| Doe or Die | ||||
|---|---|---|---|---|
 | ||||
| Studio album by | ||||
| Released | October 10, 1995 (1995-10-10) | |||
| Recorded | 1994–1995 | |||
| Genre | ||||
| Length | 45:24 | |||
| Label | EMI | |||
| Producer | ||||
| AZ chronology | ||||
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| Singles from Doe or Die | ||||
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Doe or Die is the debutstudio album by rapperAZ, released October 10, 1995, byEMI Records. The album features guest appearances by artists such asNas andMiss Jones, and production fromN.O. Joe,Pete Rock,L.E.S., andBuckwild, 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 theBillboard 200,[1] and No. 1 on the U.S. Top R&B/Hip Hop Albums chart.[2]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 theRIAA in 1995.[3] The album went on to sell over a million copies[4] A sequel,Doe or Die II, was released on September 10, 2021.
The album incorporates fictitious tales chronicling the underworld lifestyle oforganized crime. These cinematic narratives often depict amobster's ascent to fame and wealth.[citation needed] Further emphasizing these themes, the cover ofDoe 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.[5] In addition, the liner notes and the back of the album features images of AZ counting money, drinking expensivewine, and smokingcigars.[citation needed]
| Review scores | |
|---|---|
| Source | Rating |
| AllMusic |   [6] |
| Los Angeles Times |  [7] |
| The New Rolling Stone Album Guide | [8] |
| RapReviews | 8.5/10[9] |
| The Source | [10] |
| Spin | 7/10[11] |
Upon its release,Doe or Die received generally favorable reviews from most music critics. Stanton Swihart fromAllMusic compared certain aspects of it toNas' debut albumIllmatic, 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 whereDoe 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.[6] Christian Hoard fromRolling Stone called it a "literate, sensitive look at street life that sits comfortably, as a companion, next to Nas' masterpiece (Illmatic)."[8] Selwyn Seyfu Hinds fromSpin noted the well-defined structure of the album, comparing AZ's delivery toKool G Rap's.[11]
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".[7] In a retrospective review, a critic for RapReviews labeledDoe 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 asOnly Built 4 Cuban Linx...,It Was Written, andReasonable Doubt for popularizing the Mafioso style rap, highlighting the fact thatDoe 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".[9]
| # | Title | Performer(s) | Producer(s) | Time |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | "Intro" |
| AZ, Lunatic Mind | 1:18 |
| 2 | "Uncut Raw" |
| Loose | 2:59 |
| 3 | "Gimme Yours" |
| Pete Rock | 3:07 |
| 4 | "Ho Happy Jackie" |
| Buckwild | 3:34 |
| 5 | "Rather Unique" |
| Pete Rock | 4:49 |
| 6 | "I Feel for You" |
| Amar Pep | 3:03 |
| 7 | "Sugar Hill" |
| L.E.S. | 4:09 |
| 8 | "Mo Money, Mo Murder" |
| DR Period | 6:32 |
| 9 | "Doe or Die" |
| N.O. Joe | 4:39 |
| 10 | "We Can't Win" |
| Amar Pep | 3:23 |
| 11 | "Your World Don't Stop" |
| Spunk Biggs, Ski | 3:33 |
| 12 | "Sugar Hill (Remix)" |
| L.E.S. | 4:18 |
|
|
| Chart (1995) | Peak position |
|---|---|
| USBillboard 200 | 15 |
| US Top R&B/Hip Hop Albums | 1 |
Singles
| Year | Song | Chart positions | ||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| US Hot 100 | US R&B | US Rap | US Rhythm | US Dance Sales | ||
| 1995 | "Gimme Yours" | 115 | 51 | 30 | — | 21 |
| "Sugar Hill" | 25 | 12 | 3 | 28 | 4 | |
| "Doe or Die" | — | 69 | 24 | — | 28 | |
A 15th anniversary edition ofDoe or Die was released on November 30, 2010, by AZ's own Quiet Money Records.Doe or Die: 15th Anniversary features production fromFrank Dukes, Dave Moss,Statik Selektah,Baby Paul,Lil' Fame fromM.O.P., and Roctimus Prime.[12] The album also features vocals fromR&B singer June Summers.[13] All the songs from the originalDoe or Die are remixed with a new beat.[14]
