His first worldwide fanbase came in 1996 with a serious contender for track of the year — today a true underground classic with an unforgettable accompanying music video featuring an orchestra on the beach. Paparazzi! A few years later, as a charismatic television host, he wedged himself into the collective memory as nothing less than a pop-culture icon of the early 2000’s.
FOR FANS OF: Dr. Dre, The Game, Ludacris …
Xzibit is one of the key protagonists of West Coast American hip-hop of the late 1990s and early 2000s era. A member of the Likwit Crew collective and at the time an absolute street kid, he appeared in the mid-1990s with features for his crew colleagues, for example The Alkaholiks. In 1996, his exceptional debut At the Speed of Life introduced him as an original force with a raw sound and introspective lyrics. This was followed by the album 40 Dayz & 40 Nightz (1998), which firmly cemented his position in the underground section of the rap game.
Then came the logical move – a shot toward the mainstream. A successful one. First with breakthrough guest appearances, for example on Dr. Dre’s seminal 2001, and then with 2000’s Restless, an album with a more accessible sound and polished production, overseen by Dre. Despite the success, Xzibit didn’t rest on his laurels – in 2002 came the equally commercially successful album Man Vs. Machine, marking the continuation of his key collaboration with the Doctor.
At that time, another pivotal moment occurred. Between 2004 and 2007, Xzibit hosted the now cult and at the time extremely popular MTV show Pimp My Ride. Yes, those were the days when reality shows still had substance and humour. His role as host opened the door into the world of television and film – he had already appeared in 8 Mile in 2002, and roles followed in films such as The X-Files: I Want to Believe, Gridiron Gang, Bad Lieutenant, and Derailed, as well as the series Empire.
After an exceptionally busy beginning of the new millennium, he took a break from releasing music, but this year he delivered a comeback – the album Kingmaker, on which we hear an impressive lineup of guests such as Busta Rhymes, Dre, Ice Cube, Redman, B-Real, and Royce da 5’9’’.
A street-credible figure, underground hard-hitter, superstar, film actor, television and radio host, author of legendary features and collaborations … Xzibit can do it all.
Organisation: Kino Šiška and KAPA Association.
