There have been very few rappers in history who have managed to catapult themselves into a 30 plus year recording career based off just one guest verse. But that’s exactly what AZ did when he stepped up to the mic to rap on “Life’s a Bitch.”
Born and raised in Brooklyn, New York, the dexterous spitter was making his way around the city with the reputation of a fearsome MC when he linked up with an up-and-coming Nas. After making a huge impact with the sole guest verse on Illmatic , AZ entered a bidding war before eventually signing with EMI Records.
Since then, he’s been a staple of East Coast hip hop and often the face of lyricism with his brilliant wordplay, butter smooth delivery and timeless flow. He’s also been a feature killer over the past few decades, popping up on tracks with legends like Wu-Tang, Kool G Rap and of course, Nas, as well as younger MC like Logic and Stove God Cooks to flex his lyrical prowess.
From his verse on Kool G Rap’s “Holla Back” to Nas’ “Affirmative Action” and “Life’s a Bitch,” here are the top 10 best AZ guest verses of all time.
10. Ghostface Killah & Inspectah Deck ft. AZ – “Harbor Masters”
Released: June 30, 2009
Album: Chamber Music
Producer: Lil’ Fame, Noah Rubin, Andrew Kelley & The Revelations
Stand like the Eiffel, move spiteful Sport the Nike shoe, nice with the mic since high school Fuck who like who, fend to not, ni**as, trifeful Plot cycles, to get dough, it's so delightful Criminal IQ's, spiral convo's with the sky view This is what I do, pioneer, my peeps Power Rule Fuck Yacub, I'm factual, true and living Polo polobos with the true religion, no superstition This beat is sort of proof to listen, and hear the real So you New Jack ni**as kneel, sit it still Lick a fifth, get your piff and chill, fix your grill It's ill, seen the game vanish in air From DeLores to the glamourest gear, show and prove How I move, you know hammers is near, never fool Appear rude, though my manners is there, get it straight Say my grace, before stuffing my face
9. Nas ft. The Firm – “Full Circle”
Released: August 21, 2020
Album: King’s Disease
Producer: Hit-Boy & G. Ry
Dialogue superb, flyest cars on the curb, word When I evolved, a higher God emerged reserved More subtle, come from the stress and the struggle Young then, obsessed in the bubble about it Took advantage if a woman allowed it One of the foulest, some would say I was childish, money-driven Mischievous, I perceived it as livin', gifts and ribbons Any kisses on the lips was forbidden, I was on it She curvy, then shorty was cornered, no worries For the naughty, it was higher performance, or was it really? The games that I was playin' was silly Similar to them days when I was packin' that milly, it could've killed me Caution never crossin' my mind, she callin' cryin' Me, I'm more concerned why she ain't fallin' in line, was buggin' Grew a lot since they said I was stubborn Guess it's real, even players need lovin' When you enamored by female companions, there's no standards Once you hit and it switch the dynamics, that's the damage Reflectin' on first impressions, what's she expectin'? Why when men don't follow directions, it's deception?
8. Westside Gunn ft. Stove God Cooks & AZ – “99 Avirex”
Released: September 24, 2021
Album: Hitler Wears Hermes 8: Side B
Producer: DJ Green Lantern
Young, Black and belligerent back in them tenements Backtrackin' my innocence, crack was the genesis G-packs and Guinnesses, macks on the premises All I envision is stacks when I reminisce In the mix is mood swings, you do things Chasin' cheddar, better lace your shoe strings Few scheme, others hate, in other states Your circle wrong, cases form another shape Off the blake and set aside, look what arrived Mobb Deep presence with my mother eyes, I come alive Undenied is GOAT status, the most dappest From old habits, I wrote classics, so graphic Lost Phil, they killed Will, Paul dead Trav did a twelve in the feds with my coke head Low-res, picture blurry, peep the obituary To fuck the world, you gotta switch it from missionary
7. Cormega ft. AZ – “Redemption”
Released: May 25, 2004
Album: Legal Hustle
Producer: Emile Haynie
Thinkin of a masterplan me and my man Hand to hand on the grind since a half a gram Understand even then you couldn't pass me hand Was on the land all geared up in Dapper Dan Around the year of them classic jams I done seen ni**as get bitch slapped and ran Word to yam a few got rich and swam While I was sunk with they G packs trying to pump It's over, no closure cars gave ni**as exposure I was carried by Allah on his shoulders Sober my first AR in the hood Would of stuck a muhfuckin Brinks truck if I could Understood I was strong headed But them streets and them guns gave me the wrong fetish Cool whatever, I'm here we can do whatever From the cars to clothes to the jewels whatever Why worry? I'll rest when I'm dead and buried So for now I'mma dress, get head and be merry
6. Nas ft. AZ – “The Flyest”
Released: December 18, 2001
Album: Stillmatic
Producer: L.E.S. & Staff
