Xzibit

Xzibit has spoken to NME about the making of his new album ‘Kingmaker’, how he nearly retired, and how the “diversity in hip-hop is lacking”.

The rapper-turned-actor is gearing up to release his eighth studio album in early 2025, marking his first in 12 years. ‘Kingmaker’ will serve as the follow-up to 2012’s ‘Napalm’ which featured the likes of E-40, Wiz Khalifa, Prodigy and more.

NME sat down with the 50-year-old in London, where Xzibit (real name Alvin Joiner) sported his returning signature – a sign that he’s once again “ready to go” and “feels all powerful like Samson”.

Now, the Detroit-born, LA-raised rapper has released ‘Play This At My Funeral’ – the lead single for ‘Kingmaker’ – which Xzibit said is his “state of the union”.