Month: August 2008

I cant even begin to express my sadness for my dear friend at this time. Dr DRE has been a mentor a friend and a real guild thru some of the best and worst times in my carrier. When I lost my son Xavier in may it was a horrible experience for my family and I, and to have this happen to someone in the circle as well brings back all of those feelings right back. My son was alive for almost 2 weeks and passed, It hurt like hell, Andre Young Jr. was 20 years old, so Doc got to see him mature to a young man. Its not natural for a parent to bury a child at any point in time of your life, trust me. My prayers go out to the Young Family and I would like to ask all of you to do the same. Ladies and gentlemen life is extremly short, dont take a day you are alive for granted, if you have kids, love em, hug them and tell them! You never know when its going to be the last time you get to say it to them. My heart goes out to my big homie DR DRE!

Alvin”XZIBIT”Joiner

ps. If you have a way to go to the aftermath web site go visit and leave any thoughts for DRE and his family. thanks.

I read what happend in ” The D” (DETROIT< for those not in the know) to this guy 'YUNG BERG'. I just was wondering if he had ever BEEN to detroit BEFORE he said what he said. I moved to california when I was 17 by myself, before that I used to live in Albuquerque NM, but before that...I was born in Detroit. I was 9 and figured out that you could be killed very quickly in Detroit. There was lots of "hood justice" on my block. People rarely called the police. So then I got to thinking who is "YUNG BERG"? I am not trying to diss the kid any more than he has done to himself, but I havent heard his music. I have only heard this story about him not liking "dark butts" ( whatever that means) and now this.
Then he spit on one of the real ones from the city, (TRICK TRICK) which really was the icing on the ass whooping in my book. It just got me to thinking. In the days of 2008 we see so many artist taking big ass “L’s” (losses) artist being beatin in public, artist going to jail, from everything to murder and rape, to artist being broke, robbed, strung out or just flat out falling off. and we all just sit around waiting for the bad news to RUSH to us thru the net or the text or just that gossip girl who knows EVERYTHING about NOTHING>THIS IS CONSIDERED BEING A FAN OF THE MUSIC??? Talent is out the window, it seems like people love train wrecks and lots of em. Maybe im getttin old, but that shit is not entertaining to me. Where do you get your fix of hip hop without the “JERRY SPRINGER” feeling attached to it? It feels like HIP HOP is now the new WWE, think about it……everybodys mad, on steroids, threatining to kick each others asses… ALL THE TIME! lots of money, its on tv, fuck him, fuck her, fuck this, fuck that etc. etc. but whos really going hard at the art form? Now dont get me wrong…SOME PEOPLE JUST DESERVE THAT SWIFT KICK IN THE TEETH, to get your point across, Trust me I KNOW. But LORD JAMAL from BRAND NUBIAN was just out here for the x games and he came to my crib to hang out, we talked about music of course and he agreed that the challenges we face in music today stem from all the bullshit ASSOCIATED with being a artist, fitting the “image”. which really sucks. I am guilty of watching TMZ and all that other shit as well, I cant front, my whole family checks it out from time to time. but to me its sad more than anything. Here is the flip side to it, from where I come from people didnt have college to look forward to and a very select few get to go to the NBA or NFL. So what we HAD was music, especially HIP HOP it was one of the only outlets that could be reached with your MIND and your DRIVE. IF we turn allow HIP HOP to be turned into a 3 ring circus, dont be mad when all you have the option to be later on……….is a CLOWN! , BE YOU, STAY FOCUSED.

