E-mail a friendXzibit
airdate November 7, 2005
Hip-hop performer Xzibit is branching out in the show biz world. He hosts MTV's hit series Pimp My Ride and, after making his major film debut in 8 Mile, has continued his big screen career with appearances in XXX: State of the Union and the upcoming Derailed. The Detroit native moved to California to start his music career. He began as a member of the Likwit Crew, and his debut CD, 'At the Speed of Life,' became an underground hit. He's also worked with Eminem and vets Dr. Dre and KRS-One.
Xzibit
Tavis: Xzibit is a talented rapper, actor and TV host, who stars on the popular series, all right, I confess I watch it, 'Pimp my Ride.' Look for new episodes coming in January on MTV. His most recent CD is 'Weapons of Mass Destruction.' Beginning this Friday, though, you can catch him in the new film, "Derailed" staring Jennifer Aniston and Clive Owen. Xzibit, how you living, man?
Xzibit: What's up brother, how you doing?
Tavis: Good to see you, man.
Xzibit: All right, yes, sir.
Tavis: Only in America. From "Pimp my Ride" to hanging out with Jennifer Aniston and Clive Owen.
Xzibit: Only in America.
Tavis: Not bad. Tell me about the character you play, we got some sense of the character, tell me about the movie.
Xzibit: Well, I play muscle to Vincent Cassel's character in there. His name is Laroche. And what it is, is a real edgy thriller. The first installment from the Weinstein Company since their breakup from Miramax. And my character is extremely important to the plot because the plot has a lot of twists and turns. And if I start explaining about the character too in-depth, then it'll give away the plot.
Tavis: That's why I let you do that, because I didn't want to say too much. And give the whole thing away. But there you are, a brother - you can't walk around putting a gun in white people's faces. Especially when the name is Jennifer Aniston.
Xzibit: That is right. No, but it was a very intense role. It was an intense scene that what you just saw. But it was good. It was all in good nature after, afterwards.
Tavis: Afterwards, yeah. Do you consider yourself an actor? I mean, obviously you do this, but is that where you are trying to go with this? Are you moving in that direction more of this, or you just like to do it every now and again, as we say?
Xzibit: Well, I mean, my whole stigma about acting was I didn't want to play the stereotypical role. I didn't want to be a buffoon and get into certain aspects of acting. Because you only get offered certain type of roles in Hollywood as a black man, and then second as coming from the genre that I come from. So I was blessed with a music career. So the music career is the catalyst for everything that I do right now, as far as the film and television things that come along, I pick and choose those things wisely.
Tavis: Tell me what you make of this debate. I've asked this question of other persons at various points in my career, but never have had a chance to ask this of you. What do you make of this debate that continues now with 50 out in this 'Get Rich or Die Trying' project? We continue to see this onslaught of rappers who use that music platform, to your earlier point, as a springboard into the acting thing.
But there are a lot of folk who think that that really is a bastardization of what it really means to be a Thespian, to be an actor. That these rappers end up, just because they are rappers, getting leading roles in movies and in the case of 50 Cent, working with a very renowned director.
Xzibit: Right. Well I think it's a difference between when you actually go and seek out a role, and then when you actually produce and put together a film yourself.
Tavis: Like Ice Cube.
Xzibit: Right. When you have your own production company or when you have that much genuine interest in you or your career, I think it is a natural progression. The material and the product that you come out with at the end of the day is gonna speak for itself. But I think that those opportunities come when you have a certain kind of power to move that. But if you just go out and seek, you know, this is what I want to do. I am a rapper, so I want to act, you may find yourself in a compromising position.
Tavis: Is there something that you would, as a rapper, really enjoy the opportunity to do that would really stretch you as an actor? That would be the antithesis of what people think of when they think of Xzibit?
Xzibit: I think that, you challenge yourself by - well instead of challenging yourself, you limit yourself when you only stay in that type of, you know, I only want to play a villain...
Tavis: In that genre.
Xzibit: Yeah. I would rather go and seek out roles that take me out of that - would serve purpose to history, telling a story about history. Telling something revolutionary. But those things come seldom. Like I said, those roles come once in a while. For instance, I got a movie coming out in September of next year called "Gridiron Gang" And it's about a real story about Karen Kilpatrick up in Malibu Canyon, which is a youth facility for in trouble kids.
