December 12th: The day Xzibit joined the Hip-Hop Elite – 25 years of “Restless”
Author: Rasha Sensei
On this day, exactly 25 years ago — December 12th, 2000. — the West Coast gained a new icon! Xzibit released his third studio masterpiece, “Restless”, the project that permanently cemented his place in the Platinum Hall of Fame.
By the year 2000, Xzibit was already established as a raw, uncompromising hardcore MC, but he lacked a major commercial breakthrough. That changed when Xzibit became the protégé of Dr. Dre, who stepped in as the album’s executive producer. This fusion of gritty, street lyricism and Dre’s crystal-clear, powerful sound was the formula for an explosion.
The list of collaborators on “Restless” reads like a super-group announcement: Dr. Dre, Eminem, Snoop Dogg, Nate Dogg, and even the legendary KRS-One. The sheer presence of the Shady/Aftermath team, alongside production elite like Scott Storch and DJ Quik, ensured that every beat was platinum grade.
Street Anthems and Radio Dominance
While the album is packed with deep cuts, three singles defined its success: “X” (featuring Dre and Snoop), which became the global anthem for the West Side; the menacing “Get Your Walk On“; and finally, the dark “Don’t Approach Me” (featuring Eminem), a track detailing the burden of fame. This combination ensured “Restless” went Platinum, making it Xzibit’s most successful release to date.
Today, a quarter-century later, “Restless” still sounds unstoppable and hungry, serving as a perfect testament to Xzibit’s own “restless” pursuit of the top.
