Alvin Nathaniel Joiner (born September 18, 1974), better known by his stage name Xzibit (pronounced "exhibit"), is an American rapper, actor, television presenter, and radio personality.
Xzibit began his musical career after the release of his debut studio album, ''
At the Speed of Life
''At the Speed of Life'' is the debut studio album by American rapper Xzibit. It was released on October 15, 1996 by Loud Records and RCA Records.
Reception
Track listing
Credits adapted from the album's liner notes.
Notes
*Tash of Tha Al ...
'', on October 15, 1996. The album was both critically and commercially successful, peaking at number 74 on the
''Billboard'' 200. It also contained the single "
Paparazzi
Paparazzi (, ; ; singular: masculine paparazzo or feminine paparazza) are independent photographers who take pictures of high-profile people; such as actors, musicians, athletes, politicians, and other celebrities, typically while subjects ...
", which peaked at number 83 on the
''Billboard'' Hot 100. This success allowed Xzibit to secure a recording contract with
Loud Records
Loud Records, LLC. is a record label founded by Steve Rifkind and Rich Isaacson in 1991.
Loud is a hip hop label that released material by acts such as Wu-Tang Clan, Big Pun, Mobb Deep, Krayzie Bone, The Beatnuts, M.O.P., Tha Alkaholiks, Pete ...
later that year.
Xzibit released his second album, ''
40 Dayz & 40 Nightz
40 Dayz & 40 Nightz is the second studio album by American rapper Xzibit. It was released on August 25, 1998 by Loud Records and RCA Records.
The album featured four singles "What U See Is What U Get
"What U See Is What U Get" is the first s ...
'', on August 25, 1998; it peaked at number 53 on the ''Billboard'' 200. The album also contained the single "
What U See Is What U Get
"What U See Is What U Get" is the first single from Xzibit's second album, '' 40 Dayz & 40 Nightz''. In its first week the song peaked at #50 on the ''Billboard'' Hot 100, being Xzibit's highest charting single. It peaked at #3 on Hot Rap Singl ...
", which peaked at #50 on the ''Billboard'' Hot 100. The album's success caught attention from West Coast rapper
Dr. Dre who acted as the executive producer on Xzibit's third album, ''
Restless'', which was released on December 12, 2000.
''Restless'' debuted at number 14 on the ''Billboard'' 200 and was later certified platinum in the U.S. The album contained the singles "
Front 2 Back
"Front 2 Back" is the second single from Xzibit's third album '' Restless'', produced by Rockwilder.
Music Video
A music video for the song directed by Diane Martel was released. The music video features cameo appearances by Kurupt, Karrine S ...
", "
X", and "
Get Your Walk On". His follow-up album ''
Man vs. Machine'' (2002) also enjoyed success; it debuted at number 3 on the ''Billboard'' 200 and was certified gold. ''
Weapons of Mass Destruction
A weapon of mass destruction (WMD) is a chemical, biological, radiological, nuclear, or any other weapon that can kill and bring significant harm to numerous individuals or cause great damage to artificial structures (e.g., buildings), natu ...
'' (2004) also became certified gold. After the release of ''
Full Circle'' in 2006, Xzibit underwent a hiatus, not releasing music until the release of his seventh studio album ''
Napalm
Napalm is an incendiary mixture of a gelling agent and a volatile petrochemical (usually gasoline (petrol) or diesel fuel). The name is a portmanteau of two of the constituents of the original thickening and gelling agents: coprecipitated alu ...
'' on October 9, 2012. Since 2013, he is part of the hip-hop supergroup
Serial Killers
A serial killer is typically a person who murders three or more persons,A
*
*
*
* with the murders taking place over more than a month and including a significant period of time between them. While most authorities set a threshold of three ...
.
Xzibit has also gained fame as an actor and television host, for his role as Shyne Johnson in the television series ''
Empire
An empire is a "political unit" made up of several territories and peoples, "usually created by conquest, and divided between a dominant center and subordinate peripheries". The center of the empire (sometimes referred to as the metropole) ex ...
'', and as the host for the reality television series ''
Pimp My Ride
''Pimp My Ride'' is an American television series produced by MTV and hosted by rapper Xzibit, which ran for six seasons on MTV from 2004 to 2007. In each episode, a car in poor condition is both restored and customized. The work on the show ...
''. He has starred in the films ''
Gridiron Gang
''Gridiron Gang'' is a 2006 American sports drama film directed by Phil Joanou, and starring Dwayne Johnson, Xzibit, L. Scott Caldwell and Kevin Dunn. It is loosely based on the true story of the Kilpatrick Mustangs during the 1990 season. The ...
