Xzibit - Man Vs Machine [Blue and Red Marble - Limited Edition]

Before becoming one of the West Coast's most illustrious MCs at the end of the 1990s, and later a TV celebrity, Xzibit was a promising underground rapper. Born Alvin Nathaniel Joiner on September 18, 1974, in Detroit, MI, Xzibit began his rap career was part of Tha Alkaholiks, a loose-knit collective of California rappers including King T, Defari, and Tha Alkaholiks. Early on, he was featured on "Free Style Ghetto," a song on King T's IV Life (1994), and subsequently appeared on "Hit and Run," a song on Tha Alkaholiks' Coast II Coast (1995). Signed to Loud Records, Xzibit released his solo debut album, At the Speed of Life, in 1996. The album boasts a Billboard Hot 100 single, "Paparazzi," and features production work by Thayod Ausar, Craig Sherrad, E-Swift, DJ Muggs, Saafir, and Diamond D. 
 Xzibit's second album for Loud, 40 Dayz & 40 Nightz (1998), was a bigger success on all counts. Often considered the rapper's best album, 40 Dayz & 40 Nightz spawned a Top 50 single, "What U See Is What U Get," and features extensive production work from Sir Jinx, who had previously worked at length with Ice Cube, among other significant West Coast rappers. Following the acclaim of 40 Dayz & 40 Nightz, Xzibit made several high-profile guest appearances in 1999, most notably alongside Snoop Dogg on his hit "B Please" and on three tracks of Dr. Dre's 2001 album, including alongside Eminem on the hit "What's the Difference"; also that year he was featured on Kurupt's Tha Streetz Iz a Mutha, Prince Paul's A Prince Among Thieves, Sway & King Tech's This or That, and Tash's Rap Life. 
 Xzibit's third album, Restless (2000), was executive produced by Dr. Dre, who personally produced or co-produced three songs, including the Hot 100 single "X." Restless features an illustrious list of featured guests and producers -- among them Snoop Dogg, Eminem, KRS-One, Nate Dogg, Erick Sermon, DJ Quik, Sir Jinx, Rockwilder, Scott Storch, Rick Rock, Soopafly, and Battlecat -- and marked the zenith of Xzibit's popularity as a rapper, passing the platinum sales mark handily.