XZIBIT ARTICLES

by Kenji Jasper
A & E Editor

It's a shame. Traditional hip-hop has found itself living a guerrilla existence. Instead of spending time developing new material and concepts, many artists use their LPs and compact discs as soap boxes and rail against the wiles of the commercial and the crossover. Xzibit's At the Speed of Life seems to be a part of this camp.

His 15-track debut effort is a compactly constructed, well-produced product. The mostly West Coast production team features tracks by DJ Muggs, Craig Sherrad, E-Swift from the Alkaholiks, Diamond D and Thayod Ausar. Guest appearances include King Tee, the Alkaholiks (on whose albums Xzibit was first introduced), Ras Kass and Hurricane G. With these credits alone one might think that this work is untouchable, but it is Xzibit himself who brings about the albums downfalls.

Rhyming in his razor-sharp raspy voice, Xzibit rides over the same territory time and again, namely, the concept of fake rappers trying to be hard and brothers not keeping it real. The theme is prominently featured on "Paparazzi," the first single; here, one of the most beautiful string loops ever provides the background for Xzibit's rhymes about rappers who are hard on camera and nowhere else. Still, the beats are innovative enough for the average hip-hop consumer who only wants to bob his head in the jeep with one hand on the wheel, the other on a 40 ounce of malt liquor. Maybe that's who Xzibit is targeting. However, the next time around he might want to widen his scope so the rest of us can enjoy as well.

Xzibit: Ryhmin' at the Speed of Life

As appeared in Vol. 3 Issue 7 of Mic Check magazine

After being raised by a dysfunctional family of Alkaholiks, Xzibit is working hard to achieve a stable role within the hip hop world. The man's E-Swift produced debut album, At The Speed Of Life, stresses mic skills instead of image. Xzibit's rhymes resonate because he speaks from the heart as an individual, rather than trying to portray a phony hip hop persona. Before releasing his album, the man appeared on the records of fellow Likwit crew members King Tee (King Tee IV Life), and tha Alkaholiks (Coast to Coast). Turning heads with these performances, Xzibit was soon offered a deal with Loud and cut his first record.

His experiences with tha Alkaholiks, both in the studio and on the road, were fundamental in his development as an artist. Xzibit absorbed the experience of the crew, and learned what was really going on in the business. "Shit isn't all peaches and cream." He comments, "You really have to work on an album. On stage, you've gotta bring a real show. You can't just get up there and rap, you need a real stage presence."

On record, Xzibit's presence is very much a personal one. He raps primarily about his own life experiences, and is not afraid to reveal himself on a track. "I don't like to talk in third person. If I can't explain it from my own self, then I've really got no business talking about it anyways." He pauses to consider his next point, "On another level, though, it can't be all that personal; because if you look at everyone else, we're all going through the same things. If not, no one would be able to relate to what I'm sayin'."

Xzibit's lyrics are firmly centred in reality; he does not try to play the role of an immortal rap star. Realising that his life is as vulnerable as the next man's, he cut a track on the album, "The Foundation", which is an letter about the tribulations of growing up, addressed to his one year old son. "In these days and times, it's easy to get caught up. There might be an instance where I get taken out kind of early. I just wanted to say something to my son in case there is a time where I'm not around to tell him personally."

Finding that their styles and personalities clicked, Xzibit hooked up with Ras Kass and Saafir to form a trio known as The Usual Suspects. They initially collaborated in the studio to produce one song, but quickly realised there was more potential to their united forces. In the immediate future the three are heading to the studio to record a full album, the product of which true heads will be impatiently awaiting.

As for his solo career, Xzibit intends to keep putting out quality records at a regular pace. Continuing to rhyme on a personal level, he pledges to never get caught up in the "Paparazzi". Not one to let his head swell over his success, Xzibit recognises the impact that his mentors, tha Alkaholiks, had in terms of his advancement. As a result, he is eager to aid the development of other artists who share his down to earth approach to the music. States Xzibit, "If I see anyone with talent willing to work hard, like I worked hard, they're more than welcome on the team. People like that always got a home with me."

Xzibit on Paparazzi

Xzibit's new single "Paparazzi" is not aimed toward any one MC in particular, rather it is aimed at the nonsense that some MC's carry on with.

To set it off you must know who Paparazzi was. He was this cat who in the 50's, would jump from bushes and catch celebrities on camera doing dirt- hence the camera sounds at the beginning of the song. The "camera shit" has been incorporated by some in Hip Hop, and generates sales where skills can't (in most cases). By "camera shit," I mean giving off a phony and unreal appearance to the rapper's audience- rapping about shit that they don't live, nor do they experience and pretending to be someone they aren't. As a result, the artist is living a lie and caught up in a world of glamour and glitz. They want personal recognition instead of letting the music speak for itself. While so much of their time is spent on this bullshit- perpetrating- the lyrics are neglected and come out sounding whack. Xzibit says this is large on the Hollywood set. "Mind over matter is the feeling that you get when you listen to Xzibit, who believes that the MC should make the street and not the street making the MC." You are supposed to control what's around you, not let what's around you control you. You can get sucked up in some shit or you can change it."

Shining the light on this issue, you can see why Xzibit is an asset to Hip Hop. Xzibit is reproducing, reinvesting and recycling only the real deal shit. "Because Hip Hop will remain while gimmicks and fads change" like pampers. My man says to those who want to be MC's, beware of the limelight and all that. Labels are after the lucci and will turn you into something other than self if you are not strong enough to maintain your art form and keep it holy. So to quote the O'Jays, "Don't let money change you." Xzibit is living proof that if your shit is tight you'll be aiight. His lyrical skills on King Tee's last album and the Alkaholiks "Coast II Coast" album are what secured his record deal with Loud records. You don't have to sell out to get put on. Xzibit says to the next generation MC's, "keep creating Hip Hop for yourself and it will come full circle." The labels will pump your shit but they are more concerned with sound scans and BBS. They are not concerned with you, so don't get caught up in the 'paparazzi.' When Xzibit comes to your town, he's representin' where he's from, on some Hip Hop shit, not trippin'. So lets build and not destroy Hip Hop, cause the explosion of the East- West shit is divide and conquer and as a result, the 'Paparazzi's' are the 85% and the real are the 5%.