Gothic Theatre

Xzibit

Throughout the mid to late ‘90s, Xzibit remained one of the most admired underground rappers on the West Coast before finally crossing over to mainstream success in 2000 after being taken under the wings of Dr. Dre. Xzibit’s first two albums—At the Speed of Life, 40 Dayz and 40 Nightz—weren’t overwhelmingly popular albums, but they did win tons of acclaim from critics and critical hip-hop fans, who both were quick to champion the West Coast rapper’s delivery—few rappers can balance hardcore aggression with such fluidity and dexterity. When Restless finally appeared in late 2000, it met its high expectations, both commercially and critically, solidifying the once underground rapper’s position among the West Coast’s most elite rappers.