Xzibit
A West Coast rap mainstay who built a gritty empire from mixtapes to MTV, becoming the face of car culture for a generation.
Born 1974 (age 52)·American rapper and actor·Birthday: September 18·Generation X
Biography
Born Alvin Joiner in Detroit and shaped by the streets of Albuquerque and Los Angeles, Xzibit emerged in the mid-90s as a raw, technically skilled voice on the underground rap scene. His early albums on Loud Records, 'At the Speed of Life' and '40 Dayz & 40 Nightz,' were dark, introspective works that earned him a devoted following but not yet mainstream fame. His career trajectory shifted dramatically when he aligned with Dr. Dre's Aftermath Entertainment, contributing standout verses to Dre's '2001' and Snoop Dogg's albums. This led to his defining pop-culture moment: hosting MTV's 'Pimp My Ride,' where his charismatic, no-nonsense persona introduced him to millions. While the show made him a television star, he never abandoned music, continuing to release albums and tour, solidifying his status as a respected elder statesman of West Coast hip-hop.
Generation X
1965–1980
The latchkey kids. Raised during divorce, recession, and the end of the Cold War. Skeptical, self-reliant, media-literate. They invented indie culture, grunge, and the early internet — then watched the Boomers take credit.
Xzibit was born in 1974, placing them squarely in the Generation X. The events that shaped this generation — economic uncertainty, the end of the Cold War, and the rise of personal computing — shaped the world they entered and the choices available to them.
#1 When Xzibit Was Born
The biggest hits of 1974
#1 Movie
The Towering Inferno
Best Picture
The Godfather Part II
#1 TV Show
All in the Family
Xzibit's Life & Times
The world at every milestone
1974Born
Nixon resigns the presidency
Gas: $0.53/galHome: $22,600Min wage: $2.00/hrPresident: Gerald Ford"The Way We Were" — Barbra StreisandBest Picture: The Godfather Part II
1979Started school
Iran hostage crisis begins; Three Mile Island accident
Gas: $0.86/galHome: $37,900Min wage: $2.90/hrPresident: Jimmy Carter"My Sharona" — The KnackBest Picture: Kramer vs. Kramer
1987Became a teenager
Black Monday stock market crash
Gas: $0.90/galHome: $72,400Min wage: $3.35/hrPresident: Ronald Reagan"Walk Like an Egyptian" — The BanglesBest Picture: The Last Emperor
1990Could drive
Hubble Space Telescope launched; Germany reunifies
Gas: $1.15/galHome: $79,100Min wage: $3.80/hrPresident: George H.W. Bush"Hold On" — Wilson PhillipsBest Picture: Dances with Wolves
1992Could vote
LA riots after Rodney King verdict
Gas: $1.13/galHome: $84,300Min wage: $4.25/hrPresident: George H.W. Bush"End of the Road" — Boyz II MenBest Picture: Unforgiven
1995Turned 21
Oklahoma City bombing; Windows 95 released
Gas: $1.15/galHome: $96,500Min wage: $4.25/hrPresident: Bill Clinton"Gangsta's Paradise" — CoolioBest Picture: Braveheart
2004Turned 30
Indian Ocean tsunami kills over 230,000
Gas: $1.88/galHome: $157,300Min wage: $5.15/hrPresident: George W. Bush"Yeah!" — UsherBest Picture: Million Dollar Baby
2014Turned 40
Russia annexes Crimea; Ebola outbreak in West Africa
Gas: $3.37/galHome: $160,700Min wage: $7.25/hrPresident: Barack Obama"Happy" — Pharrell WilliamsBest Picture: Birdman
2024Turned 50
AI reshapes industries; Paris Olympics
Gas: $3.31/galHome: $372,000Min wage: $7.25/hrPresident: Joe Biden"Espresso" — Sabrina CarpenterBest Picture: Anora
2026Age 52 today
Gas: $3.91/galPresident: Donald Trump
Key Achievements
- Released the critically acclaimed underground hip-hop album 'At the Speed of Life' in 1996.
- Hosted MTV's hit customization series 'Pimp My Ride' for six seasons, becoming a household name.
- Founded his own record label, Open Bar Entertainment, after years with major imprints.
- Performed the theme song 'Hey Now (Mean Muggin)' for the popular FX series 'The Shield.'
Did You Know?
He lived in five different states (Michigan, New Mexico, California, Mississippi, and Ohio) by the age of ten.
He is a certified personal trainer and has a black belt in Kenpo karate.
His stage name is stylized as 'Xzibit,' but he has said it is pronounced 'Exhibit.'
He voiced the character Buster in the video game 'Grand Theft Auto: San Andreas.'
“I'm not a businessman, I'm a business, man.”
