Biography:
AZ was born Anthony Cruz to an African-American mother and a Dominican father. Although he had been rapping since 1992, AZ first came to prominence by appearing on Nas' landmark album Illmatic on the song "Life's a Bitch" (1994)—he was the only guest emcee to appear on that album. After a bidding war, AZ signed with EMI, and soon released Doe Or Die (1995) to more critical acclaim than commercial sales. The album's lead single, "Sugar Hill", became AZ's only major commercial success as a solo artist, reaching the top 25 on the Billboard Hot 100 chart, and achieving Gold status. AZ's EMI contract was transferred to sister label Noo Trybe Records/Virgin Records when the EMI Label Group was shut down.
In 1997, he and Nas appeared in an Sprite commercial.
AZ's fanbase grew considerably after he joined The Firm, a supergroup comprised of AZ, Nas, Foxy Brown, and Nature, with Dr. Dre and The Trackmasters producing. The Firm's only album, The Album, was regarded as critically disappointing. Pieces of a Man, AZ's second solo release, didn't sell well. Independently, AZ released S.O.S.A. to little fanfare in 2000. Soon, however, AZ signed with Motown/Universal Records and released 9 Lives.
In 2002, he released Aziatic. A single from the album, "The Essence," was nominated for the 2003 Grammy Awards for Best Rap Performance by a Duo or Group. The video to its first single, "I'm Back," received moderate MTV2 play. AZ was supposed to release an album titled Final Call, around late 2004 or early 2005. Due to massive bootlegging, however, the album was never released. Instead, A.W.O.L. was released on September 6, 2005. This album featured many tracks that were on the unreleased Final Call, as well as some new ones—the first single was the DJ Premier-produced "The Come Up," and it became a moderately popular single.
AZ's sixth solo album The Format , was released on November 7, 2006.
Since The Format, AZ has released a mixtape titled The Memphis Sessions and a J-Love mixtape titled The Return of S.O.S.A. His latest album Undeniable will be released in early 2008.
Style:
AZ is known for his smooth, rhythmic cadence of delivery. He is also known for his use of multi-syllable rhyme schemes, internal rhymes, unconventional rhymes, and a large vocabulary. AZ is "one of the greatest rappers as far as lyrics and longevity", his style and flow are instantly recognizable and comparable to his friend and collaborator Nas.
Albums:
* 1995: Doe Or Die
* 1997: The Firm: The Album
* 1998: Pieces Of A Man
* 2000: S.O.S.A. (Save Our Streets AZ)
* 2001: 9 Lives
* 2002: AZiatic
* 2004: Final Call (unreleased)
* 2005: A.W.O.L.
* 2006: The Format
* 2007: Memphis Sessions (Remixtape)
* 2008: Undeniable
* 2009: Legendary
* 2009: G.O.D. (Gold, Oil & Diamonds)
At Night
AZ Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
Who you are, where you from...
This is...this is projects
I don't give a hell what you spit
Who you are, where you from
And who the hell you be gettin'
Urban wolves
Dream team baby
Brooklyn
Black sopranos
Let's play
[Verse 1]
Nice and smooth, white knights, icey jewels
So cool, but the slightest shit ignite my fuels
Love it low, stay in mine, attach semi
Cuz its hard to enter rap just passin' by
XK8, it's all good, the next they hate
Was never the type of nigga that flexed his weight
See, frontin just ain't my forte, I'm all foreplay
Hoppin' out the porsche, drop products on graves
My slow grind story niggas cosign for me
Y'all slouch rappin' fake trash niggas' rhymes bore me
Adore me, respect niggas way before me
Since a shorty, in love wit big guns and orgies
Engaged to it, guzzlin' that beige fluid
Spazzin' like its the music that made me do it
Move through it if you that thorough, I'm certified
Through the grapevine, I know that niggas heard I'm live
continued below...
advertisement
[Chorus]
I don't give a hell what you spit
Who you are, where you from...
This is projects
I don't give a hell what you spit
Who you are, where you from
And who the hell you be gettin'
[Verse 2]
Look, look, I be postered up like I'm toasted up nice
Stop niggas from gettin' killed, broken up fights
Blunted at the park jams, opened up mics
Now its on us, in the ??? I focus on right
Its hardball, now niggas can't call foul
Y'all can't get wit me, I can't fall now
Immune to the murderous plots
Been about it way before niggas heard I was hot
Heavy jewels, the type to keep the herb in the sock
A fresh pair, and I fuck wit them Germans a lot
Let's play, pop bottles like its no tomorrow
Ricky Ricardo, the young black Leonardo
Part Spanish, my robe'll make the dark vanish
Too complicated for y'all 85's, don't understand it
Respect game, there's rules as a criminal
So recognize I'm a five star general
You touchin' who
[Chorus]
[Verse 3]
Yo, yo, at time its hard illin', it kinda scars the feelings
But what yall want from a game that's involved in millions
Cars, and chillin', sex wit' they broads, but villain
It could find a broke man, have him harm civilians
Its like a larson and razor blades but robbers spinnin'
Niggas runnin' from court tryna dodge they sentence
The odds is endless, moms can't calm the menace
Its like Saddam's in us, comin' fully armed for business
Chrome pubelies, smoke great, two tone seventies
Five miles on the same line, the zone is deadly
Hope heaven got a ghetto for us
In the hood, for the hustlers that bled before us
Weep slow, soak in, feel the Schweppervesence
Specialize foot notes for the adolescents
Locked in, there's beef in the game now
I know its deep but the streets know the name now
The war is on
[Chorus]
The lyrics to Az Izz's song "At Night" speak of a man who is confident in his abilities and does not care about the words or opinion of anyone else. He is from the projects and represents the urban wolves and dream team baby. The lines "Nice and smooth, white knights, icy jewels, so cool, but the slightest shit ignite my fuels" show that he appears calm on the surface but the smallest thing can trigger his emotions. He is engaged to the street life, and it has led him to become involved in guns and orgies. He is now a certified five-star general and plays by the rules of the criminal lifestyle.
