Xzibit INTERVIEW: VIPER sat down with Xzibit, the legendary rapper, actor, and cultural icon whose gritty lyricism, unfiltered storytelling, and West Coast legacy have defined him as one of Hip Hop’s most enduring voices. From breakout albums like ‘Restless’ and ‘Man vs. Machine’, to era defining collaborations with Dr. Dre, Eminem, and Snoop Dogg, Xzibit’s impact on the game runs deep.
Now, with the release of his long anticipated album ‘Kingmaker’, he’s entering a new era one shaped by maturity, legacy, and intention. Described by Xzibit as his most cohesive and personal body of work to date, ‘Kingmaker’ bridges generations, introducing new voices while honouring the foundation he helped build.
Beyond music, Xzibit’s influence transcends genres and mediums from hosting the iconic Pimp My Ride to commanding roles on screen and behind the scenes as a producer. Grounded, focused, and fiercely proud of his evolution, Xzibit remains a force in both culture and community building kings, uplifting queens, and reminding the world why authenticity never goes out of style.
Let’s start with the real life outside the studio, off stage and off the camera. What’s been keeping you grounded or inspired lately?
I’ve been inspired by the team of people that I have around me; the care of the craft. Kendrick put a battery in the back of the whole city with the Pop Out concert. There’s been a lot of synergies out here in the West that have led to this moment, and everything’s about divine timing. I’ve been pretty inspired by the people around me and the work that we’ve been putting in and I love this. I love Hip Hop, man, I love it. I love what we do, I love what it means to me and my life and I’m glad to be here.
Let’s talk the new album. Why the title and why now?
Why not? [laughs] I think, to be totally honest, it was like the album was completed. I’m not worried about the timing or worried about anybody else coming out. Music speaks for itself. So I’m proud of the body of work that we created. It was ready and I told everybody that I wasn’t going to put this album out until it was ready.
Sonically and spiritually, how does ‘Kingmaker’ differ from ‘Restless’ and ‘Napalm’?
‘Kingmaker’ is the album I’ve been trying to make my whole career. I think I’m speaking from a place of, maturity, growth, experience and I think that I’m going to go out there on a limb and say, this is my best body of work. I think it’s the most cohesive body of work, that I’ve created. I made it so that it was a balance of legacy artists that you used to see me with and people that I think that are going to be carrying the culture forward in the future.
So, that’s why it also serves a dual meaning with ‘Kingmaker’, because I’m making Kings out of these guys that are coming forward, and these Queens that are coming forward and have the talent that I believe should be showcased.
Is that such artists as Compton AV and Guapdad 4000?
Yeah not only them, also Symba. Introducing the new cats to the cats that I came up with and then also, introducing the cats that I came up with to the new guys. It’s fucking awesome.
Which albums or artists shaped you. Not musically, but mentally and spiritually. Who helped Xzibit become Xzibit?
The music played an important part of that. But to be honest, my father gave me the moral compass and the backbone and the self-discipline that it takes to be who I am. If I listened to critics, there would be no Xzibit so fuck them, I think focus on the audience and the people in the fans. As long as I’m good with them, I’m good in my skin.
What does legacy mean to you now?
The legacy is still being written. You know I think I just opened a new chapter, I think I opened a portal.
Who do you consider the top three best labels or crews right now that are pushing the culture forward?
Shout out to Death Row, shout out to Dogg, getting his label back and running it the way he want that he sees fit. Coyote the new group coming out of LA. Those guys are dope. I think Greenback Records is going to have a lot of impact on the music business, that people aren’t expecting.
You don’t underestimate what we’re doing here. This is going to be special. And, I would also say, of course, TDE the elephant in the room. They’re pushing the culture further than we’ve seen as well. They unified, the West coast with the efficiency, the impact that they’re having. I think those right now along with all of the artists and producers on ‘Kingmaker’, there’s going to be something special this summer.
So your hair became almost as iconic as your voice. What does your hairstyle represent for you now?
I grew my hair back on you bitches. Motherfuckers didn’t think I had a hairline [laughs]. I cut my hair because I had to because I wanted to. My girl laughed at me when I said I was going to grow it back and now look, hang time [laughs].
Do you remember the moment you decided to grow it back?
My Barber couldn’t get to me, so I decided to just keep it [laughs].
So what’s something you had to unlearn as a man and as an artist in order to grow.
My priorities had to change. I had to grow up and leave the things to a child and become a man. Getting my circle small realising that not everybody is around you for the right reasons, really focusing on my family, really focusing on my loved ones and people who love me. I had to unlearn the group thinking mentality and get into what’s right for me and mine.
So do you think pain sharpens creativity or clouds it?
I think pain is a necessity. You gotta learn somehow and sometimes pain is inevitable. Death is a part of life so it comes with it. It’s the yin and the yang; it’s part of it. How you deal with pain is another thing, it’s a necessity. But how you deal with pain is the more important question. You can spiral or you can choose to deal with it. Not suppress it and get it to where you gotta go. Learn from it don’t let it break you, it’s okay to take a brief moment to gather yourself, but you have to keep moving forward.
What’s one internal battle you’re still fighting?
It’s the constant fight. You know, we all have demons. We all have things that we have to struggle with. But if you’re aware of that, it’s on you. Happiness is something that we strive to have but you know it comes from within. Nobody’s going to make you happy, you have to make yourself happy.
Are there any UK artists, past or present that you want to collaborate with?
Hell yeah ! shout out to Dizzee Rascal that’s my brother right there. I’ve seen a lot of guys, I like the Drill Rap I don’t know them by name. My man Charlie Sloth, he puts me on everything; I dig it. I want to get out there and work with some of them cats even produce some of them. I got some shit, too. I like producing for other people more than I like producing for myself. Anybody out there in the UK, we going to come out there – plug up, let’s make history!
How does UK energy compare to anywhere else?
It’s just different man. I remember back in the day when we would go United States, Rap was the thing; everybody was trying to emulate our sound. But now fast forward, all these regions, all these different places around the world have their own regional heroes, and it’s dope to see the UK come into their own and make their sound. They don’t sound like the West Coast or East Coast. They have their own thing and I think that’s admirable. I think that’s where Hip Hop needs to go, I also think that Hip Hop has grown.
Vince Staples once said people don’t expect rappers to have longevity, do you think that mindset is why there’s an age limit placed on Hip Hop artists? Do you think the reason people see Rap as a ‘young man’s game’ is because the culture treats it more like a game than a long-term career?
I think we need to get away from from ageism in Hip Hop because we’re the first of our kind. You know it. Hip hop is only 50 years old. So what if that was said to the Rolling Stones? Anybody that feels like making music now and touring and doing all that, nobody tells them when to start and nobody tells them when to stop. Why does that happen in Hip Hop? Because they want us to believe that there’s only a limited amount of seats available to be in Hip Hop. And that’s not true. There’s billions of people on the planet that like different things and different artists. So I think that mentality was put there for a reason, but it’s up to us to prove it wrong and that’s what I’m here to do.
If this was the last interview ever gave, what message would you give to the people who supported you from day one?
I love you guys, I couldn’t be here without you. This is where I’m supposed to be, this is the best way I communicate. Thank you for rocking with me for all the time. And, enjoy the music because I made it for you and me and you.
