In 1996 Xzibit completed his debut solo album, At the Speed of Life.
“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 with his one of a kind voice and natural intensity beamed songs like “Paparazzi” and “The Foundation” into peoples minds through radio, and soon Xzibit was becoming a well known name on the streets. At The Speed Of Life was met with excelent reviews.
“I couldn’t pick a better time because what I’m bringin’ to the table is fresh and new…”
“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.”
The song Paparazzi, explained how he saw the Hip-Hop game, Xzibit’s lyrics say it all: “It’s a shame, niggas in the rap game only for the money and the fame.” This was the first single from At The Speed Of Life.
Then came the second single off his debut album, “The Foundation.” a song writen for 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. 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.