Xzibit
Album : At the Speed of Life
Release Date : October 1, 1996
Label : Relativity

Customer Review :
Right from the go, the apocalyptic "At the Speed of Life" sends chills down the spine of anyone with ears to hear as Xzibit establishes himself lyrically, vocally and content-wise as a hardcore, "real" MC who is not afraid to leave behind the unnecessary aspects of "thug life" and rap about things more meaningful and universal.

Xzibit raps from the West Coast, but in no way sounds West Coast, choosing instead to go with a dressed-down, more subtle and intelligent sound we have all come to associate with the East Coast rap outfits.

X delivers all sorts of stories and ideas, including his childhood that involved beatings from a step-parent, time in youth prison and best friends being sent down for life behind bars ; a letter to his baby son trying to tell him that there is more to life than can maybe be seen firsthand on the streets of LA, and a track about the cancerous disease that is eating hip hop from the inside entitled Paparazzi.

Without doubt the most powerful song on an album not lacking powerful songs is Paparazzi : an epic of rap music set to a classical sample from Gabriel Faure’s "Pavane". Xzibit rides the energy created by the strings and divine female vocals with what has got to be one of the best first verses of hip hop history.

Worth checking out for any fan of rap music, anyone interested in the social commentary on rap music going on from the inside and indeed anyone who can appreciate powerful statements in the form of music.

No profanity, or inaproppriate remarks.