Xzibit

Biography

Xzibit, born Alvin Nathaniel Joiner on September 18, 1974, in Detroit, Michigan, is an American rapper, actor, television personality, radio host, and record executive. He became one of the recognizable figures of West Coast hip-hop during the 1990s and later expanded his career into film and television. He is particularly known for his music, his collaborations with major hip-hop artists, and his role as the host of the popular television series Pimp My Ride.

Early Life

Xzibit was born in Detroit and moved to the Los Angeles area during his youth. He developed an interest in writing and performing rap at an early age. During the 1990s, he became involved in the West Coast underground hip-hop scene and joined the Likwit Crew, a collective associated with artists such as King Tee and Tha Alkaholiks. His early collaborations helped introduce him to a wider audience.

Music Career

Xzibit began his professional music career in the early 1990s. His first major solo release was At the Speed of Life, released in 1996. The album received positive critical attention and featured the single "Paparazzi," which became one of his early signature songs.

His second album, 40 Dayz & 40 Nightz, followed in 1998 and further established his reputation as a powerful West Coast rapper. His career gained significant momentum through collaborations with artists including Snoop Dogg and Dr. Dre.

Dr. Dre became an important figure in Xzibit's career and served as executive producer on his next albums. Xzibit's 2000 album Restless reached No. 12 on the Billboard 200 and included several high-profile collaborations. He followed it with Man vs. Machine, which reached No. 3 on the Billboard 200.

His later albums included Weapons of Mass Destruction (2004), Full Circle (2006), and Napalm (2012). He also became a member of the hip-hop supergroup Serial Killers in 2013.

Television Career and Pimp My Ride

Xzibit became internationally recognized beyond the music world when he began hosting MTV's Pimp My Ride in 2004. The reality series featured the transformation of old or damaged vehicles into customized cars. Xzibit's energetic personality and distinctive presentation style helped make him closely associated with the program.

The show ran for several seasons and became one of the defining television projects of his career. It also introduced him to audiences who might not have been familiar with his music.

Acting Career

Alongside his music and television work, Xzibit developed a career as an actor. He appeared in films including The Wash, 8 Mile, Full Clip, xXx: State of the Union, and Derailed.

He later appeared in Gridiron Gang (2006), The X-Files: I Want to Believe (2008), Bad Lieutenant: Port of Call New Orleans (2009), and Sun Dogs (2017).

On television, he took on a recurring role as Shyne Johnson in the drama series Empire. His acting work allowed him to establish himself as a performer beyond the hip-hop industry.