Xzibit facts for kids

Quick facts for kids Xzibit
Xzibit in 2005
Background information
Birth name	Alvin Nathaniel Joiner
Also known as	Exhibit A X to the Z Wow Alvin
Born	(1974-09-18) September 18, 1974 (age 50) Detroit, Michigan, U.S.
Education	Cibola High School
Origin	Los Angeles, California, U.S.
Genres	Hip hop
Occupation(s)	Rapper actor songwriter television presenter radio personality record executive
Years active	1992–present
Labels	Open Bar EMI Extreme E1 Hoo-Bangin' Green Back Sony BMG Columbia SRC Epic RCA Loud Sony

Alvin Nathaniel Joiner (born September 18, 1974), known as Xzibit (pronounced "exhibit"), is an American rapper, actor, and television host. He started his music career in 1992. He signed with Loud Records and released his first album, At the Speed of Life, in 1996. This album was well-received and included the song "Paparazzi." His second album, 40 Dayz & 40 Nightz, came out in 1998.

Xzibit's music caught the attention of famous rapper Dr. Dre. Dr. Dre helped produce Xzibit's next albums, including Restless (2000) and Man vs. Machine (2002). These albums were very popular. Xzibit also became well-known for hosting the TV show Pimp My Ride in the 2000s. He has acted in movies like Gridiron Gang (2006) and The X-Files: I Want to Believe (2008). He also played Shyne Johnson in the TV series Empire.

Music Career Highlights

Starting Out in Music (1992–1999)

Xzibit began rapping at age 14, using the name "Exhibit A." He lived in Detroit, Michigan, and later moved to Los Angeles. His first professional music appearance was in 1995. After touring with a group called Likwit Crew, he signed with Loud Records.

His first album, At the Speed of Life, was released in October 1996. It did well on music charts in the U.S. and Canada. The album's first song, "Paparazzi", was especially popular in Europe.

In 1998, he released his second album, 40 Dayz & 40 Nightz. This album also charted in the U.S. and Canada. His growing popularity led him to work with Dr. Dre. Xzibit appeared on Dr. Dre's album 2001 and Snoop Dogg's album No Limit Top Dogg. In 1999, he made his acting debut in the film The Breaks.

Becoming a Star (1999–2003)

The year 2000 was a big one for Xzibit. He released a collection of songs called Likwit Rhymes. He also appeared on songs with famous artists like Eminem and Snoop Dogg. His third album, Restless, was a huge success. Dr. Dre was the executive producer, and many other artists appeared on it. The album sold nearly 2 million copies and was certified platinum. One of its most successful songs was "X".

Xzibit joined Dr. Dre's "Up in Smoke Tour" in 2000, performing with Snoop Dogg, Eminem, and Ice Cube. He also appeared in the video game Madden NFL 2001. He continued acting in films with fellow rappers, such as The Wash and 8 Mile.

In 2002, Xzibit released his fourth album, Man vs. Machine. This album reached number 3 in the U.S., making it his highest-charting album. He also formed a rap group called The Golden State Project.

Hosting Pimp My Ride and Acting (2003–2006)

Xzibit at the 2004 MTV Video Music Awards in Miami

Xzibit with members of the United States Coast Guard, 2004

Xzibit became very famous between 2004 and 2007 as the host of MTV's Pimp My Ride. On this show, he would take old, damaged cars and have them completely transformed.

Xzibit live in Berlin, 2007

In 2004, he released his fifth album, Weapons of Mass Destruction. This album also sold well and was certified gold. His song "Hey Now (Mean Muggin)" was a hit. Besides music and Pimp My Ride, he acted in the movie Full Clip and a TV show called CSI: Miami. He also hosted the 2004 MTV Europe Music Awards. In 2005, he worked with rock legend Alice Cooper on a song. He also lent his voice and likeness to several video games, including The Chronicles of Riddick: Escape from Butcher Bay and Def Jam: Fight for NY.

In 2006, Xzibit focused more on acting. He appeared in major films like Derailed, XXX: State of the Union, and Hoodwinked, where he voiced Chief Ted Grizzly. He also starred in the drama Gridiron Gang. His sixth album, Full Circle, was released in 2006. He also worked on video games like Pimp My Ride.

Later Years and New Projects (2006–Present)

Xzibit in 2007

After Pimp My Ride ended in 2007, Xzibit continued acting. He appeared in movies like The X-Files: I Want to Believe (2008) and The Bad Lieutenant: Port of Call New Orleans (2009). He also returned to voice the character Abbott in the video game The Chronicles of Riddick: Assault on Dark Athena.

In 2010, he joined the cast of the TV show Extreme Makeover: Home Edition as part of the design team. After a break from music, he released his seventh album, Napalm, in October 2012. He then started the "Collateral Damage" tour, performing in Canada and planning a global tour. He also acted in the TV movie Seal Team Six: The Raid on Osama Bin Laden and appeared in Hawaii Five-0.

In 2013, Xzibit collaborated with the Dutch band Within Temptation on their album Hydra. He also released an album with the hip-hop group Serial Killers. In 2015, he appeared on Dr. Dre's album Compton.

In 2016, Xzibit joined the cast of the TV series Empire, playing the character Shyne. In September 2024, it was announced that Xzibit joined Greenback Records, a new record company. He performed his first live show under this label in October 2024.

Personal Life

Xzibit has three children. His son Tremayne, born in 1995, is also a rapper known as Tre Capital. Xzibit and his ex-wife Krista had two children together, Xavier and Gatlyn. Sadly, Xavier was born prematurely in 2008 and passed away shortly after.

Gumball 3000 Rally

Xzibit has participated in the Gumball 3000 rally, which is a famous international car rally. In 2007, while driving in the Netherlands, his driver's license was taken by the police for speeding. He later explained that he thought the speed limit was in miles per hour, not kilometers per hour. He competed in the Gumball 3000 again in 2013 and 2014.

Music Albums

Studio Albums

• At the Speed of Life (1996)
• 40 Dayz & 40 Nightz (1998)
• Restless (2000)
• Man vs. Machine (2002)
• Weapons of Mass Destruction (2004)
• Full Circle (2006)
• Napalm (2012)
• Kingmaker (2025)

Collaborative Albums

• Summer of Sam (2020) (with B-Real and Demrick as Serial Killers)

Film and Television Appearances

Movies

Television Shows

Video Games

See also

In Spanish: Xzibit para niños