Doe or Die II is the ninth studio album by American rapper AZ. It was released on September 10, 2021, by Quiet Money Records. The album features guest appearances from Lil Wayne, Rick Ross, Jaheim, Conway the Machine, Dave East, T-Pain, and Idris Elba. The album was supported by the singles "Different" and "The Wheel". The deluxe edition was released on January 28, 2022, It features additional guest appearances from Inky Johnson and 2 Chainz.
The album's first single, "Different", was released on December 4, 2020.[1] On December 9, 2020, the music video was released for "Different".[2] The album's second single, "The Wheel", was released on July 30, 2021.[3] The song features guest vocals from American recording artist Jaheim and is produced by KayGee. On August 19, 2021, the music video was released for "The Wheel".[4]
Doe or Die II received generally positive reviews from music critics. Grant Jones of RapReviews said, "Doe or Die II is a solid if unspectacular AZ album that has a bit of everything from his arsenal. A couple of tracks retain the Doe or Die style, a few have that smoother Aziatic feel and some songs capture that later ultra-slick aesthetic. Instead of being a literal sequel, it feels like a refresher course."[5] Riley Wallace of HipHopDX said, "AZ's latest is what growing gracefully in Hip Hop looks and sounds like, sticking to his strengths without sounding out of touch, a lesson many other Golden Age rappers could take to heart.[6] Pete Tosiello of Pitchfork stated, "Doe or Die II is a better record for it. The best sequels offer fresh lenses through which to consider their predecessors, and AZ's discography has a rare narrative trajectory. Where Doe or Die's narrator did the dirty work of pushing hostages' heads through plane propellers, its follow-ups find an older man idly enjoying the spoils of wealth, plotting political maneuvers, and reminiscing over the bad old days.[7]
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