Xzibit

Prior to rising as one of the West Coast’s leading MCs by the late 1990s and later becoming a television personality, Xzibit built a reputation as an emerging underground rapper. Born Alvin Nathaniel Joiner on September 18, 1974, in Detroit, MI, he launched his recording career within the Likwit Crew, an informal alliance of California rappers that included King T, Defari, and Tha Alkaholiks. His first notable appearances came on the track “Free Style Ghetto” from King T’s IV Life (1994) and on “Hit and Run” from Tha Alkaholiks’ Coast II Coast (1995). After signing with Loud Records, he issued his solo debut, At the Speed of Life, in 1996; the set contained the Billboard Hot 100 single “Paparazzi” and included production contributions from Thayod Ausar, Craig Sherrad, E-Swift, DJ Muggs, Saafir, and Diamond D.

Xzibit’s second Loud release, 40 Dayz & 40 Nightz (1998), achieved greater commercial and critical traction. Frequently cited as the rapper’s strongest work, the album yielded the Top 50 single “What U See Is What U Get” and showcased extensive production from Sir Jinx, who had previously collaborated at length with Ice Cube and other prominent West Coast artists. Capitalizing on the acclaim surrounding 40 Dayz & 40 Nightz, Xzibit made numerous high-profile guest appearances in 1999, among them a feature alongside Snoop Dogg on the hit “B Please” and three tracks on Dr. Dre’s 2001, including the hit “What’s the Difference” with Eminem; that same year he also appeared on Kurupt’s Tha Streetz Iz a Mutha, Prince Paul’s A Prince Among Thieves, Sway & King Tech’s This or That, and Tash’s Rap Life.

Executive-produced by Dr. Dre, Xzibit’s third album Restless (2000) found the producer personally handling or co-handling three tracks, among them the Hot 100 single “X.” The project assembled an impressive roster of guests and beatmakers—including Snoop Dogg, Eminem, KRS-One, Nate Dogg, Erick Sermon, DJ Quik, Sir Jinx, Rockwilder, Scott Storch, Rick Rock, Soopafly, and Battlecat—and represented the peak of Xzibit’s commercial success, easily surpassing platinum sales. Man vs Machine (2002) attempted to replicate that achievement with another lineup of established talent that again featured Dr. Dre, DJ Premier, Snoop Dogg, Eminem, Nate Dogg, and Anthony Hamilton. Despite debuting at number three on the Billboard album chart—his first Top Ten entry—the release failed to generate major singles and only reached gold certification.

Weapons of Mass Destruction (2004) likewise underperformed commercially, prompting Xzibit to expand into acting. Having already appeared in the films The Wash (2001) and 8 Mile (2002) plus various videos, he took roles in the Hollywood features Full Clip (2004), XXX: State of the Union (2005), and Derailed (2005). In 2004 he also began hosting the MTV series Pimp My Ride, which quickly became one of the network’s highest-rated programs and ran for multiple seasons with Xzibit before spawning international adaptations without him. Full Circle (2006) signaled his return to music; now independent, he released the album through Koch Records, where it sold far less than his earlier major-label efforts despite strong production and his established television profile. After Pimp My Ride ended in 2007, Xzibit concentrated on acting with small parts in an X-Files movie, various television projects, and a cameo in the concert film Tha Alkaholiks: Live from Rehab. Financial difficulties marked this period, encompassing tax issues and repeated bankruptcy filings. In 2012, following an extended musical absence, he resurfaced with the full-length album Napalm, which included contributions from associates such as Dr. Dre and Wiz Khalifa on its upbeat hip-hop tracks.