During his recent interview, Xzibit talked about working with Dr. Dre and shared some heartfelt words about Eminem’s artistry and enduring integrity.
On a recent The Bootleg Kev Podcast episode, Xzibit shared stories from his storied career, offering fans a glimpse into the creative magic behind some of hip hop’s most iconic moments. Reflecting on the recording session for Dr. Dre’s “What’s the Difference”, Xzibit recalled the minimalist yet focused environment:
Dre was there, Scott Storch was there, engineers, and that’s it.
Xzibit didn’t hear the track until it was time to lay down his verse, but when he did, he delivered:
[Dre] was like, “You got something for this?” I went over there and smashed it. Of course, I got the direction from Dre, made sure that it was right in the pocket, had everything delivered in the right way, the way he wanted to hear it, and that was it. I think Dre’s verse was on it. And when he put it all together, that shit came out crazy. That beat was a highlight. It was at the top of the record, like a showcase — this is going to be a big one.
Xzibit took a moment to reflect on his connection with Eminem, highlighting the mutual respect they share as artists:
I think we’re cut from the same cloth as far as our taste in hip hop is. Everybody has their own original way of presenting themselves, and he’s definitely one of the greatest.
The veteran rapper admired how Eminem has stayed true to himself over the years:
Seeing him now from then is dope. To be able to see how the integrity of what he’s doing is still intact and still in place.
While they are not the closest of friends, there’s nothing but respect when their paths cross:
We definitely were in the same circles, but I can’t say we are the best of friends. Denaun and Royce, his family, Paul and Tracy — he’s with his people. But when we do interact, it’s love.
It is clear that, for Xzibit, Eminem’s legacy is built not just on his talent but on his authenticity and his staying grounded in what matters most: the music.
