Xzibit - Restless LP

 @@@@@ = Perfect Score

1)      Xzibit starts us off with the Restless intro.  It is a bunch of people being questioned about X and
the world-wide Westside.  A lot of people are goin on about how the West is gon/came back and how Xzibit is one of the dopest lyricists out on tha West.
2)      The first track dropped on tha Restless album is Front-to-Back.  This is a futuristic funk kinda track
produced by Tha Rocwilder.  Ya’ll might know him from Meth and Red’s “Rocwilder”.  Anyways, this track is real dope and has some sort of hydraulic noise in it.  Unfortunately, I think it reminds me quite a bit of Meth and Reds track cuz of that funk noise in it.  Not that tha song was bad, but tha beat coulda been a little more unique.  Anyways, X to the Z drops some nice lyrical heat on this track and I’m feeling that chorus.  I give it @@@ ½
3)      Damn, now here comes some laid back smooth shit.  Battlecat is one helluva producer and he has
 been producing hits for awhile.  Ya’ll remember that song by WC, “Jus Clowin”, well he did that plus many other slammin beats.  He kinda has a bass noise that is recognizable by him.  It kinda sounds like tha bass is sliding up and down or some shit.  I am really feelin this song.  Alotta geez aint cuz its slow, but I think this is some real funk.  Nate Dogg adds a perfect touch to this song and has one hot hook.  Some might say this is a simple beat, but I think if you really listen to it, its quite different.  Xzibit matches the pace nicely rapping a lil slower than usual and gives us some retrospect on life itself.  Dope song with a much deserved    @@@@
4)      Dre comes in with his first beat.  He drops a nice track with some sort of harpsichord noise in tha
background.  Like Yacoob said over at DPGC 2000, it doesn’t sound right when Dre tries to sound so hardcore cause we all know he ain’t.  The beat is at a moderate pace and X and Dre flow nicely over it.  Whoever wrote Dre’s verse did a good job (we all know Dre can’t write) and I like the chorus especially.  Xzibit talks about a lotta shit including bitches, money, respect, etc.  Dre and X basically reaffirm us that they are tha Kings of tha rap game right now, which is a pretty truthful statement.  Don’t fuck with em.     @@@@
5)      Tha second Dre beat comes at his with a blaze.  Dre also has his protégé Mel-Man and pianist Scott
Storch doin tha keyboards.  This is a track heavily based on tha piano keys done by Mr. Storch.  Its a hella hot track with Xzibit showing his lyrical heat.  He blows this track up with some funny similes like “ I beat the odds like Ike beat on his first wife.”  This is one dope track and should help Xzibit sell tha album quite a bit.  Snoop adds some funny adlibs at the end that only Snoop can do.  Chorus is hella tight too.     @@@@ ½
6)      This is tha first track featuring some of tha Likwit crew.  J-Ro and Tash as well as E. Sermon are
featured on this track.  E-dub produces this track and it has some sorta weird noise in it (I can’t describe it) with a heavy bass-line.  E and X drop both drop real dope verses but I ain’t really feeling Tash’s verse.  J-Ro drops a nice one too.  I don’t know what it is about Tash but his voice
seems annoying to me.          @@@ ½
7)      As it appears to be so, this track is some sort of remake of an old Krs-One joint.  I ain’t familiar
with KRS but various sources told me this.  This track is pretty good and X to tha Z tells us of his underground roots and his consistency to blaze up tha mic.  A slow beat produced by Xs old producer Thayod and X himself.  A nice little guitar lick has been added to make it sound nicer.  Krs one is like the instigator and just drops some comments and hype here and there throughout tha song.  I don’t think there is anything too special about this song and it ain’t one of my favourites.        @@@ ½
8)      This is tha track that features tha D-O double G.  I ain’t really feelin tha beat too much, and it is
produced by Ric Rock.  Tha chorus seems kinda annoying too.  It is a slow beat with some futuristic noises in it.  Snoop has a good effort and drops a hot verse.  What I don’t understand is the title of this song.  The song has nuthing to do with drugs or alcohol???  X spits a nice verse as well, but Snoops tops his off.  @@@
9)      This is tha second and last track produced by Eric Sermon of EPMD.  This seems like it is a retro
song with an old-school sounding beat.  X does something unique on this track and repeats the first word twice.  The chorus is simple but catchy, and suits tha song.  It is a fast paced track but it falls short in the time section.  It could have been a little longer with perhaps another verse, but other than that is good.    @@@ ½
10)      Mr. Marshall Mathers produced this track and it sounded like it should have been on Eminem’s
album rather than Xzibit.  This track is about how Em hates his fame and wish people would leave him and his family alone.  He talks about his daughter as well as his wife.  It seems like he is going through a lot of problems.  This is a smooth track with a nice guitar lick and some xylophones.  X speaks a little on his son and how he doesn’t know who to trust.  Em did a nice job on tha production.  Overall a good track.        @@@@
