Rap & Hip Hop: How do you rate/thoughts on Doe or Die by AZ?

I don't really care for it, but mafioso and 90s hip hop in general aren't my thing so I wouldn't be the best critic. AZ, to me, has always been that guy that people say is "the most underrated rapper of all time" and they're never really clear on why besides stating how great he is lyrically. He's certainly above average but he never made a song that actually stuck with me. Doe or Die definitely has some great moments and I'd say it did have a big influence on mafioso rap, but I wouldn't call it a very important album in the bigger picture of hip hop.

BQ: Below the Heavens. Wow, this is one album that never gets old; people were still crazy about it when I first joined and even now people still mention it.

BQ2: Not my field of study!

BQ3: Well done like Tyga but actually good.

BQ4: I wouldn't buy her flowers (like y'all said, that $#¡t is expensive and corny), but if I saw a flower growing somewhere and it made me think of her I might pick it and give it to her. No money spent and it's more special that way.

In my opinion, Do or Die is AZ's only classic album. Definitely one of the greatest Mafioso rap albums of all time and it had many incredible features from Nas. The album has that raw gritty New York sound and the lyricism and rhyme schemes were on point by AZ. Tracks like Rather Unique, Mo Money Mo Murda Mo Homicide, Sugar Hill, and Your World Don't Stop are by far some of my all time favorite hip hop tracks. If AZ was able to maintain that consistency throughout his entire career, there would be no doubt that he would be in my top 10 or maybe even top 5. But unfortunately I don't think he has made an album nearly as good as Do or Die and he is in my top 25. Do or Die is easily in my top 50 greatest hip hop albums of all time i think somewhere in the top 35-40 range, though. But I'll have to check lol.

BQ1: I got to go with Below the Heavens. I may be the Black Thought stan of the section, but some of the users on here know that I am also a very big Blu fan and I could stan him at times lol. Below the Heavens is in my top 20 greatest albums of all time already believe it or not. That just shows how much I appreciate Blu and his work.

BQ2: Good comparison but Muddy Waters all the way

BQ3: I like my steak almost burned lol. It has to be really really cooked. I like steak medium rare as well but burned steak >>>>>>>>>>>>

No food can **** with nearly burned steak. It's the GOAT

BQ4: If she wanted flowers, sure lol. But like what Richard B said, they are a waste of money.

Not a classic, just a little bit above average product of its time. Of course people get really nostalgic over that period in hip hop, so everything they find from that era sounds great to them (perhaps especially in comparison to some of the current releases), and Doe and Die is an example of that. You have to look at things in context, and in the context of its time, in comparison to some of the other hip hop releases of the mid-90s, Doe or Die just doesn't hold up - even if we're just comparing it to the same kind of hip hop releases (east coast mafioso or whatever), it doesn't match up. If Only Built 4 Cuban Linx is great (which it is), then Doe or Die is just good, or very decent. That's the way I look at it.

Doe or Die can get a little overly theatrical and it is undeniably musically unenthusiastic at times, but it has some occasional very great moments imo (the two Pete Rock produced tracks and "Mo Money, Mo Murder, Mo Homicide").

BQ: Below the Heavens.

BQ2: We're getting dusty here, uhm, I'll go with Muddy Waters.

BQ3: Well-done.

BQ4: Nah, I wouldn't buy flowers unless they specifically stated they like them. I think they're kind of a waste of money.

To be honest with you, for me this album is not such a classic. It's the closest project AZ got to a classic but I don't consider it one. It's great for sure but I don't find it that influencial. For me influence plays a big role on whether to call an album classic or not.

BQ1: Below The Heavens. One of my favorite albums of all time.

BQ2: Muddy Waters

BQ3: Like really well cooked. With rice most of the times. Or potatos it depends. And of course a coke.

BQ4: Yeah why not. I would rather buy something more unique but yeah. I have no idea what kinda flowers tho... I guess roses right??!

It's a great album and yeah, for me it's a classic. AZ is really underrated amd this album is a top 50 album in my opinion.

BQ1: Below the Heavens by Blu

BQ2: Muddy Waters

BQ3: Rare steak is a top 10 dish for me. It's one of the best things I've ever eaten.

BQ4: Yeah... Orchids.

NaS made the album good ofc