Xzibit Weapons Of Mass Destruction CD

This limited collector's edition version includes a 14 track CD plus a bonus 23 minute DVD with exclusive interviews and behind-the-scenes making-of footage. Bonus DVD features include MTV's Pimp My Ride funniest moments and music video. This set carries a parental advisory.

Personnel: Xzibit; Strong Arm Steady, Keri Hilson, Busta Rhymes.
Not nearly as star-studded as his past two albums, Restless (2000) and Man vs Machine (2002), Xzibit's fifth album, Weapons of Mass Destruction, is a more focused effort, boasting an aggressive tone, a high-quality production roster, and a potent club track by Timbaland, "Hey Now (Mean Muggin)." There are several other highlights, including "Lax," "Criminal Set," "Tough Guy," and "Klack," but there's also a substantial amount of filler. Xzibit clearly is trying to distance himself from his last album, Man vs Machine, which proved a bust commercially, despite its roll call of well-known talent, including Dr. Dre and DJ Premier. Weapons of Mass Destruction does sound a lot different from its predecessor, though it's not necessarily an improvement. Rather, it sounds as if Xzibit is unsure of which direction to head creatively: back to his roots as an underground rapper, or for a contemporary commercial sound that appeals to a mass audience? Parts of Weapons of Mass Destruction, particularly the Strong Arm Steady collaborations, are reminiscent of Xzibit's first two albums, At the Speed of Life (1996) and 40 Dayz & 40 Nightz (1998); yet other parts of the album, particularly tracks such as the aforementioned Timbaland collaboration, featuring R&B singer Keri Hilson, are reminiscent of his post-stardom albums, Restless and Man vs Machine, when he was shooting for the charts. The end result is an album that doesn't gel together well as a whole, albeit one that thankfully includes a handful of highlights worth checking out for fans. ~ Jason Birchmeier
Xzibit's fifth record, WEAPONS OF MASS DESTRUCTION, finds the always-fierce, ever-clever MC, as rough and tough as ever. After emerging from the crowded mid-1990s West Coast hip-hop scene, Xzibit gained critical success and rose to mainstream recognition with hit records, commercial spots, and a role as the charismatic host of MTV's PIMP MY RIDE, leaving him with little to prove, but still much to say. Aided by some of the best producers in the game (Timbland, Hi-Tek), the able rapper rolls through this thoroughly engaging album.
As the title implies, WEAPONS OF MASS DESTRUCTION displays some political leanings, opening with the deft, subversive use of George W. Bush's own voice on "State of the Union." However, other than an occasional allusion to war and discontent, protest is more of a sidebar, as WEAPONS OF MASS DESTRUCTION is more descriptive of Xzibit's rhyming style--hard, focused, and backed with brutal, yet alluring, beats. "Hey Now (Mean Muggin)" and "Tough Guy" (featuring Busta Rhymes) could play just as perfectly at the club or on the streets. Xzibit closes with his own State of the Union Address, the tender, reflective "Back 2 The Way It Was," a sweet summing-up of his album--complex, compelling, and enjoyable.

Rolling Stone (No. 966, p.60) - 3 stars out of 5 - "[Xzibit integrates] class-conscious critiques and Bush-bashing righteous anger into his muscular, dextrous rhymes..."