At the Speed of Life
At the Speed of Life | ||||
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Studio album by Xzibit | ||||
Released | October 15, 1996 (1996-10-15) | |||
Recorded | 1995–96 | |||
Studio |
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Genre |
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Length | 49:14 | |||
Label |
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Producer |
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Xzibit chronology | ||||
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Singles from At the Speed of Life | ||||
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Review scores | |
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Source | Rating |
AllMusic | ![]() ![]() ![]() ![]() ![]() |
Muzik | ![]() ![]() ![]() ![]() ![]() |
Q | ![]() ![]() ![]() ![]() ![]() |
RapReviews | 8.5/10[4] |
The Source | ![]() ![]() ![]() ![]() ![]() |
At the Speed of Life is the debut studio album by American rapper Xzibit. It was released on October 15, 1996, through Loud/RCA Records.[6] The recording sessions took place at Tha Concentration Camp and The Compound in Los Angeles and Ameraycan Studios in North Hollywood. The album was produced by Craig Sherrad, E-Swift, Thayod Ausar, Diamond D, DJ Muggs, DJ Pen One, and Saafir. It features guest appearances from Hurricane G, J-Ro, King T, Ras Kass, Saafir, Tash and Ron Hightower.
In the United States, the album made it to number 74 on the Billboard 200 and number 22 on the Top R&B/Hip-Hop Albums charts. It also peaked at number 19 in the Netherlands, number 35 in Switzerland, number 36 in Finland, number 57 in Sweden and number 74 in Germany.
Its lead single, "Paparazzi", peaked at No. 83 on the Billboard Hot 100, No. 39 on the Hot Dance Music/Maxi-Singles Sales, No. 61 on the Hot R&B/Hip-Hop Songs and No. 9 on the Hot Rap Songs in the United States. It found more success in Europe, reaching Top 20 in the Netherlands, Switzerland, Sweden, Germany, Finland and Austria, and received Gold certification by the Bundesverband Musikindustrie. The instrumental version of "Paparazzi" can be heard in the end of "Pax Soprana", the sixth episode of the first season of crime drama television series The Sopranos. The song was used for the soundtrack to 2001 video game Tony Hawk's Pro Skater 3.
The song "Eyes May Shine" was released as a promotional single on October 15, 1996 with its remix version featuring Mobb Deep.
The album's second single, "The Foundation", was less successful only peaking at No. 1 on the Bubbling Under Hot 100, No. 29 on the Hot Dance Music/Maxi-Singles Sales, No. 58 on the Hot R&B/Hip-Hop Songs and No. 16 on the Hot Rap Songs in the United States.
The song "Just Maintain" off of the album appeared in Richard Donner's 1997 film Conspiracy Theory.
Track listing
Credits adapted from the album's liner notes.[7]
No. | Title | Writer(s) | Producer(s) | Length |
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1. | "Grand Opening" (Interlude) | Craig Sherrad | 1:32 | |
2. | "At the Speed of Life" |
| Thayod Ausar | 3:45 |
3. | "Just Maintain" (featuring Hurricane Gee) | E-Swift | 3:20 | |
4. | "Eyes May Shine" |
| E-Swift | 3:57 |
5. | "Positively Negative" (featuring King Tee) |
| Craig Sherrad | 3:36 |
6. | "Don't Hate Me" (Interlude) | Thayod Ausar | 1:31 | |
7. | "Paparazzi" |
| Thayod Ausar | 3:56 |
8. | "The Foundation" | DJ Muggs | 3:55 | |
9. | "Mrs. Crabtree" (Interlude) |
| 1:16 | |
10. | "Bird's Eye View" (featuring Catashtraphe and J-Ro) |
| Diamond D | 4:41 |
11. | "Hit & Run (Part II)" (featuring Ron Hightower) |
| Craig Sherrad | 3:49 |
