Xzibiting His Talent

Xzibit's 1996 debut, "At The Speed of Life" came at a time when the majority of West Coast hip-hop artists were involved in gangsta rap. With roots in Detroit, his east-coast influence shows in the rugged realism of his lyrics, while still keeping a Los Angeles "from the streets" edge on his music.

Although it was his first album, X to the Z was able to secure a nice lineup for the production of his LP. From D.I.T.C.'s Diamond D to Sir Jinx, the former DJ for Ice Cube's camp, Xzibit's beats are provided by some of the best in the business. Guest appearances on the album included Saafir & Ras Kass (who, with Xzibit, make up the California super group "Golden State Warriors"), that Boricua mami from the Bronx Hurricane Gee, Tha Alkaholikz, and King Tee, who can be credited with bringing Xzibit onto the scene.

Starting with a smooth intro ("Grand Opening"), you might be led to believe that the LP is going to be comprised of smooth "ride with this" gangsta rhythms. No sooner are you finished nodding your head to the intro than the hard-hitting "At The Speed of Life" kicks in. Nice production by Thayod Ausar, and the lyrics remain real throughout the track.

"Plastic Surgery" guest stars Ras Kass and Saafir, and discusses the problem in hip-hop of rappers cloning whoever is making the most money at the time. All three take turns making similies between the medical field and hip-hop. Ras Kass flips it the best, with:

"I'm performin' vinyl liposuctions/
Fat MC, fat production, motherf**kin' facial re-construction/
Needles injected 33RPMs of antisthetic/
For actors who require cosmetic/
Sex changes... from b*tch ni**as to rah rah ni**as/
The only cure for sick lyrics is if we implant a hit gimmick"

Xzibit's love for his son shines through on "The Foundation", which is basically Mr. X giving his son some rather important advice about life in general. A DJ Muggs-produced piano loop creates a nice backdrop for the track, and it's easily one of the best on the CD.

No doubt the most popular song from this CD, "Paparazzi" is all about the glitz and glamour in the music industry. Xzibit breaks down what's wrong in hip-hop, and deals with the rappers who aren't in it for the love of the music. It was the first single released, and sent Xzibit's career off with a bang.

"Bird's Eye View" doesn't have any particular meaning or value, but it's a nice collaboration with his fellow Likwit Crew members Tha Alkaholikz and King Tee, as well as Hurricane Gee on the chorus. "Carry The Weight" is all about the negative effects of stress, and "Just Maintain", also featuring Hurricane Gee, is just another track with not much meaning, but some nice lyrics.

Falling victim to the trend of sexist lyrics is "Hit & Run (Part II)", continuing the Alkaholikz track of the same name. The song begins with a mock telephone conversation between Xzibit and male porn star Ron Hightower about a little "get-together" involving some females. Of course Xzibit's curiosity is piqued, and he heads out to get himself a little. The song is pretty disrespectful, and it doesn't fit in with the rest of the tracks on the CD. In my opinion, this is the only downside of this whole LP.

I've been a fan of Xzibit since the first time I heard him on King Tee's last album. His rugged style mixed with street wise lyrics makes for a nice blend of intelligence and hood credibility. I would recommend this to any fan of true hip-hop, especially those with a liking for West Coast underground artists.