So why is Xzibit’s Restless on this best 1,000 albums ever thing?
On top of Xzibit’s fun yet gruff flow (he promises to “rearrange the game with my rugged sound” on “X”), the best thing about Restless is that many of its tracks could seamlessly slot into an expanded version of Dr. Dre’s brilliant 2001 LP.
Which makes sense from the standpoint that every ounce of Restless sounds and feels like a Dr. Dre enterprise. On top of his production duties, the good doctor appears on one track, and the Aftermath crew – including Eminem, Nate Dogg, and Snoop Dogg – pop up throughout.
But it’s that Dr. Dre sound that makes Restless special – the west coast hip hop sound that he helped pioneer – with alternatively bombastic and spooky-sounding keyboard samples.
“X” is Xzibit’s coming out party – akin to Eminem’s “My Name Is” and Snoop Dogg’s “Who Am I (What’s My Name)?” – and the best track on “Restless.”
“Don’t Approach Me” is a fascinating collaboration between Xzibit and Eminem. I used the word “spooky” above to describe some of the production style, and here it’s downright tense and nearly creepy, like out of a great horror movie. Eminem goes into sing song-y mode and then trades verses with Xzibit, and both are on top of their game.
“Best of Things” has my favorite kind of Dr. Dre production: jaunty and bombastic keyboards that sound classical in nature. The fast pace creates an exciting atmosphere, and both the verses and chorus are catchy on this one.
Pop culture stuff that’s somehow related to Xzibit’s Restless
Xzibit might be best known not for his hip hop prowess, but for hosting a reality show called Pimp My Ride, where beat up, falling apart cars and magnificently transformed into spectacles.
Thanks to the automotive restoration geniuses at West Coast Customs (and don’t forget my man Ish on those interiors!), jalopies become decked out art pieces. Typically, the car owner’s personal interests are also catered to in really wild and unusual ways. For example, someone who is into video games might have console gaming systems installed in all of the car’s passenger seats – and the trunk as well.
Part of the show’s appeal is that Xzibit is a truly engaging, enthusiastic, and even goofy host. Pimp My Ride was a great stress-free show to kick back, turn off your brain, and enjoy during the 2000s.
An enduring Internet meme also emerged out of Pimp My Ride that is known as “Yo Dawg.” To whit:
YO DAWG, I HEARD YOU LIKE CARS SO WE PUT A CAR IN YOUR CAR SO YOU CAN DRIVE WHILE YOU DRIVE
It was a whole thing.
Some stats & info about Xzibit – Restless
- What kind of musical stylings does this album represent? Hip Hop, Rap, West Coast Rap, Hardcore Rap
- Rolling Stone’s greatest 500 albums ranking – not ranked!
- All Music’s rating – 4 out of 5 stars
- When was Restless released? 2000
- My ranking, the one you’re reading right now – #542 out of 1,000
Xzibit’s Restless on Spotify
A lyrical snippet from Xzibit’s Restless that’s evocative of the album in some way, maybe
Stay on top but remain from the underground – X to the Z and we all in the family.
What does the “best 1,000 albums ever” mean and why are you doing this?
Yeah, I know it’s audacious, a little crazy (okay, maybe a lot cray cray), bordering on criminal nerdery.
But here’s what it’s NOT: a definitive list of the Greatest Albums of All-Time. This is 100% my own personal super biased, incredibly subjective review of what my top 1,000 albums are, ranked in painstaking order over the course of doing research for nearly a year, Rob from High Fidelity style. Find out more about why I embarked on a best 1,000 albums ever project.