Xzibit

Verified Timeline

Lore & Background

Xzibit's narrative is rooted in his early struggles and relocation from Detroit to Albuquerque, where he attended elementary and middle school before facing expulsion from nearly every high school in the Albuquerque Public School System due to trouble. After being driven by his frustrated father to a Marine Corps recruiter office, he committed to getting his GED at TVI (now CNM). Seeking to break a cycle of violence, he moved to Los Angeles in his late teens. His professional breakthrough arrived in February 1995 with a feature on The Alkaholiks' "Hit and Run." After touring with the Likwit Crew, he signed to Loud Records. His reputation as a West Coast underground artist grew until Dr. Dre took notice, securing him high-profile spots on Snoop Dogg's "Bitch Please" and three tracks on Dr. Dre's 6x platinum album 2001: "Lolo," "Some L.A. Niggaz," and "What's the Difference." This partnership led to his third album, Restless (2000), which sold almost 2 million copies and was certified platinum.

In Their Own Story

The turning point in Xzibit's career arrived with the release of Restless in 2000. Executive produced by Dr. Dre, the album featured guest appearances from Snoop Dogg, Nate Dogg, Eminem, DJ Quik, and the Alkaholiks. It spawned three singles, with "X" reaching number 14 in the UK and number 4 in Germany. Following this success, he joined the American Up in Smoke Tour alongside Snoop Dogg, Eminem, and Ice Cube. By 2002, Xzibit released Man vs. Machine on Columbia Records, which became his highest-charting album at number three in the U.S., though none of its singles charted on the Hot 100. Despite this success, he was unhappy with the promotion and ended his cooperation with Dr. Dre. He later departed Loud Records entirely, switching management to John Boyle for Weapons of Mass Destruction (2004), an album that notably excluded contributions from Dre or Snoop Dogg. After a brief public hiatus following Full Circle (2006), he returned in 2012 with Napalm and formed the supergroup Serial Killers in 2013.

Reader's Guide

For fans tracking Xzibit's trajectory, key milestones define his evolution from an underground figure to a mainstream icon. His debut single "Paparazzi" from At the Speed of Life (1996) peaked at number 86 on the Billboard Hot 100 but found greater success in mainland Europe, hitting number 11 on the German Singles Chart. His second album, 40 Dayz & 40 Nightz (1998), charted at number 58 in the U.S. and spawned "What U See Is What U Get," which reached number 50. In the acting realm, his debut was The Breaks in 1999, followed by roles in Tha Eastsidaz (2000) and The Wash (2001). His hosting gig on Pimp My Ride between 2004 and 2007 introduced him to a major audience, featuring car restorations at West Coast Customs. Musically, he collaborated with Alice Cooper on "Stand" from the album Dirty Diamonds in 2005, marking the rock legend's first foray into rap. His chart success concluded with "Hey Now (Mean Muggin)" peaking at number 93 on the Billboard Hot 100 in 2004.

Did You Know?

• Xzibit was kicked out of nearly every school in the Albuquerque Public School System before moving to Los Angeles.
• His single 'Paparazzi' peaked at number 11 on the German Singles Chart, outperforming its US chart position.
• He voiced Chief Ted Grizzly in the animated film Hoodwinked (2005) alongside Anne Hathaway and Glenn Close.
• Xzibit lent his voice and likeness to the warden Abbott in the video game The Chronicles of Riddick: Escape from Butcher Bay.
• He formed the hip-hop supergroup Serial Killers in 2013, performing alongside other notable artists.