Do or Die
Encyclopedia
Do or Die is an American
rap trio originally from Chicago, Illinois
, consisting of group members Belo Zero
, N.A.R.D. and AK-47. The trio has sold more than 3 million albums. The group experienced mainstream success with the gold single "Po Pimp
", Produced by The Legendary Traxster
off of their 1996 debut album Picture This
Produced mainly by The Legendary Traxster
. The song, which featured fellow Chicago rapper Twista
, peaked at #22 on the Billboard Hot 100
.
Alongside Crucial Conflict
, another Chicago group with a similar vocal and lyrical style, they helped launch one of the city's first national hip hop movements. They rapped with a signature fast flow over smooth G-Funk
style beats. Their rapping and musical style took much influence from Twista
as well as the Cleveland, Ohio
group Bone-Thugs-N-Harmony. The group's second album Headz or Tailz
Produced mainly by The Legendary Traxster
debuted in 1998 and went Gold. Its lead single was a follow-up to the group's previous hit titled "Still Po Pimpin'". It peaked at #68 on the Billboard Hot 100
. The group continued to release several albums during the 2000s decade, none of which equaled the success of their first two Gold albums.
The group's 8th album, Trunk Music, was scheduled for release on September 2, 2008, but was pushed to November 3, 2008 when news surfaced that The Legendary Traxster
who is producing the entire album, would be reuniting with Twista for the rapper's upcoming solo project. On July 16, 2009 both producer The Legendary Traxster
as well as rapper Twista
confirmed that they will be working together to produce Do or Die's next album. It was unclear however, whether this album will be the unreleased Trunk Music, but the new album will undoubtedly include previously released singles intended for Trunk Music.
In 2009, AK47 appeared on the single "Legendary" with fellow Chicago rappers Twista
and Saurus and Bones
.
They recently finished a track with Chicago artist Gandhi
In late 2011 teamed up with Xposure Talent to reclaim the mid-west and unleash new material for "Do Or Die- Hard" Fans Everywhere.....
The group will be performing together for the first time in 5 years on December 10th, 2011.
United States
The United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...
rap trio originally from Chicago, Illinois
Chicago
Chicago is the largest city in the US state of Illinois. With nearly 2.7 million residents, it is the most populous city in the Midwestern United States and the third most populous in the US, after New York City and Los Angeles...
, consisting of group members Belo Zero
Belo Zero
Darnell Smith, also known by his stage name Belo Zero or for short Belo is an American gangsta rapper and convicted murderer. He is a member of the Chicago-based rap group Do or Die.In 2006 he released his debut solo album The Truth...
, N.A.R.D. and AK-47. The trio has sold more than 3 million albums. The group experienced mainstream success with the gold single "Po Pimp
Po Pimp
"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....
", Produced by The Legendary Traxster
The Legendary Traxster
The Legendary Traxster is an American songwriter, rapper and record producer. A native of Chicago, he is best known as a producer for Twista, Do or Die and Ludacris. He is the owner and CEO of CWAL Records....
off of their 1996 debut album Picture This
Picture This (Do or Die album)
Picture This is the first album released by rap group, Do or Die. It was released on September 3, 1996 for Rap-A-Lot and Virgin Records and was produced mainly by The Legendary Traxster with 8 songs. The album proved to be a huge success for the group, peaking at #27 on the Billboard 200 and #3 on...
Produced mainly by The Legendary Traxster
The Legendary Traxster
The Legendary Traxster is an American songwriter, rapper and record producer. A native of Chicago, he is best known as a producer for Twista, Do or Die and Ludacris. He is the owner and CEO of CWAL Records....
. The song, which featured fellow Chicago rapper Twista
Twista
Carl Terrell Mitchell , better known by his stage name Twista, is an American rapper. He is known for once holding the title of fastest rapper in the world according to Guinness World Records in 1992, being able to pronounce 598 syllables in 55 seconds...
, peaked at #22 on the Billboard Hot 100
Billboard Hot 100
The Billboard Hot 100 is the United States music industry standard singles popularity chart issued weekly by Billboard magazine. Chart rankings are based on radio play and sales; the tracking-week for sales begins on Monday and ends on Sunday, while the radio play tracking-week runs from Wednesday...
.
Alongside Crucial Conflict
Crucial Conflict
Crucial Conflict is a Chicago hip hop group best known for its 1996 single "Hay" and "Scummy" . The members of Crucial Conflict are Coldhard, Wildstyle, Kilo, and Never. They frequently collaborate with fellow Chicago rappers Do or Die and Twista...
, another Chicago group with a similar vocal and lyrical style, they helped launch one of the city's first national hip hop movements. They rapped with a signature fast flow over smooth G-Funk
G-funk
G-funk, or Gangsta-funk, is a sub-genre of hip hop music that emerged from Westcoast gangsta rap in the early 1990s. G-funk incorporates multi-layered and melodic synthesizers, slow hypnotic grooves, a deep bass, background female vocals, the extensive sampling of P-funk tunes, and a high-pitched...
style beats. Their rapping and musical style took much influence from Twista
Twista
Carl Terrell Mitchell , better known by his stage name Twista, is an American rapper. He is known for once holding the title of fastest rapper in the world according to Guinness World Records in 1992, being able to pronounce 598 syllables in 55 seconds...
as well as the Cleveland, Ohio
Cleveland, Ohio
Cleveland is a city in the U.S. state of Ohio and is the county seat of Cuyahoga County, the most populous county in the state. The city is located in northeastern Ohio on the southern shore of Lake Erie, approximately west of the Pennsylvania border...
group Bone-Thugs-N-Harmony. The group's second album Headz or Tailz
Headz or Tailz
Headz or Tailz is the second album released by rap group, Do or Die. It was released on April 7, 1998, by Rap-A-Lot Records/Virgin Records and was produced by The Legendary Traxster...
