Xzibit has recalled a time while recording his Man vs. Machine album when Dr. Dre made him redo a single line about 500 times.
The former Pimp My Ride host pulled up to Big Boy’s Neighborhood earlier this week where he reflected on working with the legendary producer and how much of a perfectionist he really is in the studio.
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According to X, this was on full display when the West Coast duo were working on what would become 2002’s “Multiply” single featuring the late Nate Dogg.
“That took me about two-three hours to get that line,” he said of his intro bars. “Because he wanted me to sound like a down-south preacher… ‘I been this way and I can’t stop.’ No. I couldn’t understand why or where he was trying to take me but I wasn’t fighting. He sat there patiently with me like, ‘Nope, try it again.’
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“Eventually, it was like, ‘Oh.’ I had to break out of what I thought I needed to sound like and got into where he was trying to direct me and that’s why the first intro lines sound like that.”
He continued with a laugh: “He didn’t get there doing nothing. I thought I nailed it — dropped the headphones, done. No. I trust him and I respect him immensely. Being able to be in that position as he feels your art is good enough to be in his universe is dope.”
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Eventually, Xzibit nailed the take after somewhere between 400 and 500 attempts and then they continued to record the song. Big Boy even half-jokingly asked X if he still enjoys the song or if it takes him to an “abusive” place.
“I was expecting to keep it going and when he said, ‘Play that back.’ Hold on, I think we got something. I think maybe four or 500 times. I love the song. I will never forget that part. Even if I have Alzheimer’s I’m still gonna remember, ‘I been this way and I can’t stop.'”
“Multiply” landed on Xzibit’s Man vs. Machine album in 2002 and received a remix from Busta Rhymes. The Dre-produced track reached No. 23 on Billboard’s Hot Rap Songs Chart.
Dre and Mr. X to the Z have an extensive collaborative history as the 48-year-old rapper made multiple appearances on Dre’s 2001 album including the Eminem-assisted “What’s The Difference.”
Xzibit said he and Dre are still working together to the present day as he prepares for an upcoming album which he promises will have some of the best work of his career, but might also be his final solo LP.
“We’re going through it and finetuning the records for my new album (Kingmaker) and Dre’s involved,” he said. “He has this thing with my voice and it’s funny he says, ‘You start in fifth gear. When you come on, you come on like a chainsaw.’
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“The songs are coming out really dope and I’m feeling really good about the project. It’s a different scenario when you could record because you want to not because you have to… I feel like this is my last album that I’m gonna put together as Xzibit the solo artist.”
