Xzibit Album: “Restless [PA]”

Dr. Dre has done it again! His recruiting of Xzibit was a perfect move as Xzibit has created a masterpiece album. Tracks such as "X", "U Know", "Best of Things", and "Kenny Parker Show 2001" rock this CD. "Don't Approach Me" shows Eminem and Xzibit when they're not making rhymes and their takes on fan pressure. "Loud and Clear" ends the album great. "Get Your Walk On" is a real uplifting and bumping track. I'm really feeling "Sorry I'm Away So Much". It shows you how much X is caring for his kid(s). "Double Time" and "D.N.A." were not some of my bigfavorites but I could still bounce to them. And finally, "Alkaholic" has a very funky beat and X, J-Ro, Tash rock the mike on that track. This album is perfect and is a west coast rap fan's dream. This is a must buy. Gotta get this one!

Of course it is very difficult to have a PERFECT album. This one takes off from track 1 - Intro to track 6. Track 7 could have been left off, 8. D.N.A is mediocre, 9. Double time. ehhhh. o.k...., 10. Don't approach me (Eminem) Tight, 11. Rimz & Tirez Tight, 12-14 ehhh...could have done without, 15. DJ Quik beat - Smooth, and 16.Loud and Clear - One of the best tracks on the CD and nice closing song. All and all I liked more songs than I didn't like. Although I wish I could have played this album straight through. Maybe next time Xzibit will come off with a play straight through album. Nothing but high hopes for this RAP STAR.

This CD definitely goes immediatley into that area marked "west coast classics." Xzibit manages to stay tight for almost all the tracks and having Dre's producing and beat behind him doesn't hurt either. The best tracks, in my opinion are: 2. Front 2 Back, 5. X,6. Alkaholik, 10. Dont approach me, 11. Rimz and tires, 12. F---in You right, 13.Best of things, 14. Get your walk on, 15. Sorry I'm away so much, and 16. loud & clear. Most of the other songs are pretty good too, I only listed the really great ones. Anyway, fans of Xzibit, Dre, Eminem, Snoop, Kurupt, and rappers like them should definitely PICK UP THIS ALBUM NOW.

Mr X-2-The-Z's 3rd album Restless was actually the first album I have bought by him or anyone in the Liwkit Family. If anyone said that this was his best album, you must have not heard his first two. This is just Xzibit expanding from this Likwit Fam, and now trying to hang with more popular artists such as Dr. Dre and Snoop Dogg (Tash tried to do the same thing but as you see, it didn't work for him).

After seeing the "Front 2 Back" video, I wanted to get his CD. After listening to it a few times, I see that Xzibit's lyrical skills hasn't really changed since 40 Dayz and 40 Nightz, but just trying to shoot for mainstream status. The debut single "X" is a perfect example of what I'm saying (Not to mention having Snoop Dogg do the outro was any appealing). "Don't Approach Me" is a good song, only because Eminem's verses are better than his. "F***in' You Right" sounds flat out terrible to me.

There are some times where he can kick it back to the Alkaholik era. "Alkaholic" which features Tha Alkaholiks and Erick Sermon will appeal to those who liked him back on the 40 Dayz and 40 Nightz CD. "Kenny Parker Show 2001" is where he finally stepped up his skills and spit rhymes like he was back on At The Speed Of Life. He actually finishes the CD off on a good note on the song "Loud And Clear" features vocals from King Tee and Defari who are also part of the Likwit Fam.

This CD isn't anything special to me who is a big fan of Xzibit's work, but it's also not his worst (Listen to Man Vs. Machine to see how bad he can get), but it proves to me that he has the skills to rock the mic, but at the same time tries to go a different route. This album has half great tracks and half bad tracks. Unfortunately things haven't been the same for him since this CD. Recommended for fans who liked Xzibit since he appeared on Snoop Dogg's "B Please"

Standout Tracks: Front 2 Back, Alkaholic, Kenny Parker Show 2001, Don't Approach Me, Rims and Tires, Get Your Walk On, and Loud And Clear.

This album is definately one of my favorite West Coast albums of all time, and is highly reccomended.

1.Intro/Restless

2.Front 2 Back-Produced by Rockwilder-5/5-Hot production and great flow/lyrics from XZ, one of the best songs on the CD

3.Been A Long Time featuring Nate Dogg-Produced by Battle Cat-4/5-Hot production, and the chorus by Nate is a great addition, but Xzibit isnt at the top of his game lyrically

4.U Know featuring Dr. Dre-Produced by Dr. Dre, Nottz & Scott Storch-5/5-Great song, Dre shows he can still drop a nice verse

5.X-Produced by Dr. Dre, Mel-Man & Scott Storch-5/5-Xzibit's first big single, the song that launched him into the mainstream. Hot song, too.

6.Alkaholik featuring Erick Sermon and J-Ro & Tash of Tha Liks-Produced by Erick Sermon-5/5-Great Erick Sermon production, on an overall great song

7.Kenny Parker Show 2001 featuring KRS-One-Produced by Xzibit & Thayod-5/5-Remake of BDP's 'Kenny Parker Show' (same beat, too), with KRS playing the role of hypeman this time, one of the best songs on the CD

8.D.N.A. (Drugs N Alchohol) featuring Snoop Dogg-Produced by Rick Rock-5/5-I love the production on this one, great guest apperance by Snoop, too

9.Double Time-Produced by Erick Sermon-5/5-More top notch production from Erick Sermon, and Xzibit shows why he's a top 50 MC

10.Don't Approach Me featuring Eminem-Produced by Eminem-5/5-I really don't like Eminem's solo stuff (with the exception of Slim Shady LP & some other songs), but I usually love his guest apperances for some reason

11.Rimz & Tirez featuring Defari, Goldie Loc & Kokane-Produced by Soopafly-4/5-Very good song, pretty basic beat with a little west coast flavor

12.F***in You Right-Produced by Soopafly-4.5/5-Some of the best production on the CD (courtesy of Soopafly) and Xzibit's flow is great on this one

13.Best Of Things-Produced by Dr. Dre-5/5-Nice production by Dre, and one of Xzibit's best tracks lyrically

14.Get Your Walk On-Produced by Mel-Man & Battle Cat-5/5-Best produced song on the album, and one of the best overall

15.Sorry I'm Away So Much featuring DJ Quik & Suga Free-Produced by DJ Quik-5/5-Great track dedicated to Quik & Xzibit's kids, nice change of pace and one of Xzibit's best tracks lyrically

16.Loud & Clear featuring Butch Cassidy, Defari & King T-Produced by Battle Cat-4/5-A nice beat, some hot verses and Butch Cassidy's smooth chorus make this a very good song

Highly reccomended