Everything except murderers are in this camp. And about 12 years ago, this gentleman named Sean Porter, and Malcolm, formed this football team out of these juvenile kids, and went to go play state to state. So that movie is a human thread and - I am co-starring along side The Rock. And so it's - those movies are the movies that I enjoy doing, because it's a real story, it's a human story with a football thread. And it takes me totally out of hip-hop music period. So those things are appealing to me.
Tavis: If I am getting too personal, let me know here. But I can imagine that part of the reason why a project like that also draws you, you know where I am going with this. For those who know your background, I'd imagine a project like this also draws you because it allows you in some way to be a part of a project that in some ways mirrors your own life. You were in one of these juvenile...
Xzibit: Yes, I was. I was in - trouble when I was 14. I was very angry, and I didn't know how to work out my aggression at the time.
Tavis: What were you mad about?
Xzibit: My mother died early on. And then my dad got remarried real soon. And then, I am from Detroit. You know, and we were snatched out of there and taken out to New Mexico. My sister...
Tavis: That is a big difference.
Xzibit: Yeah, that's a big difference.
Tavis: Detroit. (laughs)
Xzibit: You know, Motor City. You know, then you're out there with dessert, and cactus and coyotes. It's a totally different atmosphere. So that culture shock was, was something that I didn't know how to, you know, deal with. So it came out as aggression.
So I was taken out of the home early and had to deal with a certain kind of group home situations. But luckily, I came from a well-educated background. I definitely had some girth about me. And so it was a choice. It was an option. Either I can go down this path or I can learn from this, and become more independent, and go make something of myself.
Tavis: So tell me how you made your way back. 'Cause you are not the first rapper, or for that matter, forget rappers, there are a lot of folk who find themselves on a detour and have to make their way back. And it's a bastardization to suggest that only rappers end of having to navigate that kind of journey. But tell me how you made your way back, because you could have continued in that direction.
Xzibit: Easily. Well, it was a choice. I will always love music, but I realize that, you know, I don't have a plane, I don't have a boat, I'm not gonna be a successful drug dealer, okay. (laughs) I need to use what I have, in order to get where I need to be. And nothing, nothing good comes easy. You know, nothing worth anything comes easy. So I came out to California at 17.
And I started working at a little clothing shop and just started writing, and going out to like free-style battles and doing that and just really taking my time. I refused to do anything illegal. And it was just to the point where I had done that and I wanted to try something else. The old way wasn't working. So when did I that, it just progressed, I mean, I'm blessed, I was blessed with the opportunities that I had. But you also have to listen, you know. You have to humble yourself and you have to listen to those voices that guide you.
Tavis: See folk never understand our show; they are trying to figure out, how can you have John McCain and Xzibit on the same show. See, y'all missed that, character is destiny. And it's really about making a choice as Xzibit just explained. Let me ask you in the last minute I have, we could spend a whole show, just talking about this. Why do I love "Pimp my Ride" so much? Why do I love that show so much?
Xzibit: Man, the demographics on that show is amazing. It started out as, you know, people thought it was a car show. But it is really about the kids, you know, the way those kids come in. And then the way that they leave the show. That is where the magic is.
Tavis: See I got two buckets in my garage, a station wagon and an old Datsun 280-Z. And I would love...
Xzibit: That's the thing, because people have old cars.
Tavis: I would love to get my car, yeah.
Xzibit: People have cars that they are in love with, that they've had since either teenager years, or had, you know, it's nostalgia in these things. And they can see that show and be like, everybody feels like it could happen to them.
Tavis: Yeah, well I hope, if you are ever over by Ladera Heights, and near Corning, coming down Slauson, you stop by one day.
Xzibit: Tavis, you can bring your work down anytime. We'll hook it up.
Tavis: Glad to see you, man.
Xzibit: Nice to see you too.
Tavis: My man Xzibit, the new film, "Derailed" with Jennifer Aniston, Clive Owen, and Xzibit of course, "Pimp my Ride' on MTV. That's our show for tonight. You can catch me on the weekends on PRI, Public Radio International. Check your local listings. See you back here next time on PBS. Until then, goodnight from LA, thanks for watching, and as always, keep the faith.
Back to November 7, 2005