'' (2006), ''
The X-Files: I Want to Believe'' (2008), ''
Bad Lieutenant: Port of Call New Orleans'' (2009) and ''
Sun Dogs'' (2017).
Career
1992–1999: Early career and ''At the Speed of Life''
Xzibit started to rap at 14, shortly after his relocation from
Albuquerque
Albuquerque ( ; ), ; kee, Arawageeki; tow, Vakêêke; zun, Alo:ke:k'ya; apj, Gołgéeki'yé. abbreviated ABQ, is the most populous city in the U.S. state of New Mexico. Its nicknames, The Duke City and Burque, both reference its founding in ...
to Los Angeles, then under the pseudonym "Exhibit A".
[Birchmeier, Jason. "]Xzibit
Alvin Nathaniel Joiner (born September 18, 1974), better known by his stage name Xzibit (pronounced "exhibit"), is an American rapper, actor, television presenter, and radio personality.
Xzibit began his musical career after the release of his ...
. AllMusic
AllMusic (previously known as All Music Guide and AMG) is an American online music database. It catalogs more than three million album entries and 30 million tracks, as well as information on musicians and bands. Initiated in 1991, the databa ...
. Retrieved on February 1, 2009. His first appearance on a professional record was in February 1995 on The Alkaholiks' ''
Coast II Coast'', on the song "Hit and Run" and also appeared on King Tee's ''
IV Life
''IV Life'' is the fourth studio album by American West Coast hip hop artist King Tee. It was released on March 28, 1995 via MCA Records, making it his first album on the label after his split with Capitol Records. Production was handled by sever ...
'' shortly after, on the track "Free Style Ghetto". After touring with Likwit Crew, Xzibit signed to
Loud Records
Loud Records, LLC. is a record label founded by Steve Rifkind and Rich Isaacson in 1991.
Loud is a hip hop label that released material by acts such as Wu-Tang Clan, Big Pun, Mobb Deep, Krayzie Bone, The Beatnuts, M.O.P., Tha Alkaholiks, Pete ...
and released his debut album, ''
At the Speed of Life
''At the Speed of Life'' is the debut studio album by American rapper Xzibit. It was released on October 15, 1996 by Loud Records and RCA Records.
Reception
Track listing
Credits adapted from the album's liner notes.
Notes
*Tash of Tha Al ...
'' in October 1996, which peaked at number 74 on the
''Billboard'' Hot 200 and reached 38 on the
Canadian Albums Chart. The album produced single "
Paparazzi
Paparazzi (, ; ; singular: masculine paparazzo or feminine paparazza) are independent photographers who take pictures of high-profile people; such as actors, musicians, athletes, politicians, and other celebrities, typically while subjects ...
" which peaked at number 86 on the
''Billboard'' Hot 100. It had success in Germany and peaked at number 11 on the
German Singles Chart
The GfK Entertainment charts are the official music charts in Germany and are gathered and published by GfK Entertainment (formerly Media Control and Media Control GfK International), a subsidiary of GfK, on behalf of Bundesverband Musikindust ...
.
After spending the next two years building his reputation as a West Coast underground artist and touring with the Likwit Crew, he released his second album, ''
40 Dayz & 40 Nightz
40 Dayz & 40 Nightz is the second studio album by American rapper Xzibit. It was released on August 25, 1998 by Loud Records and RCA Records.
The album featured four singles "What U See Is What U Get
"What U See Is What U Get" is the first s ...
'' on August 25, 1998, which charted in the U.S. at number 58 and 50 in Canada.
It spawned four singles, the most successful being "
What U See Is What U Get
"What U See Is What U Get" is the first single from Xzibit's second album, '' 40 Dayz & 40 Nightz''. In its first week the song peaked at #50 on the ''Billboard'' Hot 100, being Xzibit's highest charting single. It peaked at #3 on Hot Rap Singl ...
" charting at number 50 in the United States. With his growing following in the West, he caught the eye of rapper and producer
Dr. Dre, who secured him high-profile guest spots, such as joining
Snoop Dogg on the Dre-produced hit "
Bitch Please" of his album ''
No Limit Top Dogg'', and appearing on Dr. Dre's
6× platinum album ''
2001'', on the songs "Lolo", "Some L.A. Niggaz", and "What's the Difference" with
Eminem. He closed the year 1999 with his acting debut, starring in ''
The Breaks''.
1999–2003: Rise to prominence and ''Restless''
Xzibit started the year with the release of a
compilation album ''Likwit Rhymes'', which featured mostly previously unreleased material from his earlier recordings and a guest spot on "
Bitch Please II
"Bitch Please II" is a song by American rapper Eminem, featuring guest vocals from Dr. Dre, Snoop Dogg, Xzibit, and Nate Dogg, and is the fifth and final single from '' The Marshall Mathers LP''.
"Bitch Please II" is one of the few collaborat ...
", along with Eminem, Snoop Dogg, Dr. Dre and
Nate Dogg. Xzibit also received a guest spot on
Limp Bizkit's 8× platinum album ''
Chocolate Starfish and the Hot Dog Flavored Water
''Chocolate Starfish and the Hot Dog Flavored Water'' is the third studio album by American nu metal band Limp Bizkit, released on October 17, 2000, by Flip and Interscope Records.
Title
The first part of the title is a slang term for the ...
'' on the song "Getcha Groove On". His breakthrough came with his third studio album ''
Restless'', with Dr. Dre as executive producer and guest appearances by Snoop Dogg, Nate Dogg, Eminem, Dr. Dre, DJ Quik and the Alkaholiks, among others, which sold almost 2 million copies and was certified
platinum
Platinum is a chemical element with the symbol Pt and atomic number 78. It is a dense, malleable, ductile, highly unreactive, precious, silverish-white transition metal. Its name originates from Spanish , a diminutive of "silver".
Pla ...
. It spawned three singles, the most successful being "
X", which peaked at number 76 in the U.S., 14 in the UK and 4 in Germany. The album reached number 12 in the US. Dr. Dre invited Xzibit to perform on his American ''
Up in Smoke Tour
The Up in Smoke Tour was a West Coast hip hop tour in 2000 which was headlined by Dr. Dre and Snoop Dogg, also featuring artists and disc jockeys Ice Cube, Eminem, Proof, Nate Dogg, Kurupt, D12, MC Ren, Westside Connection, Chilldrin of d ...
'' in mid-2000, which featured Snoop Dogg, Eminem, and
Ice Cube, among many others. The same year, he also starred in the direct-to-video crime film ''
Tha Eastsidaz
Tha Eastsidaz is a hip hop trio consisting of Snoop Dogg, Tray Deee and Goldie Loc. Their first appearance was on Tommy Boy Records' ''The Ride: Music from Dimension'' with Crooked Eye Q on a Battlecat-produced song called "Feels So Good" in 19 ...
'' by the group of the same name and was a playable character in the video game ''
Madden NFL 2001''. He continued to star in films involving fellow rap artists such as ''
The Wash
The Wash is a rectangular bay and multiple estuary at the north-west corner of East Anglia on the East coast of England, where Norfolk meets Lincolnshire and both border the North Sea. One of Britain's broadest estuaries, it is fed by the riv ...
'', co-starring Dr. Dre and Snoop Dogg, in 2001 and ''The Slim Shady Show'' and ''
8 Mile'', co-starring Eminem, in 2001 and 2002, respectively. He released two concert films in 2001, ''
Xzibit: Restless Xposed'', centered around the recording of his third studio album and various live-performances and was also seen in ''Tha Alkaholiks: X.O. The Movie Experience'' by the rap group of the same name. He also released a compilation album of songs that featured him, entitled ''You Better Believe It''. Xzibit contributed vocals to
Fat Joe's 2001 album, ''
Jealous Ones Still Envy'', appearing on the same "The Wild Life".
In 2002, he guest-starred in the comedy series ''
Cedric the Entertainer Presents
''Cedric the Entertainer Presents'' is an American sketch comedy television series and television program featuring dance numbers starring Cedric the Entertainer. The series premiered September 18, 2002 on Fox and after the first season, Fox rene ...
'' as Mack Daddy in the eponymous episode and released his fourth studio album ''
Man vs. Machine'' with mostly similar guest appearances like its predecessor, which spawned three singles, which all failed to chart in the ''Hot 100'', although "
Multiply
Multiplication (often denoted by the cross symbol , by the mid-line dot operator , by juxtaposition, or, on computers, by an asterisk ) is one of the four elementary mathematical operations of arithmetic, with the other ones being additi ...
" reached number 39 in the UK and 33 in Germany. The album itself went
gold
Gold is a chemical element with the symbol Au (from la, aurum) and atomic number 79. This makes it one of the higher atomic number elements that occur naturally. It is a bright, slightly orange-yellow, dense, soft, malleable, and ductile me ...
, although Xzibit was unhappy with the crafting and promotion of his newest product, ending the cooperation with Dr. Dre. The album is his highest-charting album to date, reaching number 3 in the U.S. and 8 in Canada. He also starred in ''
The Country Bears
''The Country Bears'' is a 2002 American musical road comedy film directed by Peter Hastings, produced by Walt Disney Pictures, and based on the Disney theme park attraction ''Country Bear Jamboree''. The film stars Christopher Walken, Daryl Mi ...
''. He continued to collaborate with his West Coast colleagues,
Ras Kass
John R. Austin II (born September 26, 1973), better known by his stage name Ras Kass, is an American rapper. He is a member of the hip hop supergroup The HRSMN, along with Canibus, Killah Priest, and Kurupt in 2014. He is also a member of the ...
and
Saafir
Reggie Gibson (born August 23, 1970), better known as Saafir, is an emcee, producer and actor from Oakland, California. He is also a member of the rap group "Golden State Project" (formerly known as Golden State Warriors) with Ras Kass and Xzibi ...
, forming The Golden State Project (originally Golden State Warriors) rap collective, and Tha Alkaholiks, along with Snoop Dogg and Eminem, whom he accompanied on his ''
All Access Europe
''All Access Europe'' is a video album released by American rapper Eminem in 2002. The album contains segments of Eminem's live performances during a European tour intended to promote ''The Marshall Mathers LP''. The album includes live guest appe ...
'' tour in 2003.
2003–2006: ''Pimp My Ride'' and transition into acting
![Xzibit 2004](https://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/c/c4/Xzibit_2004.jpg)
The MTV show ''
Pimp My Ride
''Pimp My Ride'' is an American television series produced by MTV and hosted by rapper Xzibit, which ran for six seasons on MTV from 2004 to 2007. In each episode, a car in poor condition is both restored and customized. The work on the show ...
'' boosted his popularity as it introduced him to a major audience in 2004. The show starred him as the host, who brings an individual's wrecked car to
West Coast Customs
West Coast Customs (abbreviated by the company as WCC) is an automobile repair shop focusing on the customization of vehicles. It was started by co-founders Ryan Friedlinghaus and Quinton Dodson in 1993. According to Friedlinghaus, he began the ...
, where it undergoes a rejuvenation. He continued hosting the show until its cancelation in 2007.
![Xzibit 2007 Berlin](https://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/1/14/Xzibit_2007_Berlin.jpg)
Musically, he started the year off with the release of his second compilation album ''Appetite for Destruction'' featuring
50 Cent on one track, consisting mostly of tracks from his Dre period and songs that didn't make the cut for his fifth studio album ''
Weapons of Mass Destruction
A weapon of mass destruction (WMD) is a chemical, biological, radiological, nuclear, or any other weapon that can kill and bring significant harm to numerous individuals or cause great damage to artificial structures (e.g., buildings), natu ...
'', which was released in December 2004, entering the charts at 43 in the U.S. For this album, he reunited with
Columbia Records, after having parted ways with producer and mentor Dr. Dre. The album managed to go gold,
[Weapons of Mass Destruction.]
RIAA. Retrieved November 24, 2007. but yet again Xzibit was unhappy with the promotion and backing of his label, claiming that they were trying to promote him like
Jessica Simpson, leaving the label in anger and going independent. His single "
Hey Now (Mean Muggin)" featuring
Keri Hilson
Keri Lynn Hilson (born December 5, 1982) is an American R&B singer, songwriter and actress. She was born and raised in Decatur, Georgia and spent most of her youth working with producer Anthony Dent as a songwriter and background vocalist for ...
marked his last chart success on the ''Billboard'' Hot 100, peaking at number 93, while the second single "Muthafucka" failed to chart. Aside from his music and ''Pimp My Ride'', he starred in the movie ''
Full Clip'', alongside
Busta Rhymes, guest-starred in ''
CSI: Miami
''CSI: Miami'' (''Crime Scene Investigation: Miami'') is an American police procedural drama television series that ran from September 23, 2002 until April 8, 2012 on CBS. Featuring David Caruso as Lieutenant Horatio Caine, Emily Procter as Dete ...
'' in the episode ''
The Rap Sheet'', released a concert documentary with his new group, eponymously titled ''
Strong Arm Steady'' and hosted the
2004 MTV Europe Music Awards in Rome. In 2005, he collaborated with shock rock legend
Alice Cooper
Alice Cooper (born Vincent Damon Furnier, February 4, 1948) is an American rock singer whose career spans over five decades. With a raspy voice and a stage show that features numerous props and stage illusions, including pyrotechnics, guillot ...
on a track entitled "Stand" from the album ''Dirty Diamonds''. This represented Cooper's first-ever foray into rap music. This year marks his most busy one, also being featured in three video games, ''
The Chronicles of Riddick: Escape from Butcher Bay'', where he lent his voice and likeness to the warden Abbott and ''
Def Jam: Fight for NY'' and ''
NFL Street 2
''NFL Street 2'' is an American football video game developed by EA Tiburon and published by Electronic Arts under the EA Sports BIG label. It was originally released for the PlayStation 2, GameCube and Xbox on December 22, 2004. It features th ...
'', where he was a playable character.
The following year, he mainly focused on acting, getting roles in the Hollywood blockbusters ''
Derailed'' opposite
Clive Owen and
Jennifer Aniston
Jennifer Joanna Aniston (born February 11, 1969) is an American actress and film producer. She is the recipient of various accolades, including a Primetime Emmy Award, a Golden Globe Award and two Screen Actors Guild Awards. Since her career ...
in which he played as Dexter, ''
XXX: State of the Union'' as Zeke that also starred fellow L.A. rapper
Ice Cube and ''
Hoodwinked'', where he voiced Chief Ted Grizzly opposite
Anne Hathaway
Anne Jacqueline Hathaway (born November 12, 1982) is an American actress. The recipient of various accolades, including an Academy Award, a Golden Globe Award, and a Primetime Emmy Award, she was among the world's highest-paid actresses in 2 ...
,
Glenn Close
Glenn Close (born March 19, 1947) is an American actress. Throughout her career spanning over four decades, Close has garnered numerous accolades, including two Screen Actors Guild Awards, three Golden Globe Awards, three Primetime Emmy Awards ...
, and
Patrick Warburton
Patrick Warburton (born November 14, 1964) is an American actor.
On television, he has played David Puddy on '' Seinfeld'', the title character on ''The Tick'', Jeb Denton on ''Less Than Perfect'', Jeff Bingham on '' Rules of Engagement'' and L ...
. In 2006, he starred in the drama ''
Gridiron Gang
''Gridiron Gang'' is a 2006 American sports drama film directed by Phil Joanou, and starring Dwayne Johnson, Xzibit, L. Scott Caldwell and Kevin Dunn. It is loosely based on the true story of the Kilpatrick Mustangs during the 1990 season. The ...
'' as Malcolm Moore and made two guest-appearances in the animated sitcom ''
The Boondocks''. The year also saw the release of his sixth studio album ''
Full Circle'' released independently on
Koch Records
MNRK Music Group (pronounced "monarch", formerly known as Koch Records and eOne Music) is a New York City-based independent record label and music management company. It was formed in 2009 from the music assets of Koch Entertainment, which had ...
. The album charted at position 50 but was a commercial flop, selling merely 120,000 copies in the U.S.. None of the three singles were able to chart, although "Concentrate" climbed at number 68 in Germany. The album featured
Kurupt
Ricardo Emmanuel Brown (born November 23, 1972), better known by his stage name Kurupt, is an American rapper and record producer who aided gangsta rap's rise via 1990s verses helping set lasting trends. He is one half of the rap duo Tha Dogg Po ...
,
T-Pain and
The Game, whom he assisted on his album ''
Doctor's Advocate
''Doctor's Advocate'' is the third studio album by American hip hop recording artist the Game, released on November 14, 2006, through Geffen Records. The album is his second major-label release, following 2005's ''The Documentary'', which was r ...
'', where he rapped on the track "California Vacation". He also worked on two video games that year, ''
Def Jam Fight for NY: The Takeover'' and ''
Pimp My Ride
''Pimp My Ride'' is an American television series produced by MTV and hosted by rapper Xzibit, which ran for six seasons on MTV from 2004 to 2007. In each episode, a car in poor condition is both restored and customized. The work on the show ...
''. The year 2007 saw him hosting the final season of ''Pimp My Ride'' only, although he competed in the
Gumball 3000
The Gumball 3000 is an annual international celebrity motor rally, which takes place on public roads. The name comes from the 1976 movie ''The Gumball Rally''. It was established in 1999 by Maximillion Cooper, with his vision to combine cars, ...
2007 rally.
2006–2012: ''Full Circle'' and hiatus
![Xzibit (2126711042)](https://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/7/7a/Xzibit_%282126711042%29.jpg)
After the cancelation of ''Pimp My Ride'' in 2007, 2008 was the first year where Xzibit did not release an album in his former two-year cycle. Though starring in two movies ''
The X-Files: I Want to Believe'' as Mosley Drummy and ''
American Violet
''American Violet'' is a 2008 American drama film directed by Tim Disney and starring Nicole Beharie. The story is based on Regina Kelly, a victim of Texas police drug enforcement tactics.
Plot
Set in the midst of the 2000 presidential election, ...
'' as Darrell Hughes, this year marked a significant financial downstep for him, earning merely $70,000, opposed by almost $500,000 one year prior.
He was also featured on The Alkaholiks ''Tha Alkaholiks: Live from Rehab'' concert film that year. In 2009, he played the mob leader Big Fate in the acclaimed ''
The Bad Lieutenant: Port of Call New Orleans'' and reprised his role as Abbott in the
enhanced remake of 2004's ''The Chronicles of Riddick: Escape from Butcher Bay'', ''
The Chronicles of Riddick: Assault on Dark Athena'', while Sony released his first
greatest hits album
A greatest hits album or best-of album is a type of compilation album that collects popular and commercially successful songs by a particular artist or band. While greatest hits albums are typically supported by the artist, they can also be creat ...
, entitled ''The Greatest Hits''. Even though his financial troubles were increased even further, as he had to file for
bankruptcy in July 2009 and January 2010, although both attempts were dismissed and his houses and belongings
lien
A lien ( or ) is a form of security interest granted over an item of property to secure the payment of a debt or performance of some other obligation. The owner of the property, who grants the lien, is referred to as the ''lienee'' and the per ...
ed.
In 2010, he had a guest-spot in the crime series ''
Detroit 1-8-7
''Detroit 1-8-7'' is an American police procedural drama series about the Detroit Police Department's leading homicide unit, created by Jason Richman for ABC. It featured an ensemble cast of actors including Michael Imperioli and James McDaniel. ...
'', in the episode ''
Royal Bubbles / Needle Drop''. He also had the role of the
Jabberwock
"Jabberwocky" is a nonsense poem written by Lewis Carroll about the killing of a creature named "the Jabberwock". It was included in his 1871 novel ''Through the Looking-Glass'', the sequel to ''Alice's Adventures in Wonderland'' (1865). The bo ...
in ''
Malice n Wonderland
''Malice n Wonderland'' is the tenth studio album by American rapper Snoop Dogg; it was released on December 8, 2009, by Doggystyle Records, Capitol Records and Priority Records. Production for the album took place from January 2009 to Septembe ...
'', a short film based on the novel ''
Alice in Wonderland'', included on the re-release of the eponymous Snoop Dogg album, entitled ''
More Malice''. After having guest-starred three times in the
previous season, he was added to the permanent cast of ''
Extreme Makeover: Home Edition'', where he is a part of the design team. After a four-year hiatus, he planned to release his seventh studio album ''MMX'' in 2010, but due to label issues the album was not released by the end of year. In March 2011, he teamed up with Extreme Music, to release a new compilation of material titled ''Urban Ammo 2''. Xzibit produced, composed and performed all 40 tracks on the compilation album, created primarily for professional music users and music supervisors in need of material for their movie/television productions. Xzibit enlisted veteran director
Matt Alonzo
Matt Alonzo (born April 16, 1985) is an American director, video editor and filmmaker.
Early life and career
Alonzo grew up in Carpinteria, California and studied at Brooks Institute. His big break came in 2008 when he filmed and edited a Lil ...
to shoot the videos for the two singles, which are titled "Man on the Moon" and "What It Is", both featuring
Young De. In April 2011 he teamed up with
Fredwreck
Farid Karam Nassar (born June 23, 1972), better known by his stage name Fredwreck, is a Grammy Award-winning American hip hop recording artist, DJ and record producer. He got his big break when he became a producer for Dr. Dre's newly founded r ...
and
Adil Omar
Adil Omar (born 17 May 1991) is a recording artist, rapper, record producer, singer and songwriter from Islamabad, Pakistan. He released his debut album and film, ''Transcendence'', on 8 July 2018. In addition to being a solo artist, he is also ...
for a song on
The Mushroom Cloud Effect. He also appeared in the TV movie ''Weekends at Bellevue'' as a nurse in late 2011, an unsuccessful pilot that was not picked up in the end.
2012–present: ''Napalm'' and ''Empire''
![2019 Xzibit - by 2eight - ZSC4770](https://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/9/9a/2019_Xzibit_-_by_2eight_-_ZSC4770.jpg)
On October 19, 2011, it was announced that the title of the album had been changed to ''Napalm''.
On October 9, 2012, ''Napalm'' was released and Xzibit made an appearance on the BET Cypher in the 2012
BET Hip Hop Awards
The BET Hip Hop Awards are an annual awards show, airing on BET, showcasing hip hop performers, producers and music video directors. The awards ceremony began in 2006; it was held on November 12, 2006 at the Fox Theatre in Atlanta, Georgia, and w ...
. On October 29, 2012, Xzibit announced the ''Collateral Damage'' tour with the first 16 shows in Canada starting in early November. The tour eventually grew to 18 shows and Xzibit announced this was the first leg on a global tour that would continue into 2013. He starred in the TV movie
Seal Team Six: The Raid on Osama Bin Laden as a Navy SEAL, depicting the
death of Osama bin Laden
On May 2, 2011, Osama bin Laden, the founder and first leader of the Islamist militant group al-Qaeda, was shot several times and killed at his compound in the Pakistani city of Abbottabad, by United States Navy SEALs of the U.S. Naval Spe ...
. He also appeared in 3 episodes of
Hawaii Five-0 as Jason "JC" Dekker starting in 2013. On November 8, 2013, Dutch
symphonic metal band
Within Temptation
Within Temptation is a Dutch symphonic metal band founded in April 1996 by vocalist Sharon den Adel and guitarist Robert Westerholt. They have been classified by critics as gothic metal and symphonic metal, although each album contains other inf ...
revealed the title, artwork and track listing of their upcoming sixth studio album, ''
Hydra''. Xzibit features as a guest vocalist on the third track entitled "
And We Run". In October 2013 Xzibit released an album with the hip hop group
Serial Killers
A serial killer is typically a person who murders three or more persons,A
*
*
*
* with the murders taking place over more than a month and including a significant period of time between them. While most authorities set a threshold of three ...
alongside
Demrick
Demerick Ferm, better known by his stage name Demrick, formerly known as Young De, is a rapper from Spokane, Washington, now living in Los Angeles. He has collaborated with Xzibit, Kurupt, Snoop Dogg, Too $hort, B-Real and Cypress Hill. He is a ...
and
B-Real. Xzibit recently appeared on
Dr. Dre's studio album ''
Compton'', on the song "Loose Cannons" alongside
Cold 187um
Gregory Fernard Hutchison (born August 4, 1967), known as Big Hutch and Cold 187um, is an American rapper and producer, and leader of the rap group Above the Law. He currently records for his self-founded label.
Biography
Hutchison is ...
and Sly Pyper.
During his UK tour, Xzibit spoke with Hip-Hop Kings regarding his upcoming work. He confirmed a brand new album to be released in 2016 with Dr. Dre as a featured producer. Furthermore, Xzibit told the crowd in Manchester that he would be returning next year for the Compton Tour. Xzibit confirmed that Dr. Dre and Kendrick Lamar were confirmed artists who would be on the Compton Tour.
On February 25, 2016, it was announced that he would be joining the cast of ''
Empire
An empire is a "political unit" made up of several territories and peoples, "usually created by conquest, and divided between a dominant center and subordinate peripheries". The center of the empire (sometimes referred to as the metropole) ex ...
'', playing the character of Shyne.
Personal life
Xzibit and his ex-wife Krista have had two children together; Xavier and Gatlyn.
Xavier was born prematurely on May 15, 2008, and died eleven days later. Xzibit has another son
Tremaine Joiner (born June 8, 1995) from a previous relationship. The song "
The Foundation" from Xzibit's debut studio album ''
At the Speed of Life
''At the Speed of Life'' is the debut studio album by American rapper Xzibit. It was released on October 15, 1996 by Loud Records and RCA Records.
Reception
Track listing
Credits adapted from the album's liner notes.
Notes
*Tash of Tha Al ...
'' is dedicated to Tremaine. Krista Joiner filed for divorce in February 2021.
Controversies
Rove McManus
In June 2007, Xzibit left the ''
Rove Live
''Rove'', also titled ''Rove Live'', was an Australian television variety show that featured live music performances and interviews with local and international celebrity guests. The program premiered on the Nine Network on 22 September 1999, bef ...
