Could AZ Have Been A Household Name Like NAS? Stunted Growth Music 

I've always thought AZ being compared so much to NAS made fans choose between them, and most chose NAS. Was there another reason he didn't rise to that level?

He's not a house hold name but he has his place cemented in hip hop. He's hip hop royalty and anybody in the know knows he is one of the greatest to ever do it.

Why does he NEED to be a household name. AZ is chillin...... he has success AND respect.

"Life's a Bitch & then you die" AZ owned that track!!

AZ has always been consistent with his bars. His verse on nas kings disease album was crazy. If you know real hip hop you know AZ a serious lyricist.

AZ verse on the Nas “Life’s A B*tch” a classic

Rather Unique was and still is my favorite joint on that album . Doe Or Die is a classic album.

In 1997 I used to be a weed runner and delivered to AZ at the Hit Factory. Talked to me for about 5-10 minutes and I split. Definitely in my top 15 ever of mc's. "The Format" and "The Come Up" are just some of his classics

The definition of underrated is something that has not received the merit, recognition or praise it deserves....with that said...I hate when people say AZ is underrated trust and believe those that knows, know and he's rated right where he's supposed to be. One of the Goats. We ALL knows he's a monster. He gets the merit, recognition and praise from TRUE Hip Hop heads 👏

That sugar hill is a classic just on the chorus alone 😌

An AZ album is a guaranteed lyrical gem. Some have better production, but you never have to worry about his skills falling off. True MC.

I remember reading an interview of AZ in a hip-hop Magazine. And he asked if he was happy with the way his career turned and he answered he doesn't want for anything and mentioned how he was in Hawaii with his family doing the interview , so I think he is doing his thing his way...

I always felt AZ was more thorough than Nas. I always felt he knew who he was which is why I believe he didn't succumb to industry compromise. Regardless, none of this discredits his lyrical prowess. He's in his own class without becoming a commercial puppet. Gotta luv it💯✊🏿

AZ never joined the artists fraternity.

"Puffing trees to get me high as trapeze, looking Japanese At ease when I'm stacking G's, so let's discuss, plus degrees"😂😂😂the GOAT that never was... I swear AZ my favorite underrated rapper

AZ never went commercial that’s why!, he kept his whole career street!.

AZ is the most underrated of all time, and definitely in my Top 5 D.O.A.

Aziatiac is still one of my favorite albums of all time.

Keith Murray stunted growth would be perfect next!

Not sure how involved his dad was in his life but his demeanor is a lot like his father. His father was my principle at the school I went to and I remember always seeing AZ around real cool dude

Man salute SGM you guys be on point the picture of Nas in the background explains everything 💯 AZ couldn’t never get out of Nas’s shadow in the public eye but behind the scenes every mixtape or freestyle with both on the same track he often out shined Nas

AZ is definitely up there as one of the greatest MC’s to ever touch a microphone.. Dude is a legend! this brother is one of a few that can hold his own on a track constantly with Nas.. now that’s saying something! AZ got my respect.. give this man his flowers!💯

AZ never had a wack verse 💯💯💯💯💯

The thing that hurt him more than anything else was his beat selection. Dude's flow is on another level and honestly when he and Nas worked together most times he would out shine Nas. The problem was he never got good promotion like you said. If AZ had been on interscope, def jam, or loud back in the day he would've blew up bigger. Doe or die is good but to me Aziatic is his best album. That rebirth song and I'm back still gives me chills to this day.

Him and Nas got incredible chemistry. Only difference between him and Jay-Z is the business savvy. Certainly one of NYC all-time greats!

The joint with AZ and Styles P is tough! they both go hard

Every time I get a new car I play one song that whole day and that is “ Wanna be there “ off Aziatic shìt just put me somewhere else the production and his flow and cadence is masterful 1st time I heard it was in my LS 400 banging out that Nakamichi factory system shìt was so crisp Sheeesh dat was in 04 it’s been tradition every since

Don’t know if he’s better but AZ did outshine everyone on that firm album.

8:18 It's funny how you say Nas had a more youthful voice because AZ always sounded young as fuck. Often times I have a hard time believing his voice matches his appearance. Even in present day, he still has that distinct voice that lets you know it's AZ.

The Nas comparisons hurt him the same way Memphis Bleek was under Hov. I don't think his growth was stunted but he definitely deserves his flowers

I say him and cormega the most underrated and slept on ever

This man wrote one of the GREATEST VERSES in music....i repeat MUSIC history!!!

This was one of the best stunted growth thus far. I think AZ didn't blow up because he simply didn't want to. He was more of a reserved rapper, real quiet and not out there like the average rapper of his time. He also didn't have a big producer, features with a lot of major artists, or beef with another rapper. All those things would have pushed him into the spotlight even more, but he wasn't that type of rapper. He wanted to be the best emcee, make his money, and stay on the low. That's what stunted his growth into becoming a major household name.

