Track List:
01 - Invade My Space (feat. Jelly Roll)
02 - Rollin' (feat. Jelly Roll)
03 - Ram Part Division
04 - Say It To My Face (feat. Kurupt)
05 - The Donnell Rawlings Show (Skit)
06 - Scandalous Bitches
07 - Concentrate
08 - On Bail (feat. The Game)
09 - Family Values
10 - Black & Brown (feat. Jelly Roll)
11 - The Whole World
12 - Poppin' Off (feat. DJ Quik)
13 - Movin' In Your Chucks (feat. Too Short)
14 - Thank You
Back in 1996 the West Coast was running the rap scene, Death Row were on top with releases from Snoop Doggy Dog and Tupac Shakur, Dr. Dre was creating his ground breaking Aftermath label and Xzibit, an underground favourite, was making the transition to the mainstream with his debut “At The Speed Of Life.” After a string of high profile guest spots including Snoop’s “Bitch Please” and 3 appearances on Dr. Dre’s landmark "2001" album X cemented his position as a Hip-Hop mainstay. Since then X has released the Dr. Dre produced platinum selling “Restless” and two gold selling follow-up albums “Man Vs. Machine” and the not so well received “Weapons of Mass Destruction.” On top of all his progress in the music industry X-To-The-Z also took time to star in a few movies and landed his own highly successful MTV series “Pimp My Ride.” Now ten years after his debut album, X is attempting to come “Full Circle” with his independently released sixth album.
"Full Circle" is a very apt title as it marks Xzibit’s return to his classic West Coast style. "Full Circle" isn't packed with the latest chart toppers, just X and other West Coast heavyweights like Kurupt and Daz, King T, Too Short, The Game and DJ Quik. Similarly, X has enlisted his usual production team, like Quik, Jelly Roll and Khalil, rather than the fly-by-night producers doing the rounds right now.
As with some of his breakthrough material X is at his best when he is vividly describing what he knows, which couldn't be more evident on tracks like the DJ Quik produced "Ram Part Division" where he uniquely raps from the point-of-view of a corrupt LAPD officer, mixing humour and controversy while addressing on real issues, and "Black & Brown" where he raps from the other perspective of people on the streets experiencing the growing tension between Blacks and Latinos in Los Angeles.
"Full Circle" isn't all "hard" raps. X switches the style a little for "Thank You" sharing his emotions and showing a more vulnerable side as he thanks his fans for their support and reflects on the loss of D12 rapper Proof. While some may accuse Xzibit of going "soft" and going “Hollywood,” the track serves as a prime example of how relatable X is, as well as his diversity and bravery to attempt something most artists would avoid for fear of tarnishing their street image.
For the most part the production on "Full Circle" is excellent, however, there are some exceptions, most notably the album's lead single "Concentrate" which features a very simple and repetitive beat with a strange and uninspiring hook (the continual "Nam Myoho Renge Kyo" chant). While the track may be suitable for the clubs, it is offers little to the album and was probably not the best choice of lead single for the album.
While the title might imply Xzibit has returned to where he started, it is clear just how far he has come since his early beginnings with Tha Alkaholiks and King T as he continues to grow into his role of veteran West Coast MC. After "Weapons of Mass Destruction" you may have thought his career was beginning to go downhill, but if X can continue to put out albums of this standard he may be able to achieve the same Hip-Hop status Snoop is currently enjoying within a few years. While this release isn't on the same level as his early work or even "Restless," it is a marked improvement over "Weapons of Mass Destruction" and "Man Vs. Machine." With slightly more consistent production or even the odd Dr. Dre beat this could have been placed amongst Xzibit's best albums.
Hot Tracks: "Ram Part Division," "Family Values," "Black & Brown," "Thank You"
Artist: Xzibit