Xzibit

The youngest MTV viewers know Xzibit primarily as the host of Pimp My Ride, in which he comes across as the benign, good-humored benefactor of shitbox autos. Musically, though, his grin turns to grim on a regular basis. Weapons is characteristic of his work: a spare, stern hip-hop foray that...

By Michael Roberts

January 13, 2005

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The youngest MTV viewers know Xzibit primarily as the host of Pimp My Ride, in which he comes across as the benign, good-humored benefactor of shitbox autos. Musically, though, his grin turns to grim on a regular basis. Weapons is characteristic of his work: a spare, stern hip-hop foray that emphasizes hyper-articulate street wisdom over honey and hooks.

Current events are on Xzibit's mind judging by "State of the Union," in which a heavily edited George W. Bush is made to say, "The tyrant is me." For the most part, however, X sticks to the usual motifs: the gangsta life ("Ride or Die"), those damn women ("Crazy Ho") and so on. As a result, the main attraction is often his delivery, which is crisp and authoritative even on tracks that fail to rise above the ordinary.

It's not that Xzibit's approach is radio-hostile: The propulsive "Hey Now (Mean Muggin')," overseen by Timbaland, sounds great coming out of a boombox. But most of the other vehicles on display are pretty stripped down. As any Pimp My Ride viewer knows, it pays to accessorize.

Michael Roberts began his career with Westword in 1990 as music editor. In 1999, he took on a new role, full-time media reporter, as author of a column called The Message. In 2008, he became the lead writer for Westword's news blog, The Latest Word, a position he held until January 2023. Michael continues to freelance for Westword, covering everything from business to sports and the media; he also contributes to Jazziz, a national music magazine. He holds a bachelor's degree from what is now Colorado Mesa University and master's degrees from the University of California, Los Angeles, and Northwestern University.

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