AZ is the most underrated rapper ever. He in my top 5. I take him over a lot of rappers. My favorite from NYC (Over Hov & Big) And He Still NICE Tracks for reference : “We Movin” “Rather unique” “I’m known” “Back to myself” Even tho the Firm album didn’t do as well he lyrically was on his shit

He was the 1st real independent artist out of ny and still is.

THAT "AZIATIC" ALBUM WAS A CLASSIC TOO. IT GETS SLEPT ON A LOT.

AZ my guy. Never felt i had to pick him or nas. But just appreciated them both to the ultimate.

That 9 lives album had some heat

Still one of my fave tunes from AZ, "love is love" from the pieces of a man album. Dude's a quiet legend.👍

AZ is one of my all time favorite lyricists...in the 90s he was arguably the best rapper for pure lyrical ability

Make sure yall go listen to Elzhi's Elmatic. He remade Illmatic with live instrumentation and its a certified CLASSIC.

AZ is No Doubt Hip Hop's Most Underrated lyricist! He's the definition of an Unknown Legend! Doe Or Die is an un open and undiscovered Hip Hop Treasure! 👌🏾👌🏾👌🏾

Az and Nas are the rap equivalent of T-mac and Kobe. Very comparable skill and talent early on, but circumstances and internal factors pushed one into greatness and left other as a "what if".

AZ and Comega were something serious.

YOOOO! AZ WAS MY FAVORITE RAPPER BACK IN THE 90s!!!! He could’ve been bigger, he’s truly underrated and very talented. Doe or Die was a classic.

This is a heavily slept on channel

Thank you!!! - Been waiting for this one!

You gotta do NATURE next, he had a huge stunted growth

This video is ALL FACTS! AZ is too underrated! One of the purest MCs ever! He's still so ILL on the mic!🔥🔥🔥

AZ never strayed from that digital flow that Nas innovated on Illmatic and which they both excelled in from mid to late-nineties. To AZ's credit his rhyme style has always been consistent and he has a classic debut album and many hidden gems on subsequent releases like "Never Change", "The Come-up", "Wanna be there", "Bedtime stories", "The Format", etc. He also has a bunch of classic features with Nas where I'd say he probably outdid his counterpart on e.g. "The Flyest", "Serious", "Full Circle" to name a few. However, Nas is (in my opinion) the more talented rapper as pound for pound over their respective careers Nas has resided in that higher echelon of wordplay, lyricism and song making to a greater degree than any rapper in the history of the game. Nas high moments in lyricism and innovation are recorded in tracks like "I gave you power", "It ain't hard to tell", "The life we chose", "What goes around", "Every Ghetto" "2nd Childhood", "Get down" and numerous others. Nonetheless, AZ is a great rapper who has the potential to outshine any other rapper on the same track. A lesser known jewel from AZ that can be found on RU-vid is a track called "Royal Salute" which was a savage but smooth response to a diss aimed at him from 50 cent. If you know then you know!! Respect from London!!

I was about to message you about AZ. Great content once again! Keep it up!

I subbed to this channel waiting for AZ stunnted growth..many thanks

AZ did not have big features like lauryn hill and puffy and he did not have any high profile beefs. If he had club singles, beef, and or controversy he would have been bigger

I'll always love AZ. I remember being so hyped for the Sugar Hill single to come out. I got 2 12" and wore them out. I think I even still have Doe Or Die on LP. The thing about him is that he's a classical example of the MC that is really good, but doesn't have any standout element to his game. Like a five-tool player that doesn't necessarily excel in any particular statistic. My feeling is that he needed a producer (not a beat from a producer, but an album showrunner like Large was for Illmatic or Stout/Trackmasters was for It Was Written) who had a more cohesive vision for his albums and would push him harder. Like "that's good, let me hear better". That's what being in the studio with Preem is supposedly like. He's underrated, for sure. But for me, the MOST underrated is O.C. It used to be Black Thought, but now everyone knows. lol

Thanks for this yo. Az is definitely underrated!!💪💪✌

great 👍 video and break down always been an az fan...the wisdom and knowledge he kick is crazy

if you heard pieces of a man album it was just as good as his 1st. i think its cuz he never wanted to “sell out” and keep his image clean and get rich not make the label rich

Literally just bumping him two days ago. Dude’s one of the illest of all time. I feel like we getting close to CANIBUS!! Gotta be tough for AZ. His birthday is BIG’s death day.

Man I've been doing a deep dive on your videos and I'm so psyched to find your channel. This one made me have to comment. AZ was the truth, his flows were so great and he definitely was unique and special. I truly love how you have researched and have broken down the real reasons why so many have not gotten the love and respect that they deserve. Have to agree with you also about '94, set the bar so high that comparison is almost a waste. Anyway, much respect. Hope you have continued success. Punching the subscribe NOW!!!!!

