Xzibit - Kingmaker

Play This At My Funeral opens Kingmaker like a funeral call to attention. The track seems to be the starting point of a journey long absent from the hip-hop landscape, evoking a tension between memory and resurrection.

Among the tracks that mark the album most strongly, "Leave Me Alone" is the one where Xzibit teams up with two major figures in hip-hop: Dr. Dre and Ty Dolla $ign. This collaboration is not incidental. Dr. Dre, already present on tracks like "U Know" (Restless, 2000) or "Symphony in X Major" (Man vs Machine, 2002), brings here a touch of gravity and experience. Ty Dolla $ign, for his part, embodies a younger yet equally influential generation, with a style that blends perfectly with the old master of West Coast. The track "The Moment," meanwhile, sees Xzibit team up with Busta Rhymes and JasonMartin. This alliance recalls the past collaboration between Xzibit and Busta Rhymes on "Tough Guy" from Weapons of Mass Destruction (2004), a track that marked the era. Here, the duo finds themselves in a more mature dynamic, where the flows intertwine without ever colliding.

20 tracks, 13 featurings: Xzibit explores the hybrid between solo work and prestigious collaborations

With 20 tracks, Kingmaker is an album that defies solo format norms. Of these 20 tracks, 13 feature featuring artists, demonstrating both a willingness to open up and the ability to lean on recognized names to bolster the impact of its lyrics. Among the notable collaborations, Perfect Alibi sees Xzibit teaming up with STALONE. The latter brings a vocal register that contrasts with Xzibit's more classic style, creating an unexpected tension between tradition and modernity. Similarly, Been A Long Time Pt.2, featuring Jenn Em, offers subtle lyrical balance where the verses interweave without ever losing their way.

A Return to the Crossroads

It is this blend that gives the album its power: it is not just a return, but also a discreet reinvention. Kingmaker is therefore an album positioned at the crossroads. It recalls Xzibit's origins while exploring new tracks. With 20 tracks and 13 featuring artists, it shows that the rapper has not lost his sense of rhythm nor his ability to adapt. This return is not merely anticipated; it is a necessary one, marked by tensions reminiscent of hip-hop's origins but also by alliances opening the way to the future. Kingmaker does no more than fill the void left by a prolonged absence — it transforms that void into fertile ground for new collaborations and new challenges.

Technical Details

- Release: May 16, 2025 - Label: Greenback Records - Tracks: 20 (1 h 03 min) - Opening / Closing: Play This At My Funeral / Kingmaker - Guests: Dem Jointz, Jenn Em, Busta Rhymes, JasonMartin, Dr. Dre, Ty Dolla $ign, STALONE, Symba, Royce Da 5'9", K.A.A.N., Compton Av, Butch Cassidy …