How come Nas & AZ never made a full length album together?
It’s one of the great “what if’s” in hip-hop history, perhaps even music history. Sure, they made the one and only Firm album along with Foxy Brown and Nature (which featured several underrated tracks) and linked up on lesser known, but still very dope records like “Time“, but none of that would quite measure up to a Nas/AZ joint project.
We’ve seen great solo artists attempt to collaborate on super projects before, with varying degrees of success. For years, Wayne & Juelz Santana were rumored to drop the mixtape, “I Can’t Feel My Face”, but it never came to fruition. More recently, Jay-Z & Kanye came together to form “The Throne”, and based on the wild success of that project, they are supposed to be working on a sequel. Young gunnas J. Cole and Kendrick Lamar have said they will soon be teaming up. Of course, Redman & Method Mad took their magic from the studio to the silver screen. But nobody, and I mean NOBODY, can capture the same level of hip-hop artistry that Esco & Sosa have whenever they join forces in the booth.
Sadly, the two New York emcees have only linked up on 16 (known) songs. Ever! It seems unfair that two men with such an immense talent have relatively restricted their collaborations over the course of 20 or so years. But the ones they have left us with (so far) belong in rap’s ultimate time capsule.
Both poets have steadfastly maintained there is no beef, but the duo has not released a track since 2008, and some fans are getting anxious. AZ has dropped hints that he has been back in the studio with Nas, yet the repeated push back of AZ’s Doe or Die 2 and his absence from Nas’ Life is Good has prevented fans from indulging their ears in sublime lyricism. For now, we’re left wondering what could have been while reminiscing about songs from yesteryear.
With that said, which is the best Nas & AZ collaboration of all-time? It’s an extremely difficult decision; we’ve narrowed it down to five (well, six). Let’s see if you agree with the list…
Honorable Mention: Nas Feat. AZ- The Flyest
Though not in the top 5, this song just couldn’t be left off. The hook alone makes this song hotter than almost anything else that dropped in 2001. Peace King.
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5) AZ Feat. Nas- Serious
This previously unreleased track surfaced on AZ’s Anthology: B-Sides & Unreleased compilation album in 2008. From a pure lyricism standpoint, this is the most exceptional record the tandem has ever produced and is on par with other legendary lyrical exhibitions by a duo, such as Beanie Sigel & Jay-Z’s “It’s On“.
PS. Nas got him on this one.
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4) AZ Feat. Nas- The Essence
“Yo, we hard hit/Just like Camacho & Vargas/Who’s the target?/Now watch how we close the market”. One of the dopest hooks you’ll ever hear. This record was actually nominated for a Grammy for Best Rap Performance by a Duo or Group (yet tragically lost out to Outkast & Killer Mike for “The Whole World”. A good song, but c’mon now). This song takes stuntin’ to almost regal levels.
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3) AZ Feat. Nas- How Ya Livin
Similar to “The Essence”, and to a lesser extent “The Flyest”, Cruz & Jones once again rhyme about their propensity to be fresher than the competition. Given the lyrical prowess they display when making their case, it’s hard not to believe them. Off of AZ’s Pieces of a Man, this song is a gem that is often slept on.
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2) Nas Feat. AZ- Life’s A Bitch
This is probably the most well known and respected Nas & AZ collaboration of them all, and it should be noted that this is one of the greatest rap songs ever. Perhaps more importantly, “Life’s a Bitch” serves as AZ’s finest moment as a rapper. The Visualiza clearly outclassed Nas on his own record, a record that was a signature song on arguably the best rap album in history. AZ was also the only guest appearance on Illmatic.
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1) AZ Feat. Nas- Mo Money, Mo Murder, Mo Homicide
Where to begin. The beat, created by DR Period, is epic. This production has proven it can stand the test of time, as it has been rhymed over by different artists on more than one occasion. Both Nas and AZ’s wordplay is so intricate, you can easily overlook the story that is being told. In the era of mid ’90s mafioso rap that brought us legends such as Jay-Z, Raekwon and the Notorious B.I.G., this record may be the standard-bearer. It is the quintessential mafioso rap song and remains one of the great, yet occasionally forgotten, rap songs of all-time.
AZ’s bars were also a little nicer than Nas’ on this song. Sosa has proven time and again that he can go bar for bar with a man whose place on the Mt. Rushmore of rap has been secured for years. Unfortunately, AZ doesn’t always get the credit he deserves, but if you’ve listened to these six songs, you will quickly understand why he is a living legend and one of the most underrated emcees in the history of hip-hop.