Xzibit sat down with The Tribune to discuss Xzibit's new album Napalm, Pimp My Ride and the new movie 'Code Name: Geronimo'. Read the full interview at Sanluisobispo.com.
Xzibit is set to perform at Fall Frenzy concert at Pozo Saloon, Pozo, CA on Sunday October 7:
“You can’t count me out,” the gravel-voiced rapper said. “I’m here. I’m stronger than ever. I’m coming to (mess) you up.” Xzibit reiterates that message in his aggressive new album, “Napalm,” his first since 2006’s “Full Circle.” “This is the time, the opportunity for me to come back and (succeed),” said Xzibit, who performs Sunday at the second annual Fall Frenzy at the Pozo Saloon alongside Kendrick Lamar, 2 Chainz, DMX and other hip hop acts.
Xzibit touched on the days where he hosted the highly successful TV show 'Pimp My Ride':
In 2004, Xzibit found widespread fame as the wisecracking host of MTV’s “Pimp My Ride.” On the makeover show, Los Angeles auto shop West Coast Customs transformed dilapidated vehicles into dream rides tricked out with all the latest toys — everything from a plasma television to an espresso maker.
“There was an element of wish fulfillment,” Xzibit said, an aspect that set “Pimp My Ride” apart from other reality series at the time. “Other shows were based on somebody’s humiliation or personal flaw…. (In our case) the shock value was somebody receiving something.”
Xzibit described the popularity of “Pimp My Ride,” which went off the air in 2007, as a “double-edged sword.” “Those people see me on the street and expect me to fix their car,” he quipped.
“They think I act a certain way, like I’m jovial all the time. … ‘There’s that cute grizzly bear. Let me go and pet him.’”
Xzibit discussed the upcoming movie 'Code Name: Geronimo' and the documentary he shot while in Iraq with US Troops:
His upcoming film “Code Name: Geronimo,” co-starring Cam Gigandet and Anson Mount, follows the Navy SEAL team that took down Osama Bin Laden.
Xzibit hopes to eventually follow in the footsteps of rapper-turned-actor Ice-T, star of “Law & Order: Special Victims Unit,” and Cube, who parlayed his hip hop fame into a number of film and TV franchises (“Are We There Yet?”, “Barbershop” and “Friday”).
“I can only do so many co-starring roles, I can only do so many guest appearances before I wear out my welcome,” Xzibit said. “My next step in movies (is to) put out my own project.”
Meanwhile, he’s embarking on a new chapter in his music career with “Napalm,” which features collaborations with the likes of E-40 and Wiz Khalifa. Xzibit filmed the music video for the rock-flavored title track during a recent tour of Iraq. “It was literally the perfect backdrop for the aggression of the record,” said Xzibit, who shot a four-part documentary about his trip. “When I went to Iraq and put a visual to it, I realized, ‘This is the backbone to the record. This is where the power lies.’”
Xzibit's new album 'Napalm' hits stores in the US on October 9. Keep it locked to XzibitCentral.com for more Napalm news, tour dates and exclusives.