Xzibit has come a long way from pimping rides on
MTV. In fact, he’s come so far that when asked if he would deck out
this reporter’s 2000 Cougar with the bells and whistles, he simply
replied, “No, you should go green. Get a Prius.”
While
his response was disappointing, it was still nice to bear witness to
the evolution of Xzibit, who in many ways is more relevant now than
ever before.
His new film, American
Violet, reinforces this point. The film, which opened in select
theaters on April 17, takes a critical look at one woman’s struggle to
overcome injustice in the American penal system. Thought-provoking and
unapologetic, American Violet reveals a refreshing side of Xzibit that
aligns him with other hip-hoppers who have successfully transitioned
from music to the big screen.
“I study
[acting] — I take it seriously,” he explains. “I winged the first two
movies, but after the calls started coming [in], it [was] like let me
prepare for this, let me get ready.” So he did.
Thanks
to acting classes to hone his skills, Xzibit is well on his way to
becoming a bonafide actor. But don’t expect him to abandon his first
love just yet. “I definitely have some more records left in me,” he
says in response to a query about his music. “The landscape of the
music business has changed and I definitely have to take advantage of
that. Everyone is acting like the music business is in shambles, [but]
no, the old music business is in shambles. Now it’s about venturing out
… being able to roll up your sleeves and do it yourself.”
With
American Violet, Xzibit continues to prove that he has more than candy
car paint and monster sound systems to offer to audiences. –brittny flint
