Anthony Cruz (born March 9, 1972 in Brooklyn, New York), better known by hi… Read Full Bio ↴Anthony Cruz (born March 9, 1972 in Brooklyn, New York), better known by his stage name AZ, is a Grammy-nominated rapper currently residing in Englewood, New Jersey. He is mainly known for his close association with Nas, his membership in the hip hop supergroup The Firm, and his multi-syllabic rhyming pattern and deep content within his solo albums. He released his debut album, Doe or Die, in 1995 and has since released 1998's Pieces of a Man, 2001's 9 Lives, 2002's Aziatic, 2005's A.W.O.L., 2006's The Format and 2008's Undeniable. AZ is currently working on his 10th studio album titled Doe or Die 2 to be released sometime in 2011.

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)

I'm Ready
AZ Lyrics

Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴

All our days are numbered
Some live on borrowed time
But life is what you make it
Thank God I was so inclined
To accept my Lord and Savior
When the good news sunk in
He paid a heavenly price
By giving His life

And I can't wait to go home to Him
I'm ready to go that distance
And God only knows when that might be
But oh, what joy waits up yonder
Once this old world sets me free
When there's no tomorrow
And glory has come down
Those without Jesus
Are lost and never to be found
So please listen when I'm talking
I'm just saying what needs to be said
Make plans while your still living
It's too late when your dead
I'm ready to go that distance
And God only knows when that might be
But oh, what joy waits up yonder

Once this old world sets me free
Oh, once this old world sets me free

Overall Meaning

The lyrics of AZ's "I'm Ready" are a reflection of an individual's acceptance of the inevitability of death and the importance of faith. The first lines of the verse, "All our days are numbered, Some live on borrowed time," acknowledge the idea that life is temporary and can end at any time. The following lines suggest that it's up to an individual to make the most of their life, and that's where faith and belief come in. The next line, "But life is what you make it, Thank God I was so inclined," implies that the singer has a positive outlook on life and attributes it to their religious beliefs. The ensuing lines demonstrate that the individual has accepted Jesus Christ as their savior and acknowledges the sacrifice he made. The last lines then express a desire to go back to God and encourage others to do the same.

The chorus of the song serves to reinforce the idea of faith and its rewards. The repetition of "I'm ready to go that distance" implies a willingness to face death when it comes, and the joy waiting in the afterlife when "this old world sets me free." The second half of the chorus asserts that those who do not have faith in Jesus will be lost forever. In the bridge section of the song, the singer emphasizes the importance of planning while you're alive, as it's too late once you're dead.

Overall, "I'm Ready" is a religious song that emphasizes the inevitability of death and the importance of faith. It encourages listeners to accept Jesus as their savior and plan accordingly for the afterlife.

Line by Line Meaning

All our days are numbered
Every person has a limited amount of time on Earth.

Some live on borrowed time
Some people live longer than expected, extending their limited time through chance or medical intervention.

But life is what you make it
Your personal outlook and approach shape your experience of life.

Thank God I was so inclined
I'm grateful that I chose a path that has brought me fulfillment and positivity.

To accept my Lord and Savior
I have chosen to follow a religious faith that gives my life purpose and guidance.

When the good news sunk in
When I truly understood the teachings of my faith.

He paid a heavenly price
According to my faith, Jesus Christ suffered and died for the sins of humanity.

By giving His life
Jesus sacrificed his own life for the benefit of others, based on my faith.

And I can't wait to go home to Him
I look forward to being reunited with Jesus after my time on Earth is over, as per my faith.

When there's no tomorrow
In the event of death, there are no more opportunities to change your fate.

And glory has come down
In the afterlife, faithful believers experience an otherworldly reward.

Those without Jesus
People who have chosen not to follow my faith.

Are lost and never to be found
Without faith in Jesus, individuals are unable to attain salvation.

So please listen when I'm talking
I hope my words can convince people to explore faith as an option.

I'm just saying what needs to be said
I view it as my duty to spread the word about my faith and its benefits.

Make plans while your still living
Don't waste the time you have on Earth, make sure to prioritize what's important to you.

It's too late when your dead
You can't change the past or the choices you've made once you've passed away.

Oh, once this old world sets me free
I eagerly anticipate leaving the mortal world behind and entering an afterlife of glory and reward.

Lyrics © Royalty Network, Capitol CMG Publishing, Integrity Music, Kobalt Music Publishing Ltd.
Written by: Randy Travis, Ronald Eugene Avis

Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind

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