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Do or Die | |
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| Origin | Chicago, Illinois, U.S. |
| Genres | Hip hop |
| Years active | 1995–present |
| Labels | |
| Members | N.A.R.D. Belo Zero AK-47 |
Do or Die is an American rap trio originally from the East Garfield Park neighborhood on the West Side of Chicago, consisting of N.A.R.D., Belo Zero, and AK-47. The group experienced mainstream success with the platinum single "Po Pimp", which peaked at #22 on the Billboard Hot 100. [1] [2] [3]
Do or Die gained a hit with their first single, "Po Pimp". [2] Released on a tiny Chicago label, the track became a local hit and sparked the group's signing by Houston's Rap-A-Lot Records. Given a wide release in the summer of 1996, the single hit number 22, increasing the buzz for a full-length album from the group. In September of that year, Picture This was released on Rap-A-Lot. [4] The album was certified Gold and has since reached certified Platinum, and launched the group, as well as fellow Chicago rapper Twista, who was featured on the track, into superstardom. [3]
In 1998, the group released their sophomore album, " Headz or Tailz ". Like the group's previous album, Headz or Tailz was a success, peaking at #13 on the Billboard 200 and #3 on the Top R&B/Hip-Hop Albums, producing the successful single, "Still Po Pimpin", which featured Twista and Johnny P, and peaked at #62 on the Billboard Hot 100 and #16 on the Hot Rap Singles. [2] [3] Headz or Tailz has reached certified Platinum.
Do or Die went on to release several other charting albums throughout the early 2000s, including 2000's Victory , which featured E-40, Ja Rule, and Outlawz to name a few, and 2002's Back 2 the Game , which peaked at #64 on the Billboard 200 and #25 on the Top R&B/Hip-Hop Albums. In 2003, the group released Pimpin' Ain't Dead , which spawned the hit single "Do U?", which featured Twista and Johnny P. Following this album, Do or Die released D.O.D. in 2005, which featured many notable industry names including production from Kanye West, DJ Quik, and R. Kelly.
Do or Die returned to Rap-A-Lot for 2006's Get That Paper . The album had a much darker, street-oriented sound to it and had only one feature on it from Rap-A-Lot label-mate Bun B. The album was met with critical success. [3]
In October 2007, Belo Zero pleaded guilty in a plea bargain to the shooting death of Raymond "B-Dog" Pinkston and was sentenced to 10 years in prison of which he served five years. [5] Belo continues to maintain that he shot Pinkston in self-defense, however after a 6 year long court battle, he agreed to the plea bargain. [5] During this time, Do or Die continued to make music and were featured on countless projects from various artists, [5] in addition to touring all over the country, and in 2009, they appeared on Twista's single "Yo Body" off his 2009 album, Category F5 .
Upon reuniting, Do or Die released several singles and new projects, [4] including "Loudpack" and "Do Yo Thang". The group also collaborated with French hip hop beatmaker Onra on his 2015 album Fundamentals on a track entitled "Over and Over" featuring Johnny P.
On April 15, 2015, Twista announced that he and Do or Die had completed work on a new collaborative EP together entitled Withdrawal. The EP was released on May 19, 2015, and contains six tracks, including a single entitled "Aqua Fina", for which a video was released. In an interview with XXL shortly after the EP was released, Twista confirmed that there would be a follow-up EP entitled 'Withdrawal 2'.
On September 18, 2015, the group released Picture This II. The album featured longtime collaborators Johnny P and Twista on several tracks as well as Rick Ross on the album's first single, "Love in the Sky".
On November 27, 2016, longtime Do or Die collaborator Johnny P died at age 44. While the exact cause of death is unknown, it was reported that Johnny P had been in a coma for several weeks until his death. [6] [4]
Bone Thugs-n-Harmony is an American hip hop group composed of rappers Bizzy Bone, Wish Bone, Layzie Bone, Krayzie Bone, and Flesh-n-Bone. Formed in 1991 in Cleveland, Ohio, the group signed to fellow American rapper Eazy-E's Ruthless Records in late 1993, on which they debuted with their EP Creepin on ah Come Up the next year. The EP included their breakout hit single "Thuggish Ruggish Bone". In 1995, the group released its second album E. 1999 Eternal, which included hits "1st of tha Month" and "East 1999". Their hit song "Tha Crossroads", a tribute to then-recently deceased mentor Eazy-E, won a Grammy Award in 1997.
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Picture This is the debut studio album by American hip hop group Do Or Die. It was released on September 3, 1996, via Rap-A-Lot Records. The recording sessions took place at Creator's Way Studios in Chicago and at Lil J Studio in Houston. The album was produced by The Legendary Traxster, Mike Dean and Crazy C, with J. Prince serving as executive producer. It features guest appearances from Twista and Johnny P.
Headz or Tailz is the second studio album by American hip hop group Do Or Die. It was released on April 7, 1998, via Rap-A-Lot/Virgin Records. Recording sessions took place at Hippie House Studios and Knock Hard Studio in Houston and at Creator's Way Studios in Chicago. Production was handled by the Legendary Traxster, Mr. Lee and Mike Dean, with J. Prince serving as executive producer. It features guest appearances from Danny Boy, Johnny P., Beyond Content, Bushwick Bill, Chilla, Scarface, Shock Tha World, Twista and Val Young. The album peaked at number 13 on the Billboard 200 and number 3 on the Top R&B/Hip-Hop Albums. It was certified Gold by the Recording Industry Association of America on May 29, 1998. Its lead single, "Still Po Pimpin", reached at No. 62 on the Billboard Hot 100 and No. 16 on the Hot Rap Singles. The song "Bustin Back" is a diss track towards Bone Thugs-n-Harmony.
Back 2 the Game is the fourth studio album by American hip hop group Do Or Die. It was released on August 13, 2002, via Rap-A-Lot/Virgin Records. Recording sessions took place at The Legendary Traxster, Inc., at Legit Ballers Studio, at Most Wanted Studio, at Chicago Tracks, and at Chicago Recording Company. Production was handled by The Legendary Traxster, Toxic, Naki and Datanna, with J. Prince serving as executive producer. It features guest appearances from Johnny P., Twista and Yung Buk. The album peaked at No. 64 on the Billboard 200 and No. 25 on the Top R&B/Hip-Hop Albums chart.
Pimpin' Ain't Dead is the fifth studio album by American hip hop group Do Or Die. It was released on August 19, 2003, via Rap-A-Lot Records. Recording sessions took place at CWAL MOB Recordings in Illinois and at Noddfactor Studios in Texas. Production was handled by The Legendary Traxster, except for one song, "In A Minute", which was produced by Mr. Lee. It features guest appearances from Johnny P., the Legendary Traxster, Dun D, E.C. Illa, Navee, Twista and Z-Ro. The album peaked at number 115 on the Billboard 200 and number 17 on the Top R&B/Hip-Hop Albums chart in the United States.
"Po Pimp" is the debut single by Do or Die, it served as the lead single from their debut album, Picture This. The song was produced by The Legendary Traxster and featured a guest verse from fellow Chicago rapper Twista and vocals from R&B singer Johnny P.
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"Still Po Pimpin" is the lead single from Do or Die's second album, Headz or Tailz.
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