Since his last album Man Vs. Machine, blue collar
lyricist Xzibit has laid relatively low. There were persistent rumors that he
would never rap again after he was allegedly slashed with a broken bottle.There was the constant chatter ranging from Defari to Suge Knight. Suddenly, Xzibit’s grind has resurfaced partially with the visibility of a hit new show on MTV, "Pimp My Ride."
But under the surface, he’s been doing some of
the best Hip-Hop available in the wild, wild West with The Strongarm Steady
gang – Krondon, Mitchy Slick and Phil Da Agony.
In this part 1 of four series with S.A.S., we
talked to X about his new hustle, the rumors and the bright future.
AllHipHop.com: First of all, can you talk about
this show with MTV, Pimp My Ride? It’s one of their highest rated shows.
X: We taking $500-$900 dollar cars and putting
like $20,000 worth of sh*t in it. Then we give it back to the kid and its like
Christmas on a cupcake for these motherf*ckers.
AllHipHop.com: : How did you get this show in
the first place?
X: We pitched the idea and MTV picked it up ,
bought 10 episodes from first season just like that. N*ggas is really not waiting
around. We are being proactive in our careers and its just time. Anything and
everything is possible that we can do to make this sh*t better that’s what we
do. It aint like n*ggas work in 7-11 or Mcdonald’s and got to do something else
at the end of the day. This it it , you put your nose to the grind stone and
keep it going.
AllHipHop.com: : So What’s going on with Strong
Arm Steady?
X: Okay well the "Strong Arm" DVD is
kind of late, like you know we are in the age of multimedia so we are introducing
the fellas through a DVD and along with the mixtape circuit and along with guest
appearances. We showing a personality to these guys before they even get a chance
to get pushed in that light. We’re taking a real grassroots effect with the
product. Mixtapes and everything we are putting out along with the mainstream
aspects that I could bring to the table being the artist that I have become.
You know what I am saying? So I believe in these and whatever avenues that are
available to me, I make sure are available to them. The DVD was just a step
in that direction just to showcase who everybody in the Strong Arm is, why we
got together and what we plan to do together.
AllHipHop.com: : How did you get hooked up with
those guys?
X: I’ve known these guys for ever, and when it came to doing the group, it was
like they pushed me with it. They was already doing the mixtape thing and then
they approached me with it and was like you know we got to do this. We got to
do this. And I was like okay. Take yall n*ggas up out of here, cause I don’t
have a problem validating hard work. If you gonna get off your ass and move,
and not expect that the world is going to be handed to you, I’m all for that.
More power to you and that’s exactly what it is.
AllHipHop.com: : You have been a part of all
the mixtape CD’s?
X: I mean I hit them off with exclusives, I hit
them off with Golden State that we were going to use, and of course I did freestyles
with them and my main focus is not on bigger things, but the more important
things that have to do with the movement, you know what I’m saying? It’s not
just about making mixtapes, it’s hitting those meetings, it’s making those records,
making sure that everything is organized, before we make this big push for the
West to get it. You know, making sure that all of our ducks are in a row on
the business side and on the music side so we can keep going with it.
AllHipHop.com: : How is it different for some
of your other affiliations, like say Liquid or maybe after Dre’s camp or whatever?
How is this organization different than those others?
X: Well I mean working with Dr. Dre, working
with the whole Aftermath/Interscope camp, I mean I’m not an Interscope artist,
you know what I’m saying. So I mean there is only so much I can do in that area.
You know what I’m saying? The affiliation with Dr. Dre and all that stuff, that’s
never gonna change, that’s my dog, that’s my homie, you know what I’m saying?
We are still going to make records together, but still that’s not the only part
of the West coast that needs to flourish. It’s good and fine and respectable,
you know what I’m saying? But there’s producers and MC’s out here that need
that shine, that need that light also and that’s exactly what I’m trying to
do. By no means have I finished with working with Dre, that’s sh*t. If it aint
broke, don’t you know what I’m saying? But with these guys, I believe in them
also and it’s only right that if I can bring right to a situation just by being
involved , that’s what I’ma do.
AllHipHop.com: : Does this take you back to your
earlier years of when you were on the grind real heavy?
X: You better believe it man. You gotta be hungry,
you gotta stay hungry, and you gotta stay wanted, and you gotta have the desire
to do it and really believe it. If you don’t believe it, you’re not going to
be able to achieve it. My n*ggas is here everyday waking up to this Strong Arm
Steady sh*t. I have nothing but respect for that so when I get up and get involved
in it, I don’t feel like I’m the only one carrying the weight, I don’t feel
like I’m the only one that’s believing or want to see us succeed so it works
out. It feels good. It definitely takes me back to the first time when I started
putting out my records.
AllHipHop.com: : Your next album is called Weapons
of Mass Destruction?
You just got to wait and see. I’ll put it like
this. I been making records since ’96 and definitely understand the ins and
outs of being an artist and the changing times of the music. I think it’s time
to make some real stand out music from the West coast. It’s not just about being
regional because it moves around. I think its time. I think the national gravitation
towards the West is about to take place and it feel good. We got nothing but
talent and real music to show this time. It aint a gang of time, it aint a gang
of bullsh*t involved. We really about to hit them hard and show the creativity
and the talent that’s out here.
AllHipHop.com: On the DVD I saw part of it where
you were talking in terms of your career not being over sort of like, there
was sort of a negative tone to your career. Do you feel like you hit a dry patch
on the last album and do you feel the need to so called " Come Back?"
X: Nah , I don’t feel like it was a dried patch
at all. You sell a million records aint nothing dry about it. I feel like after
years and years of putting out records, cats lose the lust and lose the drive
behind making good product. I got a lot more sh*t to say , I got a lot more
sh*t to do. Its all working out for the best so a n*gga ready to just come out
and explode on it and really just take it to another level, so that’s what I
meant by that.
