SOHH LEFT COAST

SOHH LEFT COAST -

Xzibit: "I Never Want To Backpedal"

Posted on October 11, 2006 11:55 PM

xzibittop.jpg
When Xzibit's first two LPs came out on Loud Records (in '96 and '98), they sold 200,000 copies. Combined.

Then came Restless, the guest spots, "Pimp My Ride," the commercials and the films, "The Black John McClain" has never looked back. And with the recent success of his new film, "Gridiron Gang," and next week's release of his new album Full Circle, now isn't the time to start.

Interview by SOHH EIGHTY

SOHH EIGHTY: So it seems like things are going pretty well for you right now; "Gridiron Gang’" is doing well, “Concentrate” is blowin’ up...

Xzibit: Yeah, man. It feels good. I’m blessed right now. It feels like everything is workin’ in my favor, ya know? The music is gettin’ a good response, and you know, the film came out and debuted at No. 1 in the first weekend, so I’m pretty proud of that.

SOHH: So how’s the promo shit for the album going right now?

X: Man, it’s bangin’. I’m makin’ a lot of connections, you know what I’m sayin -- reconnections. It had been a year and a half since I put out my last record and it feels like the disorganization that I had at Sony didn’t lend itself to makin’ a good product and it put a crunching on my market, on my audience. So I’m coming out here with that hands on, you know? I signed myself to my own label, so it’s kinda like I’m making all those connections again, but it’s stronger because I don’t have anybody speakin’ for me. And the street is where my music was born, bred and raised so when Sony tried to put my shit out and not really try to go and service the streets, it kinda hurt me a little bit. So it’s just me going and actually showing people I’m the same dude, and that the music ain’t goin’ nowhere, it’s never gonna change. It feels good to be able to do that face to face, and you’d be surprised how many people feel that way.

SOHH: Yeah, I was gonna say, it didn’t seem like there was a whole lot of promotion for the last album.

X: Yeah... You know, what they were doing was relying on that “Pimp My Ride” crowd, but what they don’t understand is that when people turn off their television, that’s the end of it, you know? They like the show, and that’s it. It’s still the company’s job to market and promote to the core audience, and then whoever else wants to come along comes.

SOHH: As far as touching back to your core audience, do you feel like you tried to take it back toward the direction of At The Speed of Life or 40 Dayz & 40 Nightz at all with this album, or is it just moving forward?

X: Nah, I mean, I never want to go backwards, I never want to backpedal. It’s always about forward movement with me and the album just shows growth, and that maturity that I’m experiencing now. You know, I’m a father first, so everything that I have to be is consistent with everything that I’m portraying- my decision making and everything. It’s some grown man shit, it’s not what I was when I was doing on 40 Dayz & 40 Nightz and At The Speed Of Life. It’s different.

SOHH: Do you feel like your attitude has changed and that it comes through on the record?

X: Well, I mean, I’ve experienced a lot, I’ve been through a lot and that’s what the album reflects. that’s where it’s at.

SOHH: I just meant as far as a state of mind -- like how on At The Speed Of Life, it was just on SUPER hungry shit.

X: Yeah, and it was introspective, it was something that I was always comparing myself to. There was a lot of me in them records, a WHOLE LOT of me. That was the realest shit, shit that cats don’t really wanna talk about in hip hop- and I think part of that’s in this record too, but it’s not so raw. Over the years I’ve had the luxury of growing with my art and I’ve always been consistently growing as an artist, so I feel that the more I got to sharpen myself, I want the audiences right there to witness. It’s never supposed to be picture perfect all the way, ‘cause I’m human, I never claimed to be perfect. But you know, it’s a good thing, man; I’m getting to do the music that I want and the music that I love to create.

SOHH: So for those who don’t know, who do you have on the album as guests and as producers?

X: Well first, I enlisted some new ears and got some fresh ideas as far as executive production, so I went and got Keith Shocklee -- he produced with the Bomb Squad, did a lot of Public Enemy’s production. I’m a fan of his work, the work that they did with Ice Cube -- that’s what’s defining hip hop to me -- so when he signed on to do the executive production with me, I was excited. I went out to New York, I recorded half the record out there, and then I came back to Los Angeles and did the rest here. Jelly Roll also helped me a lot with executive production so when we got in the studio, we got a lot of the production out of the way. And the guest appearances on the album are like, T-Pain, Daz, Kurupt, The Game, King T, DJ Quik, Too Short is on the record... And as far as the production, I got a little somethin’ from Felli Fel from the Heavy Hitters, Jelly Roll of course, Rick Rock production... I mean, it was a very eclectic group of producers that came together and made this record what it is.