The chorus of "At Night" repeats the lines "I don't give a hell what you spit, who you are, where you from...this is projects. And who the hell you be gettin'" demonstrating the rapper's dismissal of external opinions.
Line by Line Meaning
I don't give a hell what you spit
I don't care about the words you say
Who you are, where you from...
Your identity and origin don't matter to me
This is... this is projects
We are in the projects, the urban area
And who the hell you be gettin'
I don't care who you associate with
Nice and smooth, white knights, icey jewels
People may look good on the outside but can easily get agitated
So cool, but the slightest shit ignite my fuels
I may seem composed but small things can set me off
Love it low, stay in mine, attach semi
I prefer to operate on a lower profile, stay in my lane and keep a handgun
Cuz its hard to enter rap just passin' by
It's difficult to make it in the rap game as a passing artist
XK8, it's all good, the next they hate
People who pretend to be okay with you will hate on you later
Was never the type of nigga that flexed his weight
I have never been the type of person to flaunt my power
Hoppin' out the porsche, drop products on graves
I come out of my luxury car to pay my respects to the deceased
My slow grind story niggas cosign for me
People who understand my hustling story support me
Y'all slouch rappin' fake trash niggas' rhymes bore me
I am tired of hearing fake rappers with unimpressive lyrics
Adore me, respect niggas way before me
I appreciate and respect the OGs and pioneers who came before me
Since a shorty, in love wit big guns and orgies
I have liked weapons and sex parties since I was young
Engaged to it, guzzlin' that beige fluid
I am addicted to lean, drinking it constantly
Spazzin' like its the music that made me do it
I am acting crazy but claim that the music made me do it
Move through it if you that thorough, I'm certified
If you are brave enough, you can go through obstacles like me because I am certified
Through the grapevine, I know that niggas heard I'm live
I have heard rumors that people know of my skills and reputation
Look, look, I be postered up like I'm toasted up nice
I dress up nicely as if I am about to get drunk
Stop niggas from gettin' killed, broken up fights
I try to prevent conflicts and violence
Blunted at the park jams, opened up mics
I smoke weed while performing at park events and open mic nights
Now its on us, in the ??? I focus on right
We are now responsible, and I concentrate on doing what is right
Its hardball, now niggas can't call foul
Things are now more challenging, and people cannot cheat
Y'all can't get wit me, I can't fall now
Others can't keep up with me, and I cannot lose now
Immune to the murderous plots
I am impervious to schemes to kill me
Been about it way before niggas heard I was hot
I have been involved in this lifestyle and hustling way before people recognized my talent and caliber
Heavy jewels, the type to keep the herb in the sock
I wear valuable jewelry and hide my weed in my sock
A fresh pair, and I fuck wit them Germans a lot
I like to wear new shoes, and I am fond of German-made products
Let's play, pop bottles like its no tomorrow
Let's have fun, drink champagne as if we won't live to see tomorrow
Ricky Ricardo, the young black Leonardo
I am like Ricky Ricardo from I Love Lucy and a young black version of Leonardo DiCaprio
Part Spanish, my robe'll make the dark vanish
I am partly of Spanish descent, and my outfit will erase the darkness around me
Too complicated for y'all 85's, don't understand it
What I am doing and saying are too complex for those who are not street smart
Respect game, there's rules as a criminal
You should respect the rules of the game if you are involved in criminal activities
So recognize I'm a five star general
Acknowledge that I am one of the best in this line of work
You touchin' who
Who are you messing with?
Yo, yo, at time its hard illin', it kinda scars the feelings
Sometimes it's tough and leaves emotional scars
But what yall want from a game that's involved in millions
What can anyone expect from a game that involves millions of dollars?
Cars, and chillin', sex wit' they broads, but villain
People are enjoying luxurious cars, relaxing, and having sex with multiple women but are still criminals
It could find a broke man, have him harm civilians
This lifestyle could influence and drive even a poor man to start harming civilians
Its like a larson and razor blades but robbers spinnin'
It's a dangerous game, like playing with razor blades and blurred lines
Niggas runnin' from court tryna dodge they sentence
People are trying to avoid their sentencing by running away from the court system
The odds is endless, moms can't calm the menace
The stakes are too high, and even parent's can't tame the chaos
Its like Saddam's in us, comin' fully armed for business
We are like Saddam Hussein, ready for war and carrying heavy weaponry
Chrome pubelies, smoke great, two tone seventies
We drive flashy cars with shiny rims and smoke good weed, and I prefer my 1970s vehicle with two contrasting colors
Five miles on the same line, the zone is deadly
We travel for five miles on the same street, and it's a dangerous area
Hope heaven got a ghetto for us
I hope there's a slum in heaven reserved for us who came from the ghetto
In the hood, for the hustlers that bled before us
A place in the community designated for hustlers who died before us
Weep slow, soak in, feel the Schweppervesence
Take in and connect with the emotions slowly like Schweppes carbonated water
Specialize foot notes for the adolescents
I write lyrics specifically for the young audience
Locked in, there's beef in the game now
It's getting serious and tense in the rap game right now
I know its deep, but the streets know the name now
I understand that it's intense, but people recognize and know my name now
The war is on
The battle has begun.
Lyrics © Kanjian Music, Royalty Network, Sony/ATV Music Publishing LLC
Written by: CHARLES MORRIS
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind