Xzibit - Man Vs. Machine
Reviewed By: ULTIMATECDLINK
Album Rate: 3.75 out of 5 Stars
Xzibit is back with his 4th solo album and his second with executive producer Dr. Dre. Xzibit is joined on the 19 track album by Eminem, Dr. Dre, Snoop Dogg, M.O.P., Nate Dogg, Golden State Project, Anthony Hamilton, & Dre Boogie.
1. Release Date-- this Rockwilder produced track has a dark, sinister feelin beat. The premise of the song is Xzibit is finally gettin released after being locked up in prison for a while. At the end of the song, X decides the first place he wants to go as a free man is the recording studio. Very solid song to start the album off with.
2. Symphony In X Major-- this track does have a little bit of the symphony feel to the intro beat and in the hook. Dr. Dre lends a verse on here and does a decent job although lately, he hasn't been coming hard on any of his guest appearances. This is a bumpable track that's worth checkin out.
3. Multiply-- this is the first single from the album with a killer beat from Dr. Dre. It's more of an up-tempo track with a guest spot from the king of the hooks, Nate Dogg. The song will have ya noddin to the beat but I wish X would have come with more fire on his verses.
4. Break Yourself-- this track has a beat that has a bounce feel similar to something that Timbaland would bring to the table. Xzibit does a decent job with his lyrics and comes pretty hard on the second verse.
5. Heart Of Man-- this track has a very radio friendly feel to it. Xzibit raps about how the strong will survive and the weak will fall. It's actually not that bad of a song once I listen to it more and more.
6. Harder-- this track features the Golden State Project. Xzibit lays down a nice verse on the mic but I was disappointed with Ras Kass's verses. It's an all right track I guess.
7. Paul-- skit
8. Choke Me, Spank Me (Pull My Hair)-- I don't know what in the hell Xzibit was thinking recording this track. He changes his gruff delivery in exchange for this laid back more mellowed delivery that sounds like shit. Skip this track because you probably won't listen to it more than once.
9. Losin Your Mind-- this track has that classic West Coast feel. Xzibit lays down some tight flows such as "like the national debt/I ain't goin down". Snoop Dogg lends his vocals for the hook. Nice song.
10. BK To LA-- this track features the newest signees to Roc-A-Fella Records, M.O.P. This one basically combines 2 of the top rap acts in the underground on both coasts who are now signed to major label deals. Very solid track.
11. My Name-- this track has that feel that seems like it was ripped straight off Eminem's "The Eminem Show". Eminem and X rip the mic with verses aimed at Jermaine Dupri and others who dare to call them out. Nate Dogg sings the hook to perfection again. Very tight song although Eminem doesn't rap with that fire that he usually does.
12. The Gambler-- this track features singer Anthony Hamilton who most recently was featured on the Nappy Roots single "Po Folks". The Bink produced beat has that 70's feel to it. I thought this track was average at best and not one of the better ones on the album.
13. Missin' U-- this track is a slower track dedicated to Xzibit's mother and deals with some of the things he faced after she passed away when he was only 9 years old. Andre "Dre Boogie" Wilson lends his vocals to the track. The beat by Ric Rock doesn't seem to fit with the somber tone of the song though. I thought that if he changed the beat that the song would be better.
14. Right On-- this track has a beat that kinda has an oriental sound to it. Xzibit raps about ridin and smokin and drankin with him. I thought the beat and lyrical flow was mediocre at best.
15. Bitch Ass Niggaz-- skit with comedian Eddie Griffin who defines the different types of bitches.
16. Enemies 2-- this track has a beat has that live band feel with a piano playin in the background. Xzibit raps about how he's not going down to the hands of his enemies and if he does go down, they're going with him. Bumpable track but I ain't really feelin the beat.
If you get this album early, Loud Records included a 3 track bonus disc. "My Life, My World" is one of the best songs on the album and I don't know why they wouldn't include this on the main album and dropped one of the weaker songs off.
The Primo produced "What A Mess" has that old skool east coast sound to it. DJ Premier mixes his vinyls over the beat as well. X raps about how he's more concerned with his music than running the streets these dates. Good message track but not really feelin X over an east coast beat.
"(Hit U) Where It Hurts" is the final track on the bonus disc and it's a decent track. Xzibit comes pretty hard on the mic but again the beat just doesn't do it for me.
Overall, I came away with a good feelin from this album. I am a huge Xzibit fan, and I was more disspointed with the beats on the album than I actually was with Xzibit's verses. I thought this one was an improvement over his last album "Restless" which just had too many guest appearances. You can tell Xizibit is getting more and more mainstream with his sound as well. Xzibit fans should check it but if you aren't really that big of a fan of his, there's nothing on this album that will change your mind.
Xzibit - Man Vs. Machine