Great upload

Don’t ever let anybody change you’re opinion or get caught up in a body of work talk smh. A.Z. is the best ever lyrical wise. Just my opinion.

AZ'S SECOND ALBUM "PIECES OF MAN" IS PROBABLY THE MOST SLEPT ON CLASSIC ALBUM IN HIPHOP HISTORY.

I love this channel, excellent job

This is a great one! AZ was nothing less than great then and now as a artist he was a complete package, handsome, thuggish, smooth, intellengent, sheer lyricism. Thank you for this! Tradegy Khadfi is great also that is who Nas sounds like. P.E.A.C.E.

AZ is in my top 5 mc's of all time. Lyrically he's incredible but he just never blew up they way he should've. Listen to his verses on Phone Tap and it proves he's up there with all of the top lyricist of all time.

He's definitely one of the best from the 90's. In my top 3 🔥sosa ❤❤

Thank you for this AZ is my favorite of all time

Much respect 2 ur platform, AZ deserves his flowers while he is alive @ kicking! PEACE 7

AZ didnt appeal to the mainstream, he doesn't beef with anybody and didn't even bother to be marketable

AZ stays in my rotation. Nas, not so much. No diss. Sugar Hill is theme music.

I was waiting on this one

One of my favorites EVER. Doe or Die changed my life. SOSA... Save Our Streets AZ!!!

I swear Nas found the fountain of youth, dude doesnt look like he aged pass 25.

AZ's opening verse on Life's A Bitch remains at the top of all features. His flow, cadence and swag are unmatched.

Finally been waiting on this!

Love to AZ. That was real talk about him being a solid image. He never did any goofy sh*t. Dope vid, just subscribed.

AZ just had bad luck with record labels. Aziatic was slept on like crazy, def A CLASSIC! How can you mention Hov's Blueprint as classic, yet Aziatic gets overlooked? foh!

Az in my top favorite 5 rappers ever do or die ,pieces of a man and aziatic were classics most underrated rapper of all time!

I love this channel

Dope vid bro

AZ was super dope I don't know what exactly Stop his growth but I think the Nas comparison is a part of it

We were beginners in the hood as 5 percenters B.U.T something must of got in us cause all of us turns to sinners. Man that bar touched all of us Gods

I love you my brother. Great content. Let’s get it.

Good analysis!!

He was a amazing lyricist still to this day he just never stood out like the others around his time did

The Firm went gold (platinum now, I believe). It was well accepted. It just should have been better and a multi platinum album, but I never met a person that bought it and hated it. Not 1.

The Visualizer!!! The first Rap Artist I was drawn too as a kid and his word was ahead of his time. Do or Die Album was a classic, Mo Money went hard and still holds up till this day! We must have been brothers in the past life, cause even with basketball, most of the players that influenced you were the same for players for me. When this video dropped, It was like confirmation we not be brothers but we sure grew up in the Golden age of Hip Hop. You know Ball and music, the reason why this is the best content out!

This was needed I always was Az fan

AZ had so many dope street hits, and to me 3 classic albums. But run this playlist: Sugar Hill Uncut Raw Gimme Yours Rather Unique Mo Money Mo Murder Hey AZ What’s the Deal How Ya Livin Problems Platinum Bars Everything is Everything AZ’s Back That’s Real I’m Back Take it Off A-1 The Essence The Come Up New York Animal The Format

I think it was a matter of content nas always has great content In His album that people can relate Az is beast as a spitter but you need more than that to thrive in the rap game

You a real one for doing one on AZ.

He was one of my favorites! THE FIRM WAS EPIC TOO🔥🔥🔥

If you're not willing, to sell your soul. Then! Certain doors of opportunity, want open for you!

Az didnt have the hooks thats why, if he would of got with death row or puffy, he would of been a household name , but i know him, and some people were just to hood and to lyrical for the household name like papoose , but gimmie yours is ONE OF THE SICKEST SONG EVER

Good video… AZ is one of my favorite MC’s he needs to drop some music cause the people waiting

Good stuff bro...thanks for letting the hip hop heads know about a tru legend! Yeah he still in my top 5 tho big facts..🔥

His verse was better than Nas on Life's a Bitch. No question about it🥶

Nahhhhh This Is A Great One JC ... AZ And Nas Was Too Alike Thats Kind Of Why He Didn't Blow Like Nas

When in comes to succeeding in the world of rap or in life in general it all depends on your ability to change or make adjustments. You either make the right changes or adjustments when the world your in goes through changes, or you just simply make adjustments or changes to elevate your life in the world you're living in. But those who fail to make these changes either fall because of it, or they stay stagnant.

Do or Die 2 is a dope album, blessed that AZ is still as polished as can be after all these years, and yes, Rather Unique is STILL getting that occasional rotation in my radio playlists for the past couple decades into infinity.