XZIBIT.

MAXWELL HOTEL, DOWNTOWN SF

X-to-the-Z-Xzibit-the West Coast platinum hip hop superstar is rollin' through 'Frisco for the final show on his world tour, and Shelblack and I are there to meet, greet, and rep the 415. We catch up with X for an exclusive at his hotel suite where he's gettin' into some straight, lowdown, homestyle, ghetto shit. He is chillin' in only a pair of trackpants, having his hair braided, grubbing on Taco Bell and switching the TV remote between Cops, NFL, and Real TV. We're chillin' for a minute and then there's a knock on the door; armed security goes to check it out. A cat walks into the room, pounds X, sits down on the couch and hands him a big bag of KGB. X very carefully smells and inspects every bud, says "No," and gives the cat the bag back. "Get me the Chronic, the bomb Chronic, I've been smoking this stinky shit ever since I been here." Word up, Xzibit is getting Restless.

Can I turn down the TV?

No, no one touches the TV.

How are you liking 'Frisco?

It's dope. If I walk over to that window there I can see all the way downtown.

Who you feelin' in hip hop these days?

Talib.

How big of an influence has Dre been on you?

Huge, but he ain't out there performing the songs.

How did you and Dre hook up?

That was back in LA, I did some tracks with Snoop and hooked up with Dre like that.

I know you hated Napster all along so how are you feeling about them finally getting shut down?

Good. If I see that kid around here I am gonna break his legs.

So, is that good for online digital music distribution?

It's good if the artist gets paid, but you can't be taking artists' work and not paying them for it. That shit's fucked up.

You just dropped a song on the Restless album with KRS1 called "The Kenny Parker Show 2001." How was it working with the Blastmaster?

Dope, especially as I got to do one of his original songs.

What do you have to say to the young, poor, black teenagers in the ghetto?

Kids in the projects read Thrasher? Just do your thing and stay true to yourself.

What DJ's get you poppin' when you're out partying in LA?

I don't go out to clubs or parties so I don't know. I like my DJ, Jinx.

I saw on MTV Cribs that you have a Playstation in every room of your crib. What games are you rockin' right now?

Everything. We always have one laying around if anyone wants to take the challenge.

Redman is a hidden character in NBA 2001; do you want to be a hidden character in a video game?

I am. I'm in Madden.

You ever read Thrasher?

Yeah, I used to cook all the recipes.

Did you ever skate?

Yeah, back in the day I had a Psycho Stick and a Tony Hawk board.

You just got back from doing shows in England. How was that?

It was off the hook; it was crazy out there. There were thousands of people at the shows.

Was that with Dre, Snoop, and Eminem?

Yeah.

What shit should we look out for in the near future from Xzibit?

I'm finishing up the Golden State Project and I'm going in the studio with Snoop and Eminem when I get back to LA.

Tell us about the Golden State Project.

That's on my own new label that is nearly ready to go: it's called Open Bar Entertainment. The Golden State Project is Defari, Ras Kaas, and Safir. It's the first album to be released on that label.

Shouts?

Everyone on the Golden State Project, The Likwit crew.