SOHH: Just to touch on this real quick, since you mentioned Rick Rock, how do you feel about the amount of shine the Bay Area has been getting lately on a national scale?

X: I love it, dude. I support the hyphy movement- I think it represents me just as well as it represents the bay, you know? It’s all the same- when I say “West coast,” I’m talking about the Bay Area too.

SOHH: Speaking of your connection with the Bay, as far as the Golden State Project...

X:: Right.

SOHH: Are there any tentative plans to ever resume working on that or has the time passed?

X:: At the time we were trying to do it, I had just come off Restless and we had been trying to form that group for a minute. I mean, everything was in order, but Priority would not let Ras Kass sign on- they would not sign off on Ras Kass being in a group, let me put it like that. And we sat on our overhead for over a year, so I was forced to put out another Xzibit record with that. And it was crazy because Open Bar was set to be Golden State and then actually I was gonna sign Defari as well. For me to come from an underground perspective and get to the point where we got equity on the table to start a powerhouse in the West, it was a hard place to get to, and I had done that twice, so it was a little frustrating. Sometimes you gotta focus on what you need to do in order to make your situation right.

SOHH: But you’re still cool with Ras and Saafir at this point?

X: Yeah, I mean, I have no reason not to be.

SOHH: Now I was under the impression that you were going to be part of Strong Arm Steady as well... I know you still support them and what not, but do you want to speak on that for a minute?

X: Yeah, I mean, Strong Arm Steady was something that I was a part of with Krondon, Phil Da Agony, and Mitchy Slick. We worked the last couple years together runnin’ and trying to build the name. I mean, we did what we could together, but the decision was made to sign to Blacksmith and unfortunately I couldn’t agree with the business decisions that they were making, so they went ahead and signed without me. So you know, I wish ‘em the best of luck; that’s it in a nutshell. It’s not like there’s any hard feeling or whatever, they just made the decision that they felt was best for them at the time.

SOHH: So as far as the new album, how was it trying to balance all three things: the music, the films and Pimp My Ride?

X: Well, I mean, nobody thought the show was gonna be what it is. I had no idea it was gonna be like that, I mean, we in our seventh season. I don’t know think it’s just a personal decision; I love music, that’s what I am first- a musician. And that’s just a catalyst for everything else. I think that all three things can complement each other, but they don’t have to control each other, meaning that you shouldn’t look for “Pimp My Ride” in my music, and you shouldn’t look for my music in my films. But they can all be successful at the same time. I think it’s kinda one dimensional when you say, “Oh, well you gotta do one thing.” If I’m successful and I still can do all three things and it doesn’t bother me, then why not? But it’s like there’s this stigma going through hip hop like you can only be one thing. I’m not like that so I feel like my path is original, it’s unique.

SOHH: What about the time constraints though?

X: Yeah, but I got a great team behind me, you know what I’m saying? My family is supportive, my son is eleven now, so gets to move around with me a whole lot more. It’s working out because I’m focused, I don’t have a lot of nonsense around me and it’s moving towards a positive place.


come holler at the SOHH LEFT COAST myspace page at www.myspace.com/sohhleftcoast

Posted by SOHH Leftist

Comments

  • NiCKeL says...

  • first!

  • October 12, 2006 1:15 AM
  • jerry says...

  • fuckkkkkkkkkkkkkkkkkkkkkkkkk


    right so xzibit is now considering himself to be a good actor.....(riiiiiight) good rapper (riiiiiiight) and what else??? lmao snap out of it. East Syyyyyyyyyyyyde lol

  • October 12, 2006 1:17 AM
  • Chi Stylez26 says...

  • ^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^ Quit hating you punk ass bitch

  • October 12, 2006 2:00 AM
  • Lil Lil Dre Dre says...

  • Yo Yo Be on the lookout for my album DOODIE TWINKLES coming out 2022... mixtape coming soon called BLING BLING SHIT STAIN... guest apperances by PAUL WALL, JADAKISS, And FAT JOE...yo JOE also spits in spanish, its fire... got 50's on my JOHN DEER its crazy son

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  • October 12, 2006 4:50 AM
  • lol says...

