Xzibit

Born in Detroit in 1974 and raised between Albuquerque and Los Angeles, Alvin Nathaniel Joiner emerged as Xzibit, crafting a rap style rooted in the 1990s West Coast tradition. Coming up through Los Angeles’s underground scene and the Likwit Crew around Tha Alkaholiks, he drew notice with his debut album, “At the Speed of Life” (1996), marked by a narrative, introspective tone over hip-hop productions with a funk edge. He followed with “40 Dayz & 40 Nightz” (1998) and gained broader visibility through collaborations with Dr. Dre, embedding himself in the California rap ecosystem alongside West Coast heavyweights. The albums “Restless” (2000), “Man vs Machine” (2002), and “Weapons of Mass Destruction” (2004) extended this aesthetic, blending punchy rhythms, a deep voice, and lyrics focused on urban everyday life, before a more diffuse chapter marked by “Full Circle” (2006) and “Napalm” (2012). Alongside his recordings, Xzibit multiplied appearances in film and television—as a host and actor—which broadened his profile beyond rap alone. Still active on stage, he moves between international tours, one-off musical projects, and audiovisual work, while remaining closely identified with the legacy of West Coast hip-hop.