That's where Xzibit slides in with his bangin' debut, "At The Speed Of Life," on LOUD/RCA Records. On the mic, the X to the Z's tongue cuts like an xacto blade. The deadly precision of his delivery and the natural intensity of his gravelly voice slash the airwaves with his trademark vocal bravado. And what better time then now, when hip hop is plagued with gimmicky biters who claim to be MC's and whose biggest asset is the fine biddies in their videos.

"I couldn't pick a better time because what I'm bringin' to the table is fresh and new," explains Xzibit, "A lot of people have told me that when they hear my album, It's refreshing to hear some shit from the West that doesn't have no motherfuckin' Roger Troutman samples, G-Funk, and 'gangsta this.'" "I'm tryin to set a trend, and that's what you're supposed to do with your first album."

"Paparazzi," the powerful lead single, is dead-on in it's assessment of how so much hip hop has gone 'Hollywood.' Against Thaygod's hunting score, Xzibit's hook says it all: "It's a shame, niggas in the rap game only for the money and the fame." The allure of celebrity that sucks so many people in is something that this artist is well aware of. "I did this album for a lot of reasons other than the flim-flam and the whoopty-whoop, the pictures, the travel and all that shit," says Xzibit. "This album is heartfelt."

That statement rings true when you listen to "The Foundation," a striking open letter written to Xzibit to his son, where he advises the child about the ups and downs of growing up ("You can only run the streets for so long" says Xzibit, in one line). Dj Muggs from Cypress Hill produced the emotionally charged track which features a mesmerizing loop of ghostly wails and the actual cries of Xzibits baby. And revelations abound in the hard-nosed two verses of "Carry The Weight," which details Xzibit's life story, from his troubled past to makin' it on his own.

"At The Speed Of Life" revolves around more than the played out themes of "gettin paid." From the get-go, Xzibit, who ever since age 15 has been ready for anything, maneuvers through this era where the blind follow the blind, and promises to lead, not to follow. The booming bass of the E-Swift mastered "Just Maintain" resonates with the infectious presence of fellow Liks' J-Ro and that wild boriqua Hurricane Gee. "Birds Eye View," produced by none other than D.I.T.C.'s Diamond D, is complemented by the proven drunken flow of Catashtraphe (Rico). And true underground heads' necks will break following the schizophrenic patterns of the trio known as The Usual Suspects (that's Saafir, Ras Kass, and Xzibit, who have joined forces as a potent new group).

Says Xzibit, "I named the album "At The Speed Of Life" because there's a whole lot of shit that niggas go through. I know more niggas that is off-the-wall and crazy, runnin' guns and shit than I know regular Joes that all they want to do is feed their kids. That's their speed. But it's weird how everything is coinciding together, and at the same time is moving in all kinds of different directions."

Xzibit was born in Detroit, where he lived until his mom passed away. He was 9 years old. When his dad remarried, the rapper ended up in New Mexico. He'd eventually make his way through the southwest, staying in Arizona for a minute. During this time, however, Xzibit started getting into trouble. At 14, he was taken out of his home for two years. "I was just wilding," he says about those early hectic days. Xzibit was released from the state on his own recognizance as an adult at 17. He did a little slangin' to get some dough together and jumped into his jeep and headed toward Cali.

Xzibit, who started to write rhymes at age 10 because he didn't have a radio as a kid, eventually hooked up with producer Broadway around '92 in L.A., who he met through the group, Madcap. Xzibit was supposed to first come out with Ahlee Rocksta (who appeared on Madkap's "Check It Out") as The Shady Bunch, With Broadway producing, but that shit got fucked up. Xzibit decided to go solo, with his man Pen One, who produced the menacing "Enemies & Friends" on this LP as his DJ.

Broadway looked out again, introducing him to Tha Alkaholiks, who in turn got him together with King Tee. Xzibit turned it out on the posse cut, "Freestyle Ghetto" on "King Tee IV Life," and after that got busy on the Liks' "Coast ][ Coast" on the joints, "Hit and Run" (the sequel, featuring an appearance by adult movie star Ron Hightower, is on Xzibit's album) and on "Flashback," where he showcased his humorous side as one of The Baby Babbas. LOUD head honcho Steve Rifkin offered him a deal soon afterword.

Xzibit points to his mother, who was a writer, as his source of creativity. "I express a lot of anger through writing, because I've already been through where I put my hands on niggas and taking it there in a negative fashion," he explains. "Instead of doing that, I just take out my hostility in my thoughts and put it down in a rhyme. And going into a studio and releasing that shit makes it all worthwhile. Instead of having a long-ass police record, I got a record on LOUD," Xzibit laughs.

After being raised by a dysfunctional family of Alkaholiks, Xzibit is working hard to achieve a stable role within the hip hop world. The man's E-Swift produced debut album, At The Speed Of Life, stresses mic skills instead of image. Xzibit's rhymes resonate because he speaks from the heart as an individual, rather than trying to portray a phony hip hop persona. Before releasing his album, the man appeared on the records of fellow Likwit crew members King Tee (King Tee IV Life), and tha Alkaholiks (Coast to Coast). Turning heads with these performances, Xzibit was soon offered a deal with Loud and cut his first record.

His experiences with tha Alkaholiks, both in the studio and on the road, were fundamental in his development as an artist. Xzibit absorbed the experience of the crew, and learned what was really going on in the business. "Shit isn't all peaches and cream." He comments, "You really have to work on an album. On stage, you've gotta bring a real show. You can't just get up there and rap, you need a real stage presence."

On record, Xzibit's presence is very much a personal one. He raps primarily about his own life experiences, and is not afraid to reveal himself on a track. "I don't like to talk in third person. If I can't explain it from my own self, then I've really got no business talking about it anyways." He pauses to consider his next point, "On another level, though, it can't be all that personal; because if you look at everyone else, we're all going through the same things. If not, no one would be able to relate to what I'm sayin'."

Xzibit's lyrics are firmly centred in reality; he does not try to play the role of an immortal rap star. Realising that his life is as vulnerable as the next man's, he cut a track on the album, "The Foundation", which is an letter about the tribulations of growing up, addressed to his one year old son. "In these days and times, it's easy to get caught up. There might be an instance where I get taken out kind of early. I just wanted to say something to my son in case there is a time where I'm not around to tell him personally."

Finding that their styles and personalities clicked, Xzibit hooked up with Ras Kass and Saafir to form a trio known as The Usual Suspects. They initially collaborated in the studio to produce one song, but quickly realised there was more potential to their united forces. In the immediate future the three are heading to the studio to record a full album, the product of which true heads will be impatiently awaiting.

As for his solo career, Xzibit intends to keep putting out quality records at a regular pace. Continuing to rhyme on a personal level, he pledges to never get caught up in the "Paparazzi". Not one to let his head swell over his success, Xzibit recognises the impact that his mentors, tha Alkaholiks, had in terms of his advancement. As a result, he is eager to aid the development of other artists who share his down to earth approach to the music. States Xzibit, "If I see anyone with talent willing to work hard, like I worked hard, they're more than welcome on the team. People like that always got a home with me."