your friend
Alvin”XZIBIT” Joiner

Today, I had the most eye opening conversaton with my son, and it stuck with me all day.
It was on my mind so much that I wanted to share it with you. My first son is 13, goin on 30 if you ask me!! He’s a bright kid. But he is also easily influenced by his friends. when I say “easily” I mean stupid shit that we as men ALWAYS DO! Guys dont like to feel like they are not part of their pier group, we strive to fit in… WE ALL WANT TO SAY AND DO THE SAME THINGS! If one starts playing a certian x box game….they all have to play it, if lil johnny buys a cell phone….they all need cell phones. But there is a flip side to that as well. As we mature and grow up to adults, some of us never break that pattern of behavior. Leading to people following other people with no ambition of their own (misery loves company) I tell you the truth when I say ” I have had to make UNPOPULAR DECISIONS in order to get to where I am in life.” Unpopular in the sense….that my “friends” always thought I should do what “THEY” thought was best. I dont do that (anymore) I make the decision that is going to effect my family and I in the most positve way possible< You see I live "RIGHT" not in the "RIGHT NOW", meaning that nobody wins the game the same way, we ALL have destiny, but each path is unique. So thats where the conversation started.....I need my son to be a LEADER, so I raise him like one. I told him that the "friends" I had in school are no where around me right now (give or take 1 or 2 people) and that the time I wasted trying to impress them and fit in with them, was time I took away from getting the MOST out of school and the resources that were made available to me at that time. I had to remind him that yes, we are blessed but nothing has ever come easily to me, it takes HARD consistant work, dedication, faith, dignity, and KNOWLEDGE OF SELF. Knowing who you are and whats right FOR YOU, is half of what you need to know to live a well balanced life. trying to be "down" with your folks will get you exactly that.......... you will not only be down, you will eventually find yourself "down and out".Dont get me wrong all "friends" aint bad, in fact you need Wack people around you at some time in your life.......that way when good people come around............ you can tell. If you follow people and dont follow your own voice, you cannot complain when things turn to shit and nobody around you can help. Dont get mad @ them.....shit! they goin thru the same shit you got on your plate..they led you to it! I am a young father trying to raise a boy into a man, and the fine print that we sometimes forget to read in raising our kids, tend to be the most important parts. I talk to my son so that the mistakes I made.....He is aware of, not to stop him from trying dumb shit, HE'S GONNA DO THAT ANYWAY! LOL But to give him somthing to compare it to when his friends tell him to do something he knows I wouldnt approve of. You cant be around your kids every waking moment (school, play, other peoples houses, etc) So you have to instill morals and standards that THEY find the value in upholding. And it dont hurt to lead by example either!!!!!! Well im done ranting, some of the kids reading this are proably like "WTF?????" and some of you guys know exactly where im coming from. (mostly other parents) I do not have all the answers, never said I did. But I do know whats "right" for me...and figuring that out was not a easy thing to do. Talk to your young ones, even if they act like they aint tryin to hear you, THEY DO! REAL TALK>

your friend,

Alvin “XZIBIT” Joiner

Source: XzibitCentral.com Exclusive!

Wow, One of the GREAT ONES left us yesterday ladies and gentelmen. Berni Mac was a genius and a huge comideian and and actor! I have the upmost repect for how we came up and how he conducted himself in life. The classic rags to riches story if you really go do your research. I didnt know the man personally, but yet and still……I feel the loss. Just payin my respects folks.

STAY FOCUSED!

Alvin “Xzibit” Joiner

SONG FOR THE DAY: “The Living Years” MIKE & THE MECHANICS

Source: XzibitCentral.com Exclusive!

HIP hop superstar Xzibit will perform at Geelong’s Grazzhopper festival in his only Victorian gig for three years.

Known as Mr X, he is the host of MTV show Pimp My Ride, features in the new movie The X-Files: I Want To Believe and has performed with Eminem and Snoop Dogg.

“This is huge, we’ve been working on a big hip hop act for about six weeks now,” festival organiser Barry Brauer said.

“We didn’t know who we would be able to draw out here.

“Xzibit is a celebrity in his own right.”

Another international act was also likely to be signed by the end of the week, Mr Brauer said.

Budget priced early-bird tickets had been snapped up by eager music fans, he said.

What are your thoughts on this story. Tell us here
Xzibit’s website boasts his collaboration with some of the biggest music stars of the decade, including Snoop Dog, Dr Dre, Linkin Park and Eminem.

Born Alvin Joiner in Detroit, Xzibit moved to Los Angeles via New Mexico in his teens, the website stated.

The US hip hop star then took his skills to the silverscreen, appearing in 8 Mile with Eminem, the newly-released X-File’s movie and 2005’s action hit XXX: State of the Union with Ice Cube and Samuel L. Jackson.

“Showcasing a special talent for the theatrical world, MTV approached X in 2003 with an opportunity that would soon open a new chapter in his career,” the website stated.

“The worldwide success of his popular MTV show, Pimp My Ride has elevated Xzibit’s celebrity by showcasing his charm and personality through the hosting stint.”

Pimp My Ride is a global reality show that turns the scrapheap-bound cars of teens into their dream vehicles.

In the weeks after the festival was announced more than 3000 festival hopefuls logged onto the Grazzhopper website and joined the mailing list.

Industry experts predicted the Grazzhopper Festival would become Geelong’s signature music event and become the forerunner of more outdoor concerts at Beckley Park.

The October 4 festival boasts an impressive line up of some of Australia’s hottest acts, including Faker, Grinspoon, Shihad, Horsell Common and Muph and Plutonic and hometown rockers The Galvatrons.

grazzhopperfestival.com