Xzibit biography
Alvin Nathaniel Joiner (born September 18, 1974), better known by his stage name Xzibit (pronounced "exhibit"), is an American rapper, actor, and television host. He is known as the host of the MTV show Pimp My Ride, which brought him mainstream success. Before hosting the show, he achieved fame in the West Coast hip-hop scene as a rapper, debuting with his acclaimed At the Speed of Life and gathering chart success with his follow-up albums Restless, Man vs. Machine and Weapons of Mass Destruction, working with high-profile artists such as Eminem, Cypress Hill, Snoop Dogg, Dr. Dre, Timbaland, Alice Cooper, Game and 50 Cent, as well as being one of the few American hip hop artists to branch out internationally, working with overseas acts such as Bliss N Eso from Australia and Adil Omar from Pakistan. After his sixth studio album Full Circle, his rap career was put on hold. He also built himself a second leg as an actor, starring in Hollywood blockbusters such as 8 Mile, , Hoodwinked, Gridiron Gang, The X-Files: I Want to Believe and Bad Lieutenant: Port of Call New Orleans. He is currently working on his new album Napalm, to be released in 2012.
Early life
Born as Alvin Nathaniel Joiner IV on September 18, 1974 in Detroit, Xzibit grew up with a single mother. His father left the family early to pursue a career as a preacher, which left the family in anger, as his mother had to raise Xzibit and his three siblings (an older sister and brother as well as a little brother) alone. After her death he had to move in with his father. His father remarried and relocated to Albuquerque, NM. Xzibit lived in Albuquerque from age 10 to 17, this is when he began writing rhymes. However, Xzibit had numerous run-ins with the law and ultimately ended up moving to California to live with his sister. It was here where he first began to rap and pursue a music career. He later reconciled with his father, who can be heard on his second studio album.
Career
1994-1999: Career beginnings, At the Speed of Life and 40 Dayz & 40 Nightz
Xzibit started to rap at the age of 17, shortly after his relocation from Albuquerque to Los Angeles, then under the pseudonym "Exhibit A". He marked his first appearance on a professional record in February 1995 on The Alkaholiks'
Coast II Coast, on the song "Hit and Run" and also appeared on King Tee's
IV Life shortly after, on the track "Free Style Ghetto". After touring with Likwit Crew the same year, Xzibit signed to Loud Records and released his acclaimed debut album,
At the Speed of Life in October 1996, which peaked at number 74 on the
Billboard Hot 200 and reached 38 on the Canadian Albums Chart. The album produced his first breakthrough single "Paparazzi" which peaked at #86 on the
Billboard Hot 100 and proved very successful in Germany, where it peaked at number 11 on the German Singles Chart.
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