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)

It's Like That
AZ Lyrics

Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴

(One more time)
(Where we at?)

(AZ)
It's been official best wishes I send em wit you
Never sentimental you know the shit a nigga into
I'm cross-country it's big pimpin all the broads want me
I'ma do this till the law confront me

Fuck a slow jam kissing and holding my hand
I'm a cold man stay flippin gettin that fam
Who can blame me for all those days you tried to game me
Switch and change me did shit that made me angry
It's like payback watch the shit you say on this track
I heard the stories how you get down lay on yo back
True confessions why ask so i'm sexxin
Who i'm blessin and if a nigga use protection

(Singer)
I've been feelin bad but not bad enough
Not to walk away Oh no
Feelin so sad cause thought you were my girl
Since you betrayed me it's on...on.....

You know your wrong for trying to play me
Now he's gone cause he's back wit me

(Chorus:)
He wasn't yours when he was mine I can't believe
That you got down like that
And now you know just how it b's
Because it b's like that
(repeat)

(Singer)
Never thought you just hurt me worse
(how do you just) How do you just go on?
Can't believe you tried to say it was someone else
When it was you that I saw

You know your wrong for trying to play me
Now he's gone cause back wit me

(Chorus)

(Animal)
I could see the whole game through the platinum frames
I done hit niggas wifes I ain't sayin no names
I just drive through ya block in convertible drops
Hand you and your best friend Sharon a rock
Copped a house on a hill six car garage
Back massage I'm into menage a trois
Where I'm living at you can wear shorts in December
You remember stay in the mix like a blender
I'm goin up the middle I'ma spread y'all both
I'm an animal you know I had to hit y'all both
You and the doctor call back go ahead i'ma fall back
Sex was wack but your best friend was all that
Me and honey dip was creepin off for months
Had her blowin on the pipe while I was blowin on blunts
But you is trouble though I cop the six double O
But i'ma let you go with the Lex bubble though
Shorty think I trick alot cause she suck the dick alot
I'm fuckin wit y'all like Sir i'm in the mix alot

(Singer & Background Singers)
Why'd you have to go and play yourself
Girl you know you were wrong
Now your sitting home all by yourself
The man you thought was yours is gone
(repeat)

(Chorus x4)

Overall Meaning

The lyrics of AZ's "It's Like That" are a hard-hitting tale of betrayal and payback. The song opens with AZ sending "best wishes" to those who have wronged him in the past, an indication that he is moving forward without caring much for those who have tried to hold him back. He speaks of his continuous pursuit of success, flippantly stating that all the "broads" want him. However, his tone quickly changes as he calls out those who have "tried to game" him, saying that he is no longer taking any of their nonsense. The chorus is sung by a woman who has been betrayed by a friend who got involved with her man behind her back. The singer is torn between feeling sad and being completely angry at the betrayal. The final verse of the song is a more explicit depiction of infidelity, in which AZ talks about his exploits with multiple women, including a friend's wife, while the woman he is talking to is also sleeping around. The song ends with the chorus repeating the message that the one who betrayed the singer has lost her man to the original lover, and now understands what it means for things to be "like that."

One interesting fact about this song is that it was produced by legendary producer Dr. Dre. Besides that, it was also released as a single from AZ's 1998 album "Pieces of a Man." Another interesting fact is that "It's Like That" features a sample from "Nothing Can Stop Me," a rap song by legendary artist Kool G. Rap. The third interesting fact about the song is that "Animal," the rapper who's featured on the song, is actually a member of AZ's group "The Firm." Fourthly, the song's music video features AZ, Animal, and a live band performing in a graffiti-covered alleyway. Fifth, the song's opening line, "One more time, where we at?" was used as the intro for AZ's next album "9 Lives" in 2001. Sixth, the song has been featured in multiple films and TV shows over the years, including Spike Lee's "He Got Game" and the TV series "The Sopranos". Seventh, the song was used in the video game "Grand Theft Auto: Liberty City Stories" for Sony's PlayStation Portable. Eighth, a remix of the song was released with a verse from The LOX. Ninth, the song was remixed again in 2012, by DJ Jazzy Jeff and Ayah. Tenth, "It's Like That" was featured on Rolling Stone's "50 Greatest Hip-Hop Songs of All Time" list.

As for the chords of the song, it is guitar-heavy with a lot of bass and a few simple chords. The song features a classic hip-hop beat and has an overall laid-back feel to it. However, the chords for the song are not available as it is mainly a rap song, and the production is largely electronic-based.

