New Xzibit Interview by BET.com

A recent interview of Xzibit was conducted by Sia Barnes on November 10th, 2005. The following is the interview:

After nearly 10 years in the game, X-to-da-Z is still itching to make music. But first, he has to finish his promotional tour for his second career as Hip-Hop Hollywood’s next big star.

You play Dexter in the upcoming release, Derailed co-starring Jennifer Aniston and Clive Owens. Is the grind different for you working as an actor as compared to your work as an MC?
Oh yeah, the grind is definitely different. When you go to the studio you go in there for hours and hours. On [a movie] set, you have designated times to do things and you only have a certain amount of time to get that done. Plus, in the studio, you have, you know…you can’t do that on set, your eyes get f**ked up. Keep it real.

But you have to be careful, right? Because didn’t you get caught in Guam for possession of marijuana?
Yeah, yeah, I did get caught up in Guam. But I didn’t get caught with a lot, you know what I’m saying, it was just a joint and the dog smelled it in my pants. It was from the night before so, you know. But I spent more time giving autographs and pictures than I did actually filling out paper work.

Has working with such big names made you officially catch the acting bug?
Nah, I mean, before that I did Triple X with Ice Cube and Sam L [Samuel Jackson]. That was extremely exciting to me too. [Derailed] is great. It’s a psychological thriller, the first installment of movies from The Weinstein Company, so they put a lot behind it and it’s a privilege to be involved in this movie. I take roles that I feel like are going to be…you know, I just don’t want to do stereotypical films just because I can. The roles they offer Black males in Hollywood are very slim and limited, so I think it’s a privilege to be able to make a choice.

So, between the paper work and the big budget movies, are you still recording?
Music is my forte. I’ve had a great run over the last 10 years that I’ve been making records – since ’96 – but it’s like I still have an exclamation point to put on my music. I still have something to say.

Still have something to say like the way you went at George W. on your last album Weapons of Mass Destruction?
The Bush intro, I mean, it was an election year when we did that record. We were trying to drop in on his inauguration day, because we had it done by then, but, of course, Sony f**ked that up. But it’s all good. I’ve always had a creative tie into the music I make, [I don’t] just make songs to put them out and try to make the radio play them.

Speaking of Sony, word on the street is that you’ve split from Columbia. What’s your label situation, now?
That’s right. I’m a free agent. Thank you, Jesus. I mean, you gotta understand, I was on Loud Records when I first got signed. We sold two million records with Restless. Then, when Sony sucked in Loud Records, we put out Man Vs. Machine right after, and it went gold with no promotion. That was a problem for me. It just wasn’t a good working relationship because we know what we’re capable of and it just wasn’t communicating right. So, I got out of there – it took a minute to get out of there because, of course, they didn’t want to just let you go because of creative differences. It took me like a year to get away from them and in that time I was blessed with film and television opportunities like “Pimp My Ride,” the Triple X film, this one [Derailed] and Gridiron Gang [starring The Rock and due to hit theaters in Fall 2006].

Do you feel any urgency to get your music out there again now that you are a free agent?
I feel like what I have to do is to put an even more powerful record together than I have in my past, and actually put the time and care and the promotion into it that the fans deserve to see. I think that that’s the justice; that after all of these years of working with major labels or working with big producers, the only person that’s really going to push the button for me, is me. The biggest thing that I can share with my fans is perspective. You guys have been listening to me since I was 19 and that perspective has changed a lot. I have a ten-year-old son, you know. I’m not unique, you know, I’m not the only one out there with kids, but I have responsibility and I have a family and I have views that need to be said. Not that my views have changed drastically or what not, but I’ve grown up a lot. That needs to be said coming from a gangsters perspective, coming from a man’s perspective. What I’m doing today, maybe I can shed some light and help a brother or sister actually get up and do something.

You can view the interview page on BET.com by going to: http://www.bet.com/Music/XZIBIT+THE+GRIND+CONTINUES.htm?wbc_purpose=Basic&WBCMODE=PresentationUnpublished

Happy 31st Birthday Xzibit!

All of us here at XzibitCentral.com would like to wish Alvin Joiner (who we all know as Xzibit) a late happy 31st birthday for September 18th!

My apologies go out for being so late, I have been out of town so I haven’t had a chance to post on the website!

Stay tuned to XzibitCentral.com – before too long we will have another Xclusive interview with Mr X to the Z!

xXx: State of the Union comes to Special Edition DVD

From Sony Pictures Home Entertainment, xXx: State of the Union comes to Special Edition DVD July 26th!

