As the first single from his new album, Nine Lives, indicates,
AZ has had more than his share of "Problems."(RealAudio excerpt)
After setting the industry abuzz with his introspective street
narrative on Nas' "Life's a Bitch" in 1994, the Brooklyn native
gained ghetto celebrity status. His debut, Doe or Die, set him
on the path for mainstream fame. He, Foxy Brown and Nas became
the Firm, with the trio recording for Dr. Dre's then-new
Aftermath label. Fans anticipated a hip-hop classic; while The
Firm went platinum, the underworld-themed collection fell short
of expectations.  Complicating his woes, EMI - the label he was
signed to as a solo artist - folded. He was absorbed by Virgin
Records, and after several pushbacks of his second album, Pieces
of a Man, the LP dropped in 1998 with little fanfare.  Since
then, the Firm has disbanded, rumors of beef between the
collective have circulated and AZ has been virtually invisible.
Now with Nine Lives scheduled to drop on May 22 via his Quiet
Money Records label (