Tag: napalm

Sometimes the Rap Outlives the Rest (Live Show Review: Kamloops, British Columbia)

Xzibit on Stage at Chilliwack Live Show

Xzibit performed at Cactus Jack's Night Club on Wednesday November 28 as part of the Canada leg of the Collateral Damage world tour. Below is a review from Kamloops This Week:

When Xzibit walked out onto the stage at Cactus Jack's Night Club on Wednesday night (Nov. 28), I felt like I'd been transported back in time. Granted, it was only about a decade, compared to the 40-plus years of memories for the Beatles' fans who recently watched Macca tear it up in Vancouver. Mr. X to the Z put on a great show. And, despite the fact some of the most memorable moments from my late teens and early 20s are linked to Xzibit songs, I wasn't expecting much.

Not to brag, but I've seen plenty of once-huge rappers play relatively tiny venues. None of them were very good (no offence to Snoop Dogg, Coolio, et al.). Twelve years ago, Xzibit was one of the headliners on the Up In Smoke Tour — a 44-show circuit that played to packed crowds in arenas and stadiums across North America, including what was then GM Place in Vancouver.

Now, here he was at Cactus Jack's, presumably sitting in a small room backstage playing XBox while up-and-coming rapper John Connor warmed up the crowd. But, it seemed Xzibit got it. Judging from my very un-scientific research on Wednesday night's crowd, which involved looking at the people who had assembled at CJ's, it seemed to be split just about down the middle — half in their late 20s or early 30s and there because they loved Xzibit's stuff circa-Y2K, and half closer to 19 and more fans of Pimp My Ride or the "Yo Dawg" meme than Tha Alkaholiks.

I fell into the first category and was not disappointed. Xzibit's set list was largely made up of some of his biggest hits, which is not always the case when big names are promoting new albums in small clubs. There was Get Your Walk On, Paparazzi, X, Alkaholic and What's The Difference, among other hits. There was also some of Xzibit's new stuff, including singles Up Out The Way and 1983 from his new album, Napalm. And, like he promised in an interview with KTW ahead of the show, there was also a tribute to the late Nate Dogg. For about 45 seconds in the middle of his one-hour set, Xzibit stood silent as acapella versions of some of Nate Dogg's most memorable hooks — "Smoke weed everyday" and "I've got hoes," to name a few — blasted over the CJ's sound system.

It was another memory-inducing part of a very memory-inducing show and, with a stupid grin on my face, I left the bar feeling like I had just spent a night driving my mom's Ford Windstar around Edmonton with my high-school buddies blaring Restless on the stereo — through the Discman cassette adaptor, of course.

As Xzibit announces more dates we will announce them to fans via this website on the Xzibit Concert, Tour and Show Dates page on XzibitCentral.com page and follow us on Facebook or Twitter to be notified when more dates are locked in. 

Official Xzibit Collateral Damage Tour Video Log: Episode 2 – DJ Invisible found guilty in ‘Homie Court’

Episode 2 of the video blog on The Collateral Damage tour – a very funny episode where DJ Invisible is found guilty in ‘Homie Court’ of excessive scratching on the decks before one of Xzibit’s shows in Canada. If you are looking for a laugh check this video out:

We will bring you all of the Collateral Damage Tour Video blogs as they hit the internet. As Xzibit announces more dates we will announce them to fans via this website on the Xzibit Concert, Tour and Show Dates page on XzibitCentral.com page and follow us on Facebook or Twitter to be notified when more dates are locked in. 

Being on the Road Feels Good to Xzibit as He Brings Tour to British Columbia, Canada

Xzibit British Columbia Canada ShowWhen he takes to the stage at Cactus Jack’s tomorrow (Nov. 28), it will be Xzibit’s first time performing in Kamloops. Xzibit’s affinity for Canada goes further than selling records, too.

“Canada’s always been a good market for me,” Xzibit told KTW on the phone from Regina — “The Canadian city that rhymes with fun,” as he described it — ahead of a show in the Queen City. “I’ve been here a few times [not for work],” he said. “I’ve been fishing for sturgeon in Chilliwack. I like it up there.”

