Much has changed for Xzibit since he gained underground notoriety from his sophomore release, 40 Days & 40 Nights, at the end of the "Golden Era" of 90's hip-hop. Who would have ever imagined that the raspy voiced MC would have bolted from the underground to the mainstream, as the host of MTV's car show, "Pimp My Ride?" Though Xzibit's financial stock has definitely increased, it can be argued that his lyrical ability declined, as the West Coast rapper went "Hollywood." (Xzibit's previous album, Weapons of Mass Destruction, may lend some credence to that argument) Since Xzibit parted ways with his estranged partners in rhyme, Tha Alkaholiks, the hip-hop community is curious to see how X will do all by himself. With the release of his new album, Full Circle, many X to the Z fans are also anxious to see whether or not Xzibit has gone full circle and returned to the roots that gained him critical acclaim in the first place.
Things start off a bit shaky, as X is anointed with the ghetto gospel chorus and production from Jelly Roll on "Invade My Space," as Xzibit forewarns the haters attempting to butt into his life. On the Rick Rock-produced track "Concentrate" Xzibit attempts, but ultimately fails to deliver an eccentric, sex driven, hyphy club banger over an eerie Buddhist sample reminiscent of the chorus in Busta Rhymes' "Touch It."
Xzibit definitely exudes a much more mature and conscientious demeanor on "Black & Brown." A very introspective X expounds his knowledge and insight concerning the plight and hardships of disadvantaged African American and Latino youth in America. For instance, X spits, "Tension is so thick / Summer coming around / I don't wanna see no more of us up under the ground / So now / That's why we need to sit down / And talk about the black and the brown / 80% of inmates are Black and Hispanic / They tryin' to wipe us all of the face of this planet." Although "Black & Brown's sound is eerily similar to Dr. Dre's 2001 track "The Message," X's message and lyrical content are original and very much needed in this day and age of hip-hop.
Though Xzibit may have had some doubters with the advent of this release, multiple tracks on Full Circle embody the essence of a true West Coast hip-hop album. On the party track, "Poppin' Off," Xzibit recruits West Coast veterans, DJ Quik and King T, to discuss how Xzibit and company ball out and pick up girls in the club. DJ Quik's verse definitely outshines his counterparts on this track and the synthesized chorus makes this another stand out track to check for. X also enlists veteran rappers Kurupt, Too Short and Daz, in addition to the young blooded Game on dope tracks such as "Movin' In Your Chucks," "On Bail" and "Say It To My Face." The proof is in the pudding, Xzibit has definitely added to the resurgence of West Coast hip-hop on Full Circle.
On the final and most intriguing track on this effort, "Thank You," Xzibit conveys his heartfelt appreciation for his dedicated fans that have stuck with him as he has triumphed and endured shortcomings during his illustrious rap career. Another introspective verse laid down over a poignant piano melody, coupled with striking violin chords continue to show X's exponential growth as an artist. "I just want to thank you for being around / And patiently waiting and holding me down / Its easy to see for Mr.X to the Z / That without no you, there could be no me."
Overall, Full Circle is a solid hip-hop album and will definitely serve as a testament to silence Xzibit's critics and detractors. Is Mr. X to the Z the same exact artist that debuted in the early 90s? No. Did Xzibit release some questionable material over the past few years? Yes. Has Xzibit made a strong effort to return to his roots and produce a cohesive album? Precisely. Xzibit has definitely performed a 360 with his most recent release, if he continues to stay on this course, we can only expect better things to come from Mr. "Pimp My Ride."
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