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  Xzibit Interview
interview 0514 added 04.07.07 words:
Louis Soul
technical:
Spoon
He’s had his fingers in so many pies lately; it seems to have been a long time since Xzibit released a rap album. In the last few years he has taken his career from an underground West Coast rapper to becoming an international household name, presenting Pimp My Ride and appearing in a number of films including the voice of Chief Grizzly in the animated film Hoodwinked and his latest film opposite The Rock - Gridiron Gang.
In actual fact X has released an album every two years since he left the Likwit crew to go solo in ’96, and has continued this trend with his latest work Full Circle. So after rapping, acting, and presenting, what does he make of it all? Louis Soul met up with Xzibit for a quick Q and A session in a swanky hotel lobby to get his take on his career so far...
So what brings you to London? Is there anything you particularly like about coming to the UK?
 Well right now we’re doing a tour all around Europe and the UK, for the album Full Circle which was released last October. As for coming to London and the UK, I just kind of like the fact that the whole culture is different here compared to back home, there is less of that macho bullshit around this way!
I’m guessing your first love is and always will be rapping, but can you ever see yourself crossing over to acting full time as your career progresses?
Well recently I have been really busy with all the film roles, so I only just finally got the chance to release another album. It was a long time coming but something which I really wanted to do. I’m still enjoying the music stuff as well right now so I don’t think acting will become the main priority just yet, at least not for while…
Maybe when you’re a little bit older perhaps?
Yeah maybe, I guess when my son starts to say ‘Err…No dad!’ after listening to one of my albums, then perhaps then will be a good time to stop!
"...For me Dre was more like a mentor above anything else..."
When picking roles for acting projects, do you have any preferences i.e. roles that are closer to your life experiences, or do you prefer to attempt the more challenging roles like your last film Gridiron Gang with The Rock?
Well mainly, I like stuff that has a message attached to it, so although the last one was a bit different and I’m now in a position to pick and choose what roles I want…I still try and keep them close to the stuff I know, it’s just where I know that I would perform best
How do you find the acting world compared to the music scene? Do you find that there are many more pressures in the world of acting?
Well they are both different mediums…with acting, you have to get involved with the whole thing…body language, tone of voice, expression, so there is a lot you have to think about. I guess in that sense there are more pressures but it is a chance to be more creative as there are a many more factors you need to consider and think about
People’s opinions of rappers usually change…whether it’s for a good or bad, after they pursue other angles such as acting, was this something you were at all worried about, especially with the fans that had followed you since the days of the Alkahaliks?
Nah man, I don’t think so…I mean hip hop isn’t the same as it was in say the early nineties. You can’t just get hip hop without looking at all of the other angles involved….everyone seems to be into something else as well, whether it be a clothing line, acting or whatever,….I mean it’s not like you’re going to be seeing Xzibit jeans anywhere anytime soon…that shit is just not for me, but the acting part interests me and that’s just what I’ll stick to
Most of your albums usually find success and receive more record sales from heads who follow the underground scene compared to the mainstream. Are you happy it has turned out this way or is breaking charts and getting regular rotation on music channels something you’d like to do?
I actually am pretty happy it tuned out that way, I don’t really want mainstream success…my music isn’t really concerned with that and that’s not the image I want to put out there…sometimes though I just wish it was back in the day…like the early nineties when it was really simple to just go make a record and put it out there…that’s still what I try to be about
"...I don’t really want mainstream success…my music isn’t really concerned with that and that’s not the image I want to put out there
..."
This is probably a question you get asked over and over again, but it’s a factor that undoubtedly had a massive effect on your career direction; how much of an influence do you think Dr. Dre has had on your rapping career, business and music wise?
For me Dre was more like a mentor above anything else…I know he doesn’t see it like that though… mainly the music side, he’s a top producer but he had an influence on the business side of things as well as my rapping career and I’m still down with him even now
Are you surprised at how popular Pimp My Ride has been in the U.S and abroad?
I was very surprised to be honest, I first thought it was going to be like an afterschool sort of thing you know…but it turned out to be huge worldwide! It was good fun as well…I’m happy to be a household name…
Have you seen the UK version with Tim Westwood?
No I heard he’s doing it but to be honest, I haven’t had the chance to check it out yet…
Is there another show you’d ever like to present if you had the chance?
Ha, you know what, I’ve always wanted to present Deal or No Deal…that show just brings out the best and worst in people and it’s great entertainment, so yeah that would be my dream choice! I don’t have anything else with presenting coming up though
What were the main reasons behind starting up Open Bar, are you looking to attract other younger rappers and keep it going?
Well at the moment it just for me and my music…
"...You can’t just get hip hop without looking at all of the other angles involved..."
Is that because of disagreements with Sony?
Yeah, for me , Sony was a bad choice…they only wanted one type of product from me and I really feel as though I didn’t have any freedom on there what so ever, so I just started my own label…I only have Xzibit on there at the moment because I know that X is always going to be on time for interviews, X will deliver a finished CD when it needs to be done and X will be able to fulfil the needed level of expectations in a live performance…there may be other people I sign in the future but for now Open Bar is just for me and my myself.
So what’s to come in the future? Have you got more films planned or solo albums from yourself?
Yeah, loads of stuff, mainly films but I’m also gonna keep Open Bar running, I’ve also got a tour of Europe planned in the very near future including dates at the Astoria on June 14th and the next day in Glasgow if any of you miss it! Also check out the MySpace and Xzibit Central, peace.
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Louis Soul
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