'' studios in Australia before a scheduled appearance. Media outlets reported that it was due to Xzibit not being given stand-alone billing on the program, even though he had not even been booked in advance. According to Xzibit, he walked off the set after taking offense to comments made by a ''Rove'' staffer, who after informing Xzibit that his performance time would be shorter than the rapper might have liked, allegedly said: "You know, we came a long way just having you on the program." Xzibit took this as a racist remark, although the staffer claimed that they were merely referring to his status as a late booking.
Gumball 3000
In the
Gumball 3000
The Gumball 3000 is an annual international celebrity motor rally, which takes place on public roads. The name comes from the 1976 movie ''The Gumball Rally''. It was established in 1999 by Maximillion Cooper, with his vision to combine cars, ...
2007 rally, Xzibit drove a black
Jaguar XJ220
The Jaguar XJ220 is a two-seat sports car produced by British luxury car manufacturer Jaguar from 1992 until 1994, in collaboration with the specialist automotive and race engineering company Tom Walkinshaw Racing. The XJ220 recorded a top s ...
. During the first day of the rally, Dutch police seized his driver's license for doing 160 km/h in a 100 km/h zone. After the penalty, his co-driver, producer
Fredwreck Nassar took over the wheel and they were allowed to continue. In an interview with Dutch radio personality Reinout "Q-Bah" van Gendt, Xzibit says that he mistook the kilometers for miles (100 mph = 160 km/h). Ultimately, he never got his license back from the Dutch police and had to apply for a new one in the United States. Xzibit competed again in both the 2013 and 2014
Gumball 3000
The Gumball 3000 is an annual international celebrity motor rally, which takes place on public roads. The name comes from the 1976 movie ''The Gumball Rally''. It was established in 1999 by Maximillion Cooper, with his vision to combine cars, ...
.
Tax evasion
According to public records, as of late 2010 Xzibit owed more than $900,000 in delinquent federal taxes. He tried to file for bankruptcy twice, in July 2009 and January 2010, but his bankruptcy filings were dismissed. The problems started after ''Pimp My Ride'' was canceled: in 2007 he earned $497,175; after the cancelation his 2008 income was reported as $67,510.
Discography
;Studio albums
*''
At the Speed of Life
''At the Speed of Life'' is the debut studio album by American rapper Xzibit. It was released on October 15, 1996 by Loud Records and RCA Records.
Reception
Track listing
Credits adapted from the album's liner notes.
Notes
*Tash of Tha Al ...
'' (1996)
*''
40 Dayz & 40 Nightz
40 Dayz & 40 Nightz is the second studio album by American rapper Xzibit. It was released on August 25, 1998 by Loud Records and RCA Records.
The album featured four singles "What U See Is What U Get
"What U See Is What U Get" is the first s ...
'' (1998)
*''
Restless'' (2000)
*''
Man vs. Machine'' (2002)
*''
Weapons of Mass Destruction
A weapon of mass destruction (WMD) is a chemical, biological, radiological, nuclear, or any other weapon that can kill and bring significant harm to numerous individuals or cause great damage to artificial structures (e.g., buildings), natu ...
'' (2004)
*''
Full Circle'' (2006)
*''
Napalm
Napalm is an incendiary mixture of a gelling agent and a volatile petrochemical (usually gasoline (petrol) or diesel fuel). The name is a portmanteau of two of the constituents of the original thickening and gelling agents: coprecipitated alu ...
'' (2012)
*''King Maker'' (2022)
;With
Serial Killers
A serial killer is typically a person who murders three or more persons,A
*
*
*
* with the murders taking place over more than a month and including a significant period of time between them. While most authorities set a threshold of three ...
* ''Serial Killers Vol. 1'' (2013)
* ''The Murder Show'' (2015)
* ''Day of the Dead'' (2018)
* ''Summer of Sam'' (2020)
Filmography
References
External links
Official Xzibit website*
{{Authority control
1974 births
20th-century African-American people
20th-century American male actors
21st-century American male actors
21st-century American male musicians
21st-century African-American musicians
21st-century American rappers
African-American male actors
African-American male rappers
American male film actors
American male television actors
American male video game actors
American male voice actors
Columbia Records artists
G-funk artists
Gangsta rappers
Internet memes
Likwit Crew members
Living people
MNRK Music Group artists
Musicians from Albuquerque, New Mexico
Rappers from Los Angeles
Rappers from New Mexico
Serial Killers (musical group) members
Television personalities from Los Angeles
West Coast hip hop musicians