Follow, I'm like a Lamborghini green Diablo Coupe VT, it's like DVD when I flow Feel me, I'm loved like the great late Malik Sealy The one the playa haters hate dearly, but can't near me Homicide can't scare me I o-bide by the laws of these streets sincerely, a real ni**a The type that can build with ya Verbalize, bring life to a still picture, it's God-given Been blessed with Allah's vision, strength and beauty Truly my only duty is to dodge prison Play with me, I'm modest 'til them strays hit me Regardless the circumstances I'ma stay filthy Dough forever, the live stay low forever And fuck ni**as 'cause it's hard to keep them close together One dependent, no wife, one co-defendant No forms of weakness, I flow with vengeance
5. Logic ft. AZ – “Carnival”
Released: June 17, 2022
Album: Vinyl Days
Producer: PoST & 6ix
What makes an MC? Let's raise this entry For me, once embraced, left states in a frenzy Face his envy with the grace of Pimp C It's never complicated, the basics been me From straight with ten G's to racin' Bentleys School from the jump to lacin' gently Convince me, who cooler out in Aruba? Blowin' ounces of Buddha, I know the routes, the maneuver, pursuer Let's speak about it, I keep a stylist From eatin' phallus to fornicatin' at Caesar's palace Balance both feet on the concrete Calm and meek, though that heat is in my arm reach From Palms Beach to the pretty sands in the Turks Fifty grand disperse, never plan for the worst Let me work, haha, I wrote it just how I quote it It's hopeless tryin' to decode it, I'm Moses now for the moment
4. Kool G Rap ft. Nawz & AZ – “Holla Back”
Released: November 26, 2002
Album: The Giancana Story
Producer: Buckwild
From hideous acts on the one gettin' rid of the gats A ni**a back, no parole, now how pretty is that? The city is trapped, bottles popped, Phillies is cracked Ni**as is strapped, half bent, illin', spillin' they 'gnac Cars tinted, my rap image too large to mimmick We mob in it, fake ni**as dissolve in minutes It's codes to it, real killers they know music Even hoes on the low at the shows lose it Courvoisier-sippin', this slim ni**a stay flippin' My ways different, duck when the AK spittin' It's more to it, verbal wisely, all fluent In real life this is how the dogs do it Double-edged sword, rep for y'all seein' the board See y'all home soon, it's better than seein' the morgue So what's the conflict, who wanna Don with this? For the streets strictly we got the bombest shit
3. Cormega ft. AZ, Redman & Styles P – “MARS (The Dream Team)”
Released: July 22, 2014
Album: Mega Philosophy
Producer: Large Professor
Gray's anatomy, amazed with duality I inhale to propel through polarities Rap reality, trapper, actor or athlete Choose carefully, use vernacular accurately None after me, none before, it's factually I'm the core conquistador of the faculty Bastard seed, black fatigues Prestigious since Ellesses from the master's league Master's weed, placed on a mantle with the Jack Daniels Ruger strap with the wooden shellac handle Tap the sample approve, cop and bounce Never announce financial, losers stop to count Lost but found was both in the same breath The Sos' remain fresh, every dose came correct To gain respect, hoodie on for the gone So fuck the fake cop that shot little Trayvon
2. Nas ft. AZ, Foxy Brown & Cormega – “Affirmative Action”
Released: July 2, 1996
Album: It Was Written
Producer: Trackmasters
Yo, sit back, relax, catch your contact, sip your con-gi-ac And let's all wash this money through this laundromat Sneak attack, the new cats in rap worth top dollar In fact, touch mines and I'll react like a Rottweiler Who could relate? We play for high stakes at gunpoint Catch 'em and break Undress 'em, tie 'em with tape — no escape The Corleone, fettuccine Capone Roam in your own zone Or get kidnapped and clapped in your dome We got it sewn, The Firm art of war is unknown Lower your tone, face it, homicide cases get thrown Aristocrats, politickin' daily wit' diplomats See, me, I'm an official mack, Lex Coupe triple black
1. Nas ft. AZ – “Life’s a Bitch”
Released: April 19, 1994
Album: Illmatic
Producer: L.E.S.
Visualizin' the realism of life in actuality Fuck who's the baddest, a person's status depends on salary And my mentality is money-orientated I'm destined to live the dream for all my peeps who never made it 'Cause yeah, we were beginners in the hood as Five Percenters But somethin' must've got in us, 'cause all of us turned to sinners Now some restin' in peace and some are sittin' in San Quentin Others, such as myself, are tryin' to carry on tradition Keepin' this Schweppervescent street ghetto essence inside us 'Cause it provides us with the proper insight to guide us Even though we know, somehow we all gotta go But as long as we leavin' thievin' We'll be leavin' with some kind of dough So, until that day we expire and turn to vapors Me and my capers will be somewhere stackin' plenty papers Keepin' it real, packin' steel, gettin' high 'Cause life's a bitch and then you die