12. | "Carry the Weight" |
| Thayod Ausar | 4:13 |
13. | "Plastic Surgery" (featuring Ras Kass and Saafir) |
| E-Swift | 4:40 |
14. | "Enemies & Friends" |
| DJ Pen One | 4:00 |
15. | "Last Words" (Interlude) | Craig Sherrad | 1:00 | |
Total length: | 49:14 |
Personnel
- Alvin "Xzibit" Joiner – vocals, executive producer
- Gloria "Hurricane G" Rodriguez – vocals (track 3)
- Roger "King Tee" McBride – vocals (track 5)
- Rico "Tash" Smith – vocals (track 10)
- James "J-Ro" Robinson – vocals (track 10)
- Ron Hightower – additional vocals (track 11)
- John "Ras Kass" Austin – vocals (track 13)
- Reggie "Saafir" Gibson – vocals (track 13), producer (track 9)
- Craig Sherrad – producer (tracks: 1, 5, 11, 15)
- Eric "Thayod" Banks – producer (tracks: 2, 6, 7, 12), engineering (tracks: 1-6, 9-15)
- Eric "E-Swift" Brooks – producer (tracks: 3, 4, 9, 13), engineering (tracks: 1-6, 9-15), executive producer
- Lawrence "DJ Muggs" Muggerud – producer & engineering (track 8)
- Joseph "Diamond D" Kirkland – producer (track 10)
- James "DJ Pen One" Haynes – producer (track 14)
- Ross Donaldson – engineering (track 7), mixing (track 8)
- Jean-Marie Horvat – mixing (tracks: 1-7, 9-15)
- Brian "Big Bass" Gardner – mastering
- Ola Kudu – art direction, layout
- Brian "B+" Cross – photography
- Noa Ochi – album coordinator
- Bill "Bigga B" Operin – A&R
- Che Harris – A&R
- Lisa Duvernay – A&R
Chart positions
Weekly charts
| Year-end charts
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References
- ^ Stanley, Leo. "At the Speed of Life - Xzibit | Album | AllMusic". AllMusic. Retrieved August 6, 2024.
- ^ Ashon, Will (November 1996). "Trainspotting: Xzibit – At the Speed of Life" (PDF). Muzik. No. 18. London: IPC Media. p. 141. Retrieved July 20, 2024.
- ^ "Xzibit – At the Speed of Life". Q. June 2000. p. 132.
- ^ Mennella, Dan (August 19, 2003). "Xzibit :: At the Speed of Life :: Loud/RCA". www.rapreviews.com. Retrieved August 6, 2024.
- ^ Morales, Rigoberto "Riggs" (September 1996). "Record Report: Xzibit – At the Speed of Life". The Source. No. 84. New York. pp. 150, 152. Archived from the original on November 28, 1999. Retrieved July 20, 2024.
- ^ Ducker, Jesse (October 14, 2021). "Revisiting Xzibit's Debut Album 'At the Speed of Life' (1996) | Tribute". Albumism. Retrieved August 6, 2024.
- ^ At the Speed of Life (booklet). Loud Records. 1996.
- ^ "Dutchcharts.nl – Xzibit – At The Speed Of Life" (in Dutch). Hung Medien. Retrieved August 19, 2020.
- ^ "Xzibit: At The Speed Of Life" (in Finnish). Musiikkituottajat – IFPI Finland. Retrieved August 19, 2020.
- ^ "Offiziellecharts.de – Xzibit – At The Speed Of Life" (in German). GfK Entertainment Charts. Retrieved August 19, 2020.
- ^ "Swedishcharts.com – Xzibit – At The Speed Of Life". Hung Medien. Retrieved August 19, 2020.
- ^ "Swisscharts.com – Xzibit – At The Speed Of Life". Hung Medien. Retrieved August 19, 2020.
- ^ "Xzibit Chart History (Billboard 200)". Billboard. Retrieved August 19, 2020.
- ^ "Xzibit Chart History (Top R&B/Hip-Hop Albums)". Billboard. Retrieved August 19, 2020.
- ^ "Jaaroverzichten – Album 1997". dutchcharts.nl. Retrieved August 19, 2020.
External links
- Xzibit – At The Speed Of Life at Discogs (list of releases)
- v
- t
- e
- At the Speed of Life
- 40 Dayz & 40 Nightz
- Restless
- Man vs. Machine
- Weapons of Mass Destruction
- Full Circle
- Napalm
- "Paparazzi"
- "The Foundation"
- "What U See Is What U Get"
- "X"
- "Front 2 Back"
- "Get Your Walk On"
- "Multiply"
- "Symphony in X Major"
- "Hey Now (Mean Muggin)"
- "Hurt Locker"
- Likwit Crew
- Open Bar Entertainment
- Pimp My Ride
- Serial Killers