AZ

AZ plays the Main Stage at City Winery Philadelphia on Sunday, October 25. He's coming off his latest album, Doe or Die III, which dropped on May 8, 2026.

If you're not familiar with the name, AZ is Anthony Cruz, born to an African-American mother and a Dominican father. He's been rapping since 1992 and first stepped into the spotlight on Nas' 1994 album Illmatic, appearing on "Life's a Bitch" as the only guest emcee on the record. His own debut, Doe Or Die, followed in 1995 and gave him "Sugar Hill," which hit the top 25 on the Billboard Hot 100 and went Gold. Later, he joined Nas, Foxy Brown, and Nature in the supergroup The Firm, whose album The Album was produced by Dr. Dre and The Trackmasters.

He's known for a smooth, rhythmic cadence and multi-syllable rhyme schemes, and he's often described as one of the greatest rappers in terms of lyrics and longevity, with a style that draws comparisons to his friend and collaborator Nas. That long run is part of the draw here—he's been at this for over three decades, and Doe or Die III is the latest installment in a series that started with his debut.

The show is at the Main Stage of City Winery Philadelphia, 990 Filbert St, Philadelphia, 19107. Doors open at 6 PM, and the set starts at 7:30 PM.