  • ^^^^^^^lol

  • October 12, 2006 4:53 AM
  • Young Guice says...

  • Rotten Apple !!!

  • October 12, 2006 7:24 AM
  • Essex says...

  • Lil Lil Dre Dre is the man!

    X to the Z was the shit with his first two albums. 40 days and 40 nights was real serious.
    I wish he would fuck with the Alcoholics again. That was his first crew and he need to show them love.

    New Music
    "Touch Da Ceiling"
    From: Intellectual Wizardry/I.W.

    Off the forthcoming Album/Mixtape
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    Click the link below to listen


  • October 12, 2006 9:28 AM
  • germs187 says...

  • *edit* (keep it on topic, kids...)

  • October 12, 2006 10:36 AM
  • THAT DUE says...

  • HE MADE THE BEST RAP VIDEO EVER THAT CHANGED THE GAME!!!!!!!!!!

  • October 12, 2006 12:19 PM
  • Cali88 says...

  • my nigga X is doin his thing, gettin money. He came along way, thats one dude who reps the West Coast to the fullest, im lookin forward to the album

  • October 12, 2006 2:30 PM
  • iforgotmyname says...

  • Yo...please buy his album and any west coast album you are interested in. I'm tired of people buying all that weak southern music (except luda) and not reppin for the west coast dudes! It's like everything good gets downloaded or bootlegged and all the weak shit people are willing to go buy or get off itunes...

  • October 12, 2006 2:44 PM
  • Yeah thats me says...

  • HELL YEAH FUCKIN YEAH, XZIBIT ALL-DAY LONG BABY. I'M ON THAT SHIT NEXT TUESDAY, THIS FOOL IS STILL SICK AS FUCK. ALL FIVE LP'S ARE FIRE.

    "LONG HAIR GANJA SMOKE BUT DONT BE MISTAKEN I AINT JAMAICAN."

  • October 12, 2006 3:49 PM
  • www.myspace.com/frozenstate says...

  • This album is gonna be tight!

  • October 12, 2006 4:25 PM
  • Corinne says...

  • I can't wait till his new album comes out. Xzibit and Game are on the top, the song they did was fire. Xzibit is making mad money right now, mad money equals faggot ass haters who wish, but only can dream.

  • October 12, 2006 5:01 PM
  • Long beach says...

  • Why you didn't ask x to the Z about why Snoop said "my name ain't xzbit you can't pull my ho card. "

  • October 12, 2006 5:23 PM
  • mzthycknyzz says...

  • X to the Z has always been real from day 1- long time female fan...X keeps it thorough on his rhymes...loving it...and can't wait til next Tues...I'm coppin!

  • October 12, 2006 5:28 PM
  • WYOMINGRIDAAH says...

  • *edit*

  • October 12, 2006 5:42 PM
  • TakDat says...

  • That was a cool interview. Xzibit has always been raw, but it's cool to know that veteran mc's see the path of getting grown & putting this joint on their back. Do what u do homie. Much love to Cali.

  • October 12, 2006 5:45 PM
  • TakDat says...

  • Oh yeah....WYOMINGRIDAAH is a FAGGOT. U prolly already knew that though. FAGMODEL!!!

  • October 12, 2006 5:48 PM
  • Don'tWorryAboutMyNameBeeitch! says...

  • Yo, I'm from WYO, bangin' a pair of tight ass wranglers, we real gangsters, rollin' bails of hay to moms house, taking straight shots of V8 tomato juice yeah now the real gangsters 'bout to be let loose out here in WYO we on that field of dreams shit "if you build they will come" I don't know who comin' but they'll come and when they we g'on let lose on that ass, I got a army of soldiers carrying super soakers put nothing but hot water in that ass! WYO!! Get tha fuck outta here wit that bulshit! Sac-Town puttin' da smackdown, West up all in ya mothafuckin' mouf!

  • October 12, 2006 6:39 PM
  • WYOMINGRIDAAH says...

  • *edit*

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  • xzibit is soft

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  • Huh? Can you speak up? Oh! You want to know if loud music can hurt your ears. Are you asking because you like to put on your headphones and crank up the volume of your favorite CD? Maybe your mom or dad has told you, "Turn that down before you go deaf!" WBR LeoP

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