West Coast Connection Forum
DUBCC - Tha Connection => West Coast Classics => Topic started by: caTASHtrophe on December 09, 2001, 02:29:22 PM
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In 1996, "Paparazzi" established Xzibit as one of hip hop's brightest up and comers. His debut album later that year, exceeded expectations, making most critics' lists for best albums of the year. Now, four years later, Xzibit has literally become the phony individual he so scathingly rapped about in '96-- what a shame.
Without a doubt, Restless is one of the most painfully contrived, unappealing, and absolutely pointless albums ever recorded. Perhaps never has an emcee so talented sold out so hard. At best, some of the songs sound as if they may have been able to serve as generic filler tracks on 40 Dayz. Unfortunately, these "best" tracks are few and far between.
Don't get it twisted-- Xzibit was never Mr. Nice Guy. He always put forth a harder-than-thou person, and made songs about drinking, smoking, fucking, and thugging. The difference is that in the past, these type of tracks were inserted to fill the gaps between more meaningful works-- tracks like "Carry the Weight," "Deeper," "The Foundation," etc., etc., etc. Now, these throwaway tracks that were once hedonistic departures represent the best of what Xzibit has to offer.
In addition to this ridiculous downgrade in conceptuality, the production of Restless is far from spectacular. Though the Dre-clones who put in work occasionally score partial successes, the vast majority of the tracks sound like third-string rejects from Chronic 2001. Throw in a multitude of wack guest stars, and shameless attempts at appealing to whitey (the back of the CD jacket features pictures of X with Eminem, Fred Durst, Kid Rock, and four white kids making X's-- coincidence?), and Xzibit's crossover attempt is one of the most overt in hip hop history.
Excessive amounts of "DNA" (drugs and alcohol) have dumbed-down his lyrics and numbed the pain that formerly fueled his art. Restless does not provide an intelligent hip hop listener with the same guilty pleasure as albums by Dre or Snoop might, as we are plagued with the knowledge that Xzibit is so much more than what he's presenting himself as. Restless gets my vote for the most appropriately-titled album of the year, for if Xzibit has any conscience, he is undoubtedly unable to sleep at night.
What do u all think, personaly i agree with the review, Restless is a good album in its own right but when compared to his first 2 its absolute BALLZ
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Thats the thing though, you can't really compare Restless to the first two albums b/c it is TOTALLY different...personnally, i love all 3......i wasn't surprised like everyone else with the direction he took on REstless......it was a great commercial album, very underrated.......PEACE
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very truwe review
his 1st 2 = classic
restless = wack
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I ain't never heard 40 days... but I got Restless and At The Speed Of Life. I think they're both great albums, but totally different. Maybe that's why some don't like Restless - It's totally different from the old Xzibit. The part about wack guest stars I don't understand...
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Agree with review, i when buying the album i was expectin more than what i got, X jus don't have anything interestin to say on the album, he jus get's boring after a bit.
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i only listen to 4 songs on this cd
U Know
X
Best of Things
Get your walk on
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all his cds are fuckin dope.
Peace
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I love/like all the songs on the album except:
"Kenny Parker Show 2001"
"Get Yo Walk On" is near classic. Still, should have been more Dre beats.
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Restless is dope. I don't see anything wrong with it, other than maybe the lack of lyrics.