A.Z.

AZ has appeared in enough "underrated rappers" lists to prove that "underappreciated by the average rap fan" is a more accurate distinction. Moreover, his lengthy career is not without significant commercial highlights. The lyrical Brooklynite made himself known with the unforgettable lone guest verse on Nas' Illmatic (1994), packing a great number of syllables into each line and making it sound easy, while also providing the terse yet illustrative hook. The next few years, AZ hit number one on Billboard's R&B chart with Doe or Die (1995), his solo debut featuring the gold sin...