In this action-packed sequel to the box-office smash xXx, Ice Cube stars
as Darius Stone, a thrill-seeking troublemaker whose criminal record and
extreme sports obsession make him the perfect candidate to be the newest
xXx agent. He must save the U.S. government from a deadly conspiracy led
by five-star general and Secretary of Defense George Deckert (played by
Willem Dafoe). Only a renegade xXx agent like Stone has the Xtreme
skills to stop Deckert’s dangerous military splinter group from taking
over the government in America’s capital.

“THE BEST ACTION FILM OF THE YEAR!”
– Paul Fischer, DARK HORIZONS

“JAW DROPPING EXCITEMENT!”
– Shawn Edwards, FOX-TV

The DVD is packed with these new special features:
– 3 Deleted Scenes with Optional Commentary
– From Convict to Hero – The Making of xXx: State of the Union Featurette
– Top Secret Military Warehouse Featurette
– xXx: According to Ice Cube Featurette
– Director Lee Tamahori’s Commentary
– Visual Effects Commentary
– 4 Bullet Train Breakdown Angles with director Lee Tamahori’s introduction
– Previews
– Audio: Dolby Digital 5.1 (English), Dolby Surround Sound (French)
– Subtitles: English, French
– Closed Captioning
– Anamorphic Widescreen Presentation

Be sure to check out the xXx: State of the Union site on SonyPictures.com for games, downloads, promotions, productions stills
and more here!!

xXx: STATE OF THE UNION Trailer:
Windows Media Player (High Quality)

Windows Media Player (Low Quality)

Real Player (High Quality)

Real Player(Low Quality)

Xzibit Opens His "Arms" – readying solo record, Strong Armed Steady debut

In the year since his last album, 2004’s Weapons of Mass Destruction, Xzibit has become a full-fledged TV star as the host (and consulting producer) of MTV’s Pimp My Ride. The rapper, who appeared opposite buddy Eminem in 8 Mile, has also continued to made his mark on the big screen with roles in XXX: State of the Union. Derailed, featuring Jennifer Aniston, Clive Owen and RZA, and Gridiron Gang, with Dwayne “The Rock” Johnson, are also upcoming.
But the gravelly voiced rapper is now ready to return to what he does best. “I’ve been with a camera in front of my face for the last year, so now it’s about time to do what I love, and that’s get in the studio and make some hot music,” says the rapper.

He has two new records on the way: his as-yet-untitled sixth solo set and Arms and Hammers, the debut from Strong Arm Steady, his crew featuring fellow West Coast rappers Mitchy Slick, Krondon and Phil the Agony. “We’re gonna finish the Strong Arm Steady one first,” says Xzibit, “and then go in fresh and do the Xzibit record.”

Xzibit, whose previous records have featured Dr. Dre, Snoop Dogg and Eminem, expects to hook up with familiar faces again in the studio. “I work with the best,” he says. “No need to go anywhere else.”

Xzibit To Roll Out New Shoe Line With Dada

He’s pimpin’ rides on MTV, acting in big budget films, now it’s time for Xzibit to move toward fashion. That’s right, the multi-platinum rapper has inked an endorsement deal with athletic footwear manufacturers Dada to roll out his own line of sneakers dubbed the “X’s.”

Like most of his hip-hop counterparts (50 Cent, Game, Jay-Z), Xzibit’s move toward the shew industry wasn’t surprising, since he’s been working with the company since the start. With a mutual respect for each other, X felt like Dada was the perfect fit for what he is trying to represent.

“I respect the grassroots approach that [Dada] took — just like myself — with athletic shoes,” Xzibit told BallerStatus.net. “I just got respect for the company in general, so me coming along to do a product with them is good; it’s an honor to me. I’m very happy with the complete product, and I’m pretty sure the public will be pleased as well.”

“We started with Xzibit, and we love his personality. So we were hanging out one day and were like, ‘we doing a new lifestyle product and he’s the perfect person for it,” added Lavetta Willis, Dada CEO.

The new Dada X’s Volume 1 are made in patent and suede leathers, with colors ranging from black and white to neon colors like green, orange, red and blue. Each shoe will include X’s trademark silver “X” insignia on the side and sole of the sneaker.

It is due to drop worldwide in August, and can be purchased at such stores as Footlocker and Footaction. The shoe will retail for $74.99.

Aside from creating sneakers, X has been flexing his acting skills on the set of his new movie titled “The Gridiron Gang,” which also stars The Rock. According to X, he has been filming in Los Angeles and Malibu, California, and is expected to wrap in August, with the film to debut sometime next year.

Also, he is putting the finishing touches on the debut album of his group Strong Arm Steady (Xzibit, Krondon, Mitchy Slick & Phil Da Agony), which may drop in the latter part of the year.