An update on Xzibit...kinda hints about Detox

[BCG1]

I hope that this hasn't been posted already, but if so my bad.

XZIBIT What Comes Around...
From pimping rides, to voicing video games, one would think Xzibit has done it all. Currently promoting the Australian release of his album Full Circle (out now on Illusive Records), DEMELZA GOUDIE spoke with the rapper about working with The Rock, Dr Dre's Detox and going Full Circle.

To many avid MTV viewers, Xzibit is well known for his humorous approach to renovating some of the most pathetic excuses for cars on the planet. However, others would know him for his 12-year career spanning hits Hey Now (Mean Mugging), X and Multiply.

With his sixth release recently released in Australia, Xzibit says for him, the album is a reflection of this stage in his life. "I think it's [Full Circle] a continuation of the creative process that I have. The objective that I have with my music, you know, to express myself in the time and the moment. I will be able to look back and listen to these records after I'm done creating them and see where I was mentally and emotionally, what I was like 10 years ago, and I'm doing it for the fans as well as myself."

The new release features harder beats (Concentrate and Scandalous Bitches'. Xzibit explains that for him, developing a song isn't about developing a club track. "You know, it's what I feel at the time. When you are in that studio and you are sitting in front of those big speakers and put a beat in that just rips the studio in half, you go with that energy. It's all about the vibe not about ‘Oh! Will I think the club would dig this?' Fuck that! It's what is cracking through them speakers, you know what I'm saying, and the energy that has been built behind that," he laughs.

The new album sees a number of collaborations with some of hip hop's rising artists, including Too $hort, Game and T-Pain. He says it's all about creatively reaching out. "It's good to take the album to the next [level] but when you can creatively reach out and hear somebody on the record then you try to do that and show some diversity and feature some artists that I believe in and feel good putting on the record."

With some of raps biggest names featured on the album, and having been in the game since being a member of the Likwit Crew in 1995, has hip hop changed for the rapper?

Xzibit looks at it positively. "Well, um... you know, hip hop has definitely had its up and downs but for the most part I focus on the positive side of things. It employs millions of people and gives people opportunities whereas other ways, other means of life wouldn't be accessible to. I think it's great in that aspect but I think that we lost ownership of it, whereas it's more about marketing and promoting, you know, than the message now. I think we need to go back towards leaning towards having some kind of content than having some kind of a dance step or a popular jean or whatever it is you know."

Recently out on DVD, The Gridiron Gang sees the west coast rapper teaming up with Dwayne "The Rock" Johnson to play probation officer Malcolm Moore. Xzibit explains why he took on such a role. "It's a great story, it's a true story based on real heroes and as an actor you try to strive for things that are so different from your everyday existence and so playing a probation officer in a juvenile detention camp is definitely far fetch from what I do from day to day. So it was great and it was great to be involved in such an inspirational story and also be involved in these kids lives that otherwise would have had no attention or no light brought to their plight."

So working with The Rock, did Xzibit get any ‘candy ass whoopings'? "No! What the hell?!" He exclaims amid laughter. "Never that. You know what I'm saying? I told Rock [puts on his best Rock impersonation] ‘It doesn't matter! It doesn't matter if you know how to do the WWE or Smackdown. I'm a rapper. We have guns!' (laughs) He has oil, he has body oil. I have guns.

"For the record The Rock is one of the most personable down to earth dudes you will ever meet. He is my homie," he adds.

Xzibit hopes to be hitting our shores later this year, as part of a world tour for Full Circle. He reminisces about his learning experience in the land down under.

"I love Australia. I mean the crowd is enthusiastic, you know, it's very informative. I found out you guys don't drink Fosters. (laughs) You guys drink quadruple X which I thought was fucking awesome, you know 'cause of the X-to-tha-Z thing. I found out that koalas are quite dangerous, you know what I'm saying, they look good from afar but they will scratch the fuck out of you! I found out not to get caught in the undertow or the rip tied or you will fucking drown. I learnt all of these things the hard way. It was a great learning experience you know!"

Having taken part in pretty much most entertainment opportunities from the Def Jam Icon video game, to pimping rides around the US, Xzibit leaves us with one bit of advice. "Look out for that Detox record that's coming out," he laughs.

So does that mean Xzibit will feature on Dr Dre's highly anticipated album? "Well, just look out for it," he teases.

Posted on April 18, 2007 01:38 PM

Source: http://www.xpressmag.com.au/archives/2007/04/xzibit_what_com.php

[QuietTruth]

Too me it seems Xzibit is gettin' more attention now than he did when his album dropped.

What's up wit that?

[Tanjential]

hm, sounds like this will be as big as 2001. i wanna say it will drop this year but first quarter of next year seems more like it.

-T

[No Compute]

Advertising for Detox just consists of rappers saying "look out for Detox" in their interviews.

[Tha Psycho Hustla]

detox this, detox that
its gon´b wack.cuz evrybody´s wack now.foget about good music.

[Tanjential]

Advertising for Detox just consists of rappers saying "look out for Detox" in their interviews.

s'enough

-T