Month: November 2006

Global rating of the product: 4.5
If it is true that most artists become corrupt by mainstream success, Xzibit is one of those emcee that you will drink with delight after years, like a good glass of fine old wine.
Lead by the hand of a hip hop master, the brand new Full Circle album offers the listener a various panel of artistic collaborations and an original use of lyrics and instrumentals. Full Circle symbolizes the work of an accomplished master.
Invade my space is built on some beautiful jazzy accents enlightened by Jelly Roll’s deep and sensual voice and accompanied by piano notes. The soft chorus contrasts with Xzibit’s offensive manners. Don’t invade his space unless you wanna get knocked out in the game.
Rollin’ is another beautiful Jelly Roll-Xzibit collaboration. Built on rhythmic drum beats and hammering piano notes combined with some soft guitar notes and funky bassline, the instrumental structure in itself indicates how much the artists worked on the track. Xzibit spits fire and fully masters a running fast flow over an overheated beat. I recommend you the song by any means.
A dark voice, scratches , keyboards, light piano sounds paint a very unsafe atmosphere. Xzibit mashes the police lyrically and describes hood life with a NWA spirit. The track has some hardcore accents and gives the listener a realistic impression of the LA hood on Ram Part Division.
Say It To My Face is a swinging song that enlightens Kurupt and Don Blaze’s talents. Xzibit confronts phonies who talk behind his back in no time. Swinging beats, violins, keyboards fully fit with the offensive lyrical atmosphere.
Xzibit makes fun of a common category of people who cowardly talk behind his back. The track has some beautiful punch lines that underline Xzibit’s lyrical mastery:
« Nigga, you better come with the Taliban
Never been a slave or afraid of another man
X move like the brutal force of an avalanche
It ain’t my fault you smoked off your chance
See motherfuckers envy what they cannot be
Mr. X to the Z, H.N.I.C.
Shh, half assed niggaz gon’ shit on me
If they sentence me to five I’ll be out in three
You’ll be deep in the dirt for the bugs to eat
Tucked in for eternity, time to sleep
Til’ that day, I’ll crush everything in my way
And give a fuck about what y’all say .. »
Scandalous Bitch is enhanced with tambourines, flutes and drum beats. The song pictures a specific category of manipulative women.
What more can I say about Concentrate that hasn’t been said in my former review of Xzibit’s video?
It is rhythmic, original and well done. A must hear!
Family Values is not really my cup of tea, but maybe it is due to the fact I am not that much into love songs. A little bit annoying as far as I am concerned.
Black And Brown is based on a complex instrumental structure and rhythmic beats. Xzibit talks about the City of LA and the problems between the black and latino community. Gang wars have caused destruction that’s why the emcee takes time to sit down with his son and talk about « the Black and the Brown ». Respect is the basis for a better comprehension between both communities.
Poppin Off is built on electronic vocals and catchy beats. DJ Quick and King T collaborated with Xzibit on the song. Don’t sleep on that one!
Thank You is a sweet tribute Xzibit made for his fans. Soft piano sounds mixed up with synthesizers and violins reveal deep emotions from Xzibit from his profound heart. The talented emcee keeps real about his mistakes, his failures and successes.
Globally, Xzibit has a brilliant masterpiece of work to offer to hip hop lovers. Nothing sugarcoated, nothing Hollywood: Xzibit serves it raw.
You can cop this CD in all confidence. It is great quality and the result of numerous hours of hard work.
Copyright ©2006 by Isabelle Esling
All Rights Reserved

I recently came across a newspaper article in which narrow minded people with a snobbish mentality seemed to deny graffiti the quality of being considered as art. As a defender of artistic expression and having quite a good knowledge of urban culture, I would like to raise my voice today in order to defend graffiti as a full part of urban culture that goes along with rap music, Djing and break dancing.
If we consider art to be the products of human creativity, then we should be aware that graffiti totally fit into that category.
Not only are graffiti an original way of artistic expression, those drawings are also the voice of the youth in the ghetto.
Narrow minded people who often live in a comfortable bubble gum world would preferably like to deny ghetto youths their own way of expressing.
Let me tell you something: if you consider Picasso’s Guernica as a modern artistic expression and you praise it by any means, then you should also consider graffiti as pieces of art.
Very often, the fear of the unknown prevents many people from discovering masterpieces. If you are afraid of Chinese people, for instance, how are you supposed to discover the colorful buildings of China Town in their whole beauty?
It is not because artistic expression is different from what you are used to that it should necessarily be considered as crap. Be open minded towards the unknown, explore different cultures, learn how to appreciate the difference and the originality of a genuine style that represents a culture.
Hip hop culture might be a subculture. It is nevertheless the voice of numerous people from the underground. Try to understand instead of shutting the voice of several generations down.
People using their spray bombs won’t ask you for permission while creating their picture. Their art is present de facto and there is probably nothing you can do about it if you don’t like it. Those people don’t have the means to pay for gallery exposure, but they want to be the representatives of a voice our governments would prompt to shut down.
Don’t censor a beauty that is still unveiled in front of your eyes: open your mind and try to understand the voice of the oppressed and underprivileged. If you really make the effort to go into detail, you will be able to see the hidden beauty of a human heart’s cry.
Copyright2006 by Isabelle Esling
All Rights Reserved