producers: dr. dre, scott storch, erick sermon, rockwilder, dj quik, battle cat, mel-man, soopafly, others.

guests: eminem, dr. dre, defari, snoop dogg, j-ro & tash of tha liks, krs-one, others.

Started on a track with King T, this gets him the deal with Loud. Of course Xzibit had to link with the Licks first. Then they made him rhyme on their albums, like "21 & Over" and the previously mentioned "IV Life". Then followed the "At The Speed Of Life" album, that featured the track "Paparazzi", that blew up in some European countries, entering the pop charts, climbing into the top tens. Touring with Ras Kass, being on another Alkaholiks album, returning with "40 Dayz & 40 Nightz", that again had critics praise the sounds and rhymes. Dr Dre took interest in this hard swinging cat, and so Xzibit showed up on Dre's "2001" and he showed up on the Dre produced Snoop track "Bitch Please". And suddenly the hip hop world was all over the dysfunctional member of the Licks. Rolling with Eminem on a track on his latest, multi-billion selling, album, and the sky is clear, the time is right for Xzibit to come back with an album, at a time, when the buzz surrounding him, seems to be a minute before climax.

You could say that X is stroking it right with this album, executive produced by the good doctor, and starting with an intro of voice samples, with people praising X. And just a first few spins of "Front 2 Back", and you will start to echo all those people giving him his props. This cut starts with some low rider hydraulic sounds, before the strings take over, and, hooray, we are happy to say that Rockwilder gives us something real dope. Straight up. Things are defenitely starting hella appealing, and they continuing like that on "Been A Long Time". While the other track was universal, this does focus more on some westcoast rider funk, Battle Cat hooking up a head nodder, with Nate Dogg providing the hook. This is a relaxed cut, something to play at a barbecue, that will get you wiggling, but not dropping the chicken wings.

Dre then shows up to hook up a beat with Dominick 'Nottz' Lamb on "U Know", that does not try to clone a 2001 track, but the quickly struck keys are making this jumpy, it still remaining a melody like rolling something. X is on some straight up spitting tip, that is seconded by the setting things straight lyrics by Dre. Most likely there's no need to introduce the next cut, it being "X" feat. Snoop, a track that already came out on the 12". Hooked up by Dre, Mel-Man and Scott Storch, things are shifting into sixth gear, once that g-funk bleep thingy comes on, and X goes "Mr. Big Chief Reefer, Xzibit use his dick like a Visa / I run it through and money come out / running your mouth, I'll have somebody run in your house / ravel your spouse and have a little fun on the couch / now you know that it was bound to happen / I came to give you what you lacking / whenever you hear them other niggas rapping". The big producers seem to have lined up for this record, as Erick Sermon is not only featured on "Alkaholik", but also doing the beat. Topic wise, this tells you more about what kind of cats Erick, X, J-Ro and Tash of Tha Liks are, than to what extend and liquor brands they are addicted to. But that's not what confuses us about this cut, but why the heck Erick did this wannabe Dre production, that is so far away from most of what he used to do, and that to no success.

But KRS-One makes sure that things get down to some raw hip hop live show hooray track, with "Kenny Parker Show 2001". This is mixed, executed, and polished to get that 'stage, mic and a hype crowd' feel. X is going the braggin' route, and things have us to decide if we should jump along, or nod along. Snoop then returns for the Rick Roc produced "D.N.A. (Drugs-N-Alkahol)", another wessyde bump track, while X and Snoop are reading outta their hustler portfolio. We are then kinda awry to see Erick return, but this time he does what he always should do: stick to his own style, as "Double Time" works well, has a certain soundtrack feel, a certain car chase feel, with X spitting "fuck all those that are not with us". Well, there will not be too many people left, once reaching this track on the album.

Hopefully all the teenage girlies are buying this record for the next cut: "Don't Approach Me" feat. Eminem. Em even brought along a self produced beat, and probably spits the more interesting part on this track, going "I wonder why my life survives in this karma" and talking about some real life Kim drama. Hooking up with other westcoast riders, X gives us "Rimz & Tires", featuring fellow Lik Defari, gives us Goldie Loc, and Who Am I? Kokane. Over a percussion enhanced SoopaFly beat, they give us their LA agenda, with X warning you: "I never see Kevlar Flesh". And you know what he means by that. SoopaFly sticks around for "Fuckin' You Right", a straight up sex you up cut, that gets as nasty as "Mambo No. 5" could have never get. The beat is a little hectic, what gives us the mental picture of X running back and forth from one girl to the next, sticking, licking and .....hmmm.... hitting it to 'em. Dre then returns with synthesizer strings on "Best Of Things", with X doing what got him his status: talking some braggadocios shit.

Moving along a weakly produced "Get Your Walk On", well, at least those synthesizer horns are weak, and sound like a take out of the Miami Vice soundtrack, we get to something much more appealing, as DJ Quik just knows how to do things. He does 'em right again on "Sorry I'm Away So Much", featuring Suga Free and DJ Quik. This is like the inevitable sequel to "The Foundation". However, things will probably not change much, as a track like "Loud & Clear" should keep X' career going for some time, him teaming up with Butch Cassidy, Defari & King T, they rip a low toned melancholic sounding Battle Cat track to shreds. And so the album comes to an end, resulting in an updated, contemporary version of what X had been doing for some time, but only has got him the recognition a few guest appearances ago. And so it's useless to say, that this album will satisfy those that always supported the X, as it of course does. Xzibit is still hungry, and as long as there are things to be eaten, he will return and chew 'em to our approval.