Line by Line Meaning

It's been official best wishes I send em wit you
I have only good wishes for you, without any emotional attachment.

Never sentimental you know the shit a nigga into
I'm not the kind of person who gets sentimental, you know what kind of person I am.

I'm cross-country it's big pimpin all the broads want me
I travel across the country, indulging in a lavish lifestyle and every girl wants to be with me.

I'ma do this till the law confront me
I'll continue living this lifestyle until I get caught by the law.

Fuck a slow jam kissing and holding my hand
I don't care for slow, romantic moments involving hand-holding and kissing.

I'm a cold man stay flippin gettin that fam
I'm an insensitive person who is focused on making money by any means possible.

Who can blame me for all those days you tried to game me
I'm not to be blamed for not trusting you after you tried to deceive me multiple times.

Switch and change me did shit that made me angry
You tried to manipulate me and did things that made me upset.

It's like payback watch the shit you say on this track
This song is my way of getting back at you, so watch what you say because I'm going to speak the truth.

I heard the stories how you get down lay on yo back
I've heard stories about your promiscuous behavior, and how you just lay on your back.

True confessions why ask so i'm sexxin
I'm not going to deny that I'm sexually active.

Who i'm blessin and if a nigga use protection
I won't disclose details about who I'm having sex with, but I'm using protection.

Feelin so sad cause thought you were my girl
I'm feeling a lot of sadness because I thought you were my girlfriend.

Since you betrayed me it's on...on.....
Since you deceived me, it's time for me to take action.

You know your wrong for trying to play me
You are aware that you were wrong for trying to deceive me.

Now he's gone cause he's back wit me
The person you tried to steal from me is now back with me.

He wasn't yours when he was mine I can't believe
You need to understand that he wasn't yours to begin with when he was with me, and I can't believe you didn't realize that.

That you got down like that
You acted in a way that was inappropriate and immoral.

And now you know just how it b's
You now understand how things ended up the way they did.

Never thought you just hurt me worse
I never expected that you would hurt me as badly as you did.

(how do you just) How do you just go on?
I'm trying to understand how you can move on so easily after what you did to me.

Can't believe you tried to say it was someone else
I can't believe you attempted to blame someone else for what you did.

When it was you that I saw
I know that it was you who did what you did, I witnessed it personally.

I could see the whole game through the platinum frames
I have a clear perspective of the entire situation from my wealthy point of view.

I done hit niggas wifes I ain't sayin no names
I've slept with the wives of some guys, but I won't disclose their names.

I just drive through ya block in convertible drops
I leisurely cruise through the neighborhood in my convertible car.

Hand you and your best friend Sharon a rock
I gave you and your best friend drugs to consume.

Copped a house on a hill six car garage
I purchased a large, luxurious house on a hill and a garage that can fit up to six cars.

Back massage I'm into menage a trois
I enjoy receiving back massages, and I'm also interested in threesomes.

Where I'm living at you can wear shorts in December
The weather is so great where I live that you can wear shorts even in winter.

You remember stay in the mix like a blender
Don't forget to stay active and involved, always like a blender that keeps the ingredients mixed and in motion.

I'm goin up the middle I'ma spread y'all both
I'm going to penetrate both of you during our upcoming sexual encounter.

I'm an animal you know I had to hit y'all both
I have a wild and uncontrolled nature, which led me to have sex with both of you.

You and the doctor call back go ahead i'ma fall back
If either of you call me back, I won't respond because I'm done with this situation.

Sex was wack but your best friend was all that
The sex with you wasn't great, but your best friend was much better.

Me and honey dip was creepin off for months
For several months, I was secretly seeing another woman.

Had her blowin on the pipe while I was blowin on blunts
While I was smoking marijuana cigarettes, I had her smoking crack cocaine.

But you is trouble though I cop the six double O
You are problematic, but I bought an expensive car anyway.

But i'ma let you go with the Lex bubble though
I'll let you go, even though I could have easily afforded to buy you a wealthy lifestyle.

Shorty think I trick alot cause she suck the dick alot
My partner thinks I cheat on her frequently because she performs oral sex on me often.

I'm fuckin wit y'all like Sir i'm in the mix alot
Just like a titled gentleman, I am involved in a lot of things and have many connections with people.

Girl you know you were wrong
You are aware that your actions were inappropriate and wrong.

Now your sitting home all by yourself
Now you're alone at home, as a direct result of your actions.

The man you thought was yours is gone
The man you believed belonged to you, is no longer in your life.

Contributed by Peyton T. Suggest a correction in the comments below.

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