 With no shortage of hits in his rear-view mirror, Xzibit said he thinks Napalm is his best record yet.

“I think I kind of create music from the standpoint, ‘What would I want to listen to?’ ” he said. “That’s where I take it from. That’s where good artistry comes from.”

That approach has worked out in the past. In addition to his solo studio successes — 2000’s Restless went platinum and his two subsequent albums both achieved gold status — Xzibit has collaborated with some of hip-hop’s biggest names on some of the genre’s most monumental projects. He was involved in two songs on Dr. Dre’s 2001 and appeared in hits like Snoop Dogg’s Bitch Please and Warren G’s 1999 single Game Don’t Wait — the latter two also featuring legendary West Coast baritone Nate Dogg, who died in March 2011. Xzibit said he is honouring Nate Dogg on the Napalm tour.

“You gotta come see,” he said. “I definitely feel like we lost a big part of the West Coast when Nate Dogg passed away.”

The collaborations continue on Napalm, which features Wiz Khalifa, RBX and Tha Alkaholiks — a group Xzibit was a part of in the late-1990s. The second single on Napalm is Up Out The Way, which features Yay Area rapper E-40, who has arguably gained as much notoriety for his made-up slang words as he has for his lengthy hip-hop career. Surprisingly, Xzibit said he had no trouble speaking E-40’s language when collaborating on Up Out The Way.

“You can understand him perfectly,” he said. “That’s E-40’s world, that’s his lane. I just think it’s dope he finds the creative space to do that — to say, ‘This word’s not good enough, I’m gonna make up my own word’.”

Overall, Xzibit said, he expects fans to like what they hear on Napalm. “I’m very proud of the clarity, the maturity,” he said. “This is a great representation of where I am as an artist.” And, as for being back out on the road promoting an album he says “It feels good, It feels like a homecoming — like what I’m supposed to be doing. This is what I do.” Article thanks to Kamloops This Week

As Xzibit announces more dates we will announce them to fans via this website on the Xzibit Concert, Tour and Show Dates page on XzibitCentral.com page and follow us on Facebook or Twitter to be notified when more dates are locked in. 

Official Xzibit Collateral Damage Tour Video Log: Episode 1

Xzibit gives us a sneak peak behind the scenes on the Collateral Damage tour with the first episode of the video blog. The Collateral Damage tour will expand to the rest of the world after the initial 22 dates in Canada! Stay Tuned!

We will bring you all of the Collateral Damage Tour Video blogs as they hit the internet. As Xzibit announces more dates we will announce them to fans via this website on the Xzibit Concert, Tour and Show Dates page on XzibitCentral.com page and follow us on Facebook or Twitter to be notified when more dates are locked in. 

Xzibit Interview with NFL Pro Player Insiders: Talks Napalm Album, NFL Teams and the Throwback NFL Jersey’s Xzibit Owns

Xzibit sat down with ProPlayerInsiders.com where Xzibit talks about the new album Napalm, his favorite NFL team and the Throwback NFL Jersey's he has:

Pro Player Insiders: On the title track, “Napalm,” you allude to US troops and filmed some of the music video clips in Iraq. What inspired you to use your song to reflect on the American troops?

XZIBIT: I was raised with some of those values. I always say my dad loved me the only way he knew how and that was through the marine corps. There were a lot of positive things that came from that too but I wouldn’t say it inspired the album; it was just more or less respect for the principle and respect for the values.

PPI: Now let’s talk football. What team are you rooting for this year?

XZIBIT: My favorite team is the Raiders (chuckles).

PPI: Whose jerseys do you rep?

XZIBIT: I got a Montana, Namath, Jerry Rice, Barry Sanders, and Walter Payton. I got tons of jerseys but I was rocking them back in the day.

To read or listen to the rest of the interview go to: http://proplayerinsiders.com/xzibit-hip-hop-super-star/