Produced mainly by The Legendary Traxster
The Legendary Traxster
The Legendary Traxster is an American songwriter, rapper and record producer. A native of Chicago, he is best known as a producer for Twista, Do or Die and Ludacris. He is the owner and CEO of CWAL Records....
debuted in 1998 and went Gold. Its lead single was a follow-up to the group's previous hit titled "Still Po Pimpin'". It peaked at #68 on the Billboard Hot 100
Billboard Hot 100
The Billboard Hot 100 is the United States music industry standard singles popularity chart issued weekly by Billboard magazine. Chart rankings are based on radio play and sales; the tracking-week for sales begins on Monday and ends on Sunday, while the radio play tracking-week runs from Wednesday...
. The group continued to release several albums during the 2000s decade, none of which equaled the success of their first two Gold albums.
The group's 8th album, Trunk Music, was scheduled for release on September 2, 2008, but was pushed to November 3, 2008 when news surfaced that The Legendary Traxster
The Legendary Traxster
The Legendary Traxster is an American songwriter, rapper and record producer. A native of Chicago, he is best known as a producer for Twista, Do or Die and Ludacris. He is the owner and CEO of CWAL Records....
who is producing the entire album, would be reuniting with Twista for the rapper's upcoming solo project. On July 16, 2009 both producer The Legendary Traxster
The Legendary Traxster
The Legendary Traxster is an American songwriter, rapper and record producer. A native of Chicago, he is best known as a producer for Twista, Do or Die and Ludacris. He is the owner and CEO of CWAL Records....
as well as rapper Twista
Twista
Carl Terrell Mitchell , better known by his stage name Twista, is an American rapper. He is known for once holding the title of fastest rapper in the world according to Guinness World Records in 1992, being able to pronounce 598 syllables in 55 seconds...
confirmed that they will be working together to produce Do or Die's next album. It was unclear however, whether this album will be the unreleased Trunk Music, but the new album will undoubtedly include previously released singles intended for Trunk Music.
In 2009, AK47 appeared on the single "Legendary" with fellow Chicago rappers Twista
Twista
Carl Terrell Mitchell , better known by his stage name Twista, is an American rapper. He is known for once holding the title of fastest rapper in the world according to Guinness World Records in 1992, being able to pronounce 598 syllables in 55 seconds...
and Saurus and Bones
Saurus and Bones
Keith Hoskins and Brett Hoskins, better known as Saurus and Bones, are American rap artists from Chicago, Illinois. They gained notoriety in 2009 after the release of their debut album, Mind Like Mine, with their single "Legendary" which featured Chicago hip hop legends Twista and AK47 of Do or Die...
.
They recently finished a track with Chicago artist Gandhi
In late 2011 teamed up with Xposure Talent to reclaim the mid-west and unleash new material for "Do Or Die- Hard" Fans Everywhere.....
The group will be performing together for the first time in 5 years on December 10th, 2011.
Discography
- Picture ThisPicture This (Do or Die album)Picture This is the first album released by rap group, Do or Die. It was released on September 3, 1996 for Rap-A-Lot and Virgin Records and was produced mainly by The Legendary Traxster with 8 songs. The album proved to be a huge success for the group, peaking at #27 on the Billboard 200 and #3 on...
(1996) - Headz or TailzHeadz or TailzHeadz or Tailz is the second album released by rap group, Do or Die. It was released on April 7, 1998, by Rap-A-Lot Records/Virgin Records and was produced by The Legendary Traxster...
(1998) - VictoryVictory (Do or Die album)Victory is the third album released by rap group, Do or Die. It was released on March 14, 2000 for Rap-A-Lot Records/Virgin Records and was produced by Irv Gotti...
(2000) - Back 2 the GameBack 2 the GameBack 2 the Game is the fourth album released by rap group, Do or Die. It was released on August 13, 2002 for Rap-A-Lot Records/Virgin Records and was produced by The Legendary Traxster...
(2002) - Pimpin' Ain't DeadPimpin' Ain't DeadPimpin' Ain't Dead is the fifth album released by rap group, Do or Die. It was released on August 19, 2003 for Rap-A-Lot Records/Virgin Records and was produced by The Legendary Traxster. The album peaked at #115 on the Billboard 200 and #17 on the Top R&B/Hip-Hop Albums.-Track listing:#"One More...
(2003) - D.O.D.D.O.D.D.O.D. is the sixth album released by rap group, Do or Die. It was released on February 1, 2005 for Atlantic Records sub-label, The Legion and featured production from the likes of Kanye West, Scott Storch, The Legendary Traxster and DJ Quik...
(2005) - Get That PaperGet That PaperGet That Paper is the seventh album released by rap group, Do or Die. It was released on March 28, 2006 for Rap-A-Lot Records/Asylum Records and was produced by The Legendary Traxster...
(2006) - Trunk Music Mixtape (2010)