Xzibit Carries the Weight

But a lingering distaste with his MTV portrayal remained, as addressed on "1983," the most powerful record on Napalm: "I hated MTV for trying to play me like a mockery." They "assassinated his character just to make some millions off America," he adds.

But in conversation he takes the high road, saying "the overall experience of Pimp My Ride was positive in that I was able to reach that many people and cross into that many territories."

PHOTO BY OPEN BAR ENTERTAINMENT

Xzibit

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• Xzibit
• Dr. Dre
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Over a haunting piano loop, "1983" essentially updates "Carry the Weight," as Xzibit addresses the trials and tribulations that beset him over the last six years: an IRS skirmish that publicly forced him to fork over nearly $1 million in back taxes, the dissolution of ties with Dre and Eminem, a newborn child passed away at 8 days old, and an acrimonious custody battle over his 17-year-old son.

"It's always going to be a struggle, so I've learned to be logical. If the plane is crashing, there are some things that we can do to get this shit back in the air," he says, his voice lowering like an action hero. "If you're screaming and crying, you can't pull the stick up."

Though you should still avoid feeding the bear, these days Xzibit's hate has mostly been released. There's a world tour approaching, film roles to pursue, and two more albums to record until the planned "X" box set — which would contain his 10 LPs.

"I want people to see the story from beginning to end. You don't get the whole picture just looking at the pieces," he notes. "I'm still living it though, and Napalm is a great addition. When you chop down a tree you can look at the rings and see what the tree's been through. That's what you can do when you listen to my records."