|url=https://www.complex.com/music/2020/05/az-found-my-niche|title=Premiere: AZ Returns With New Song "Found My Niche"|website=Complex|last=Price|first=Joe|date=May 14, 2020|access-date=July 24, 2022}} After several months, in December 2020, AZ released a follow-up single titled "Different" and stated that the album would be arriving in early 2021. The album's final track listing was unveiled on August 13, 2021.{{cite web|url=https://hiphopdx.com/news/id.63888/title.lil-wayne-rick-ross-conway-the-machine-to-appear-on-az-doe-or-die-2-album|title=Lil Wayne, Rick Ross + Conway the Machine to Appear On AZ's 'Doe or Die 2' Album|website=HipHopDX|last=Bustard|first=Andy|date=August 13, 2021|access-date=July 24, 2022}}

The album's first single, "Different", was released on December 4, 2020.{{cite web|url=https://www.vibe.com/music/music-news/az-different-new-single-685403/ |title=AZ Releases New Single 'Different' |publisher=vibe.com|date=2020-12-03|access-date=2020-12-03}} On December 9, 2020, the music video was released for "Different".{{cite web|url=https://rapradar.com/2020/12/09/new-video-az-different/ |title=New Video AZ 'Different' |publisher=rapradar.com|date=2020-12-09|access-date=2020-12-09}} The album's second single, "The Wheel", was released on July 30, 2021.{{cite web|url=https://music.apple.com/us/album/the-wheel-single/1573939130 |title='The Wheel' single by AZ and Jaheim |publisher=music.apple.com |date=2021-07-30 |access-date=2021-07-30}} The song features guest vocals from American recording artist Jaheim and is produced by KayGee. On August 19, 2021, the music video was released for "The Wheel".{{cite web|url=https://www.revolt.tv/new-music/2021/8/19/22632952/az-jaheim-the-wheel-video |title=AZ and Jaheim 'The Wheel' Video |publisher=revolt.tv |date=2021-08-19 |access-date=2021-08-19}}

{{Music ratings

| rev1 = HipHopDX

| rev1Score = {{Rating|3.8|5}} [https://hiphopdx.com/reviews/id.3785/title.az-do-or-die-ii-album-review]

| rev2 = MicCheque

| rev2Score = 7/10 [https://miccheque.com/2021/09/20/az-doe-or-die-ii-review/]

| rev3 = Pitchfork

| rev3Score = 7.3/10 [https://pitchfork.com/reviews/albums/az-doe-or-die-ii/]

| rev4 = RapReviews

| rev4Score = 7.5/10 [https://www.rapreviews.com/2021/09/az-doe-or-die-ii/]

| rev5 = SoulinStereo

| rev5Score = {{Rating|4|5}} [http://www.soulinstereo.com/2021/09/album-review-az-doe-or-die-2.html]

}}

Doe or Die II received generally positive reviews from music critics. Grant Jones of RapReviews said, "Doe or Die II is a solid if unspectacular AZ album that has a bit of everything from his arsenal. A couple of tracks retain the Doe or Die style, a few have that smoother Aziatic feel and some songs capture that later ultra-slick aesthetic. Instead of being a literal sequel, it feels like a refresher course."{{cite web|url=https://www.rapreviews.com/2021/09/az-doe-or-die-ii/ |title=AZ Doe or Die II |publisher=RapReviews |date=2021-09-13 |access-date=2021-09-13}} Riley Wallace of HipHopDX said, "AZ's latest is what growing gracefully in Hip Hop looks and sounds like, sticking to his strengths without sounding out of touch, a lesson many other Golden Age rappers could take to heart.{{cite web|url=https://hiphopdx.com/reviews/id.3785/title.az-do-or-die-ii-album-review |title=AZ Doe or Die II Album Review |publisher=HipHopDX |date=2021-09-13 |access-date=2021-09-13}} Pete Tosiello of Pitchfork stated, "Doe or Die II is a better record for it. The best sequels offer fresh lenses through which to consider their predecessors, and AZ's discography has a rare narrative trajectory. Where Doe or Die{{'}}s narrator did the dirty work of pushing hostages' heads through plane propellers, its follow-ups find an older man idly enjoying the spoils of wealth, plotting political maneuvers, and reminiscing over the bad old days.{{cite web|url=https://pitchfork.com/reviews/albums/az-doe-or-die-ii/ |title=AZ Doe or Die II |publisher=Pitchfork |date=2021-09-13 |access-date=2021-09-13}}

{{track listing

| headline =

| extra_column = Producer

| total_length =

| title1 = Conversations with God

| note1 = featuring Idris Elba

| extra1 = P Soul

| length1 = 1:51

| title2 = Just 4 You

| extra2 = Bink

| length2 = 3:29

| title3 = The Wheel

| note3 = featuring Jaheim

| extra3 = KayGee

| length3 = 3:17

| title4 = Keep It Real

| extra4 = Baby Paul

| length4 = 2:58

| title5 = Never Enough

| note5 = featuring Rick Ross

| extra5 = {{hlist|Baby Paul|Prime}}

| length5 = 3:36

| title6 = Different

| extra6 = Aone Beats

| length6 = 3:44

| title7 = Ritual

| note7 = featuring Lil Wayne and Conway the Machine

| extra7 = Alchemist

| length7 = 3:12

| title8 = Blow That Sh#%t

| note8 = featuring Dave East

| extra8 = Buckwild

| length8 = 4:14

| title9 = Bulletproof

| extra9 = Bink

| length9 = 3:56

| title10 = Check Me Out

| extra10 = Pete Rock

| length10 = 3:10

| title11 = Time to Answer

| extra11 = The Heatmakerz

| length11 = 3:00

| title12 = Found My Niche

| extra12 = The Czar-Keys

| length12 = 2:02

| title13 = What's Good

| note13 = bonus track) (featuring T-Pain

| extra13 = Rockwilder

| length13 = 3:45

}}

{{Track listing

| headline = Deluxe Edition bonus tracks{{cite web|url=https://www.amazon.com/dp/B09PWC815B|title=Amazon - Music - Doe or Die II (Deluxe Version) by AZ|work=Amazon Music|publisher=Amazon.com, Inc.|date=January 22, 2022|accessdate=February 13, 2022}}{{cite web|url=https://rapradar.com/2022/01/28/album-az-doe-or-die-ii-deluxe/|title=AZ Drops Doe or Die II (Deluxe Version)|work=rapradar|publisher=rapradar.com|date=January 28, 2022|accessdate=February 13, 2022}}

| extra_column = Producer

| title14 = Jewels for Life

| note14 = featuring Inky Johnson

| extra14 = Bink

| length14 = 3:11

| title15 = Motorola Era

| note15 = with 2 Chainz

| extra15 = Statik Selektah

| length15 = 2:46

| title16 = Stay Fly

| note16 =

| extra16 = Bud'da

| length16 = 1:45

| title17 = This Is Mine

| note17 =

| extra17 = Statik Selektah

| length17 = 3:06

}}

Notes

• "Check Me Out" features additional vocals from Pete Rock.
• "Never Enough" features additional vocals from Mara Kaye.

{{Reflist}}

{{AZ (rapper)}}

{{Authority control}}

Category:2021 albums

Category:Albums produced by Pete Rock

Category:Albums produced by Aone Beats

Category:Albums produced by the Alchemist (musician)

Category:Albums produced by Bink (record producer)

Category:Albums produced by Rockwilder

Category:AZ (rapper) albums

Category:Sequel albums

Category:Albums produced by Buckwild

Category:Albums produced by KayGee