11)      All I can say for this track is WOW.  This has to be one of my favourite’s on tha album.  Soopafly
blesses us with a hot hot beat.  Huge bass-line that lowriders all ova tha map are gonna be bumpin.  I pop this into my car and my sub shakes the fuck out of it.  This song is a fuckin grimy one and Kokane laces a nice hook that suits it perfectly.  X drops a real hard verse, one of tha best on tha album, and Defari and Goldie Loc touch it up perfectly.  I especially like tha line “Red eyes for tha red eye flight,” made by the one and only Defari.  Defari is a nigga who was on Dre’s LA. Niggaz and dropped a hella tight verse on that too.  This nigga has got some fuckin talent.  Goldie finishes tha track off with a hood story with some dippin involved in it.  Huge beat with some huge verses, a fuckin blazin track.  Much deserved   @@@@@
12)      Soopafly drops his second and last beat on tha album with tha ultimate song about bitches.  The
concept of this song is hilarious and I know joke around about it with my girlfriend.  X says that he sleeps around all for his girl.  He wants all tha experience so he can fuck her better.  Now thats one fucked up way to think of it and I wish bitches would let us do that. Hahahaha.  An up-paced track that has a good chorus.  Great concept for this song.            @@@@
13)      Aww shit …  Dre drops some real heat on this track.  One helluva good beat.  Sounds like some
orchestra shit on this one with heavy bass.  This beat kinda reminds me of What’s Tha Difference from 2001 cuz of tha beat.  This is a perfect song to prelude the upcoming song, which is one of tha best on tha album.  Mr. X to tha Z drops some huge verses on this track and this shit is off tha hook.  Speaking of tha hook, X does it nicely.  Tha third verse is my favourite and X rips it up by explaining how he is gonna fuck u up if u fuck with him or his crew.  Great track.          @@@@ ½
 14)      Shiiiiit, there is no words to explain this song.  Easily tha best on tha album as Mel-Mel and Battlecat team up to drop this beat.  This beat is off tha fuckin hook.  These are some fuckin hot producers with real talent.  Tha bass has the classic Battlecat track and Mel-Man throws that “wa- wa” noise in there.  X just lyrically rips this song up.  Great chorus with a lot of heat.  You can tell Xzibit took his time on this one as he’s got some fuckin fire here.  Lots of good lines and phrases people all ova tha map are gonna be saying.  10 x better than dope.  Best track on tha album.        @@@@@
15)      Here is a heart filling song by X and Dj Quik.  X speaks on his son and his brother who is locked up.
He apologizes to his son for being away all tha time.  He also points out how money can’t replace time.  Well Mr. X, if u know that, maybe you should spend more time with your son instead of rapping about your situation.  Anyways, Quik drops a phat beat thats smooth as hell and is nuthin short of Quik’s excellence.  Sugafree throws a verse in there that isn’t really needed, and doesn’t really flow with tha  track at all.  I don’t know why they put that in there.  Quik speaks on his time in the studio as well as his son.  Good track  @@@@
16)      Tha last track on tha album is one diverse track.  Tha beat is real different and shows us
Battlecat’s talent as well as versatility.  Its got some futuristic sound over a real heavy bass-line (which rocks my car too) and some nice guitar lick.  Damn this beat is hot.  U just gotta listen to it quite a bit to appreciate it.  I didn’t like it at first, but now I think it is one of tha best beats on tha album.  King T and Defari drop some lyrical hollow points.  Damn.  Butch Cassidy is a nice addition in there too.  I don’t know about ya’ll, but I’m really feeling Butch.  He is fuckin dope.  Another great track with X telling us how we can’t really stop them.  Great song for tha last song.  Like tha song says, no one is even close to them.  They are too hot to even fuck with.           @@@@ ½

 Well.  This is definitely worth tha wait.  X to tha Z sets some new standards for 2001 and I’d safely say this is next in line after Dre’s 2001.  It has tha rugged/raw sound that sounds great with Xzibit.  Tracks like Rest of Things and Get Your Walk On are classics that will be remembered for awhile.  This is one album you could listen to over and over again.  This album has the versatility of a classic and shows Xzibit’s talent through all sorts of different tracks.  My only gripe about it is that X should have done things a little more solo.  The album seems a little crowded with too many guests.  X needs to shine by himself.  If you haven’t got this album, get off your ass and go down to tha record store and cop it.  Its fuckin worth tha money.
 Entire album:   @@@@ ½
Pls give me some feedback everyone as this is my first review.  It would be really appreciated.  Get at me at makaveli7@home.com and give me some feedback whether its good or bad.  Peace.  Krazy

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