If you’ve heard of a rapper called AZ, it’s probably because he was the only other lyricist on Nas’ Illmatic. Appearing on the “Life’s a Bitch”, produced by LES, the Brooklynite dropped an introspective verse, followed by the unforgettable, nihilistic hook; “Life’s a bitch and then you die / That’s why we get high / Cause you never know when you’re gonna go.” LES provided the MC with another gem a year later for “Sugar Hill”, appearing on AZ’s solo Debut Do or Die. While his rise took its time and his slick, treblely flow went unheard, AZ’s Anthology: B-sides and Unreleased is out today, giving us a chance to catch what we missed of a solid career. The collection features appearances by Consequence, Heavy D, MOP, Twista, and the man who put him on first, Nas.