Xzibit reveals $1,000,000 reason he rejected Pimp My Ride return
To hip hop fans, Xzibit is the LA rap titan who made a name for himself during the late 90s and early 2000s, delivering multiple hits and sharing stages with icons such as Dr Dre, Eminem, Snoop Dogg and 50 Cent.
But for a generation beyond the beats, he's best known as the larger-than-life host who brought vehicular makeovers to the masses on MTV's Pimp My Ride.
It's been 18 years since the final episode of the US show aired, which captivated audiences for six seasons and inspired a global franchise, including a UK version hosted by Tim Westwood.
Yet, despite a wave of imitators and reboot attempts, nothing has managed to recapture the magic of the original series.
As he gears up for the release of Kingmaker, his first solo album in over a decade, Xzibit talked to Metro about his experience on Pimp My Ride, discussing the factors that led to the show's end, his personal choice to move on, and revealing his stance on potentially returning as host should the series be officially revived.
'Pimp My Ride changed my life,' he said, sitting in the lounge area of his SoCal recording studio. 'It turned me into a global brand. I had soccer moms coming up to me pinching my cheeks and telling me how much they love me.'
Xzibit has come a long way since he first started helping people customise their cars (Picture: vixinator)
He hosted the show from 2004 until 2007 (Picture: MTV Networks)
But after the taping of the show's final episode, which saw Xzibit and the Galpin Auto Sports team transform a Cadillac Fleetwood Hearse, the relationship between the rapper (real name Alvin Joiner) and the show's executives began to fray.
'You really want the truth about why Pimp My Ride only lasted six seasons?' Xzibit asked, prefacing his answer with the caution that 'some people don't want their childhood ruined'.
'It ended because my contract was up and I didn't want to renew it,' he explained.
'I was on my way out the door at 20th Century Fox after filming the last episode, and it was like, 'Yo, all good things must come to an end.' I'm good. I'm very good. I'm shaking hands and I'm like, 'Okay guys, contract's up, I don't want to renew. I'm out.''
As Xzibit was saying goodbye to Pimp My Ride and 20th Century Fox, he was simultaneously getting ready for an overseas tour.
On top of that, he'd just wrapped up filming The X-Files: I Want to Believe, where he played Special Agent Mosley Drummy alongside David Duchovny and Gillian Anderson.
Would you like to see Xzibit return to host Pimp My Ride? Yes
No
He's appeared in films and TV shows including 8 Mile, XXX: State of the Union and Hawaii Five-0 (Picture: Matt Baron/Rex Features/Shutterstock)
'So, I'm at 20th Century Fox. I'm on my way overseas. I just got done with the film, and I get a call. 'Hey, the guys from advertising want to come down and say hello to you before you take off.'
'Okay, cool. I come downstairs. 'Hey X, man, so happy that you agreed to do this last episode for us. I know you are on your way out the country.''
Confused, Xzibit enquired about the episode. The brand partnerships team had apparently secured a Fantastic Four collaboration for Pimp My Ride, a deal the Paparazzi rapper knew nothing about.
'I was like, 'I'm on my way to Europe. I ain't filming no f***ing Fantastic Four episode,'' Xzibit said that he told the ad guys.
Determined to leave for his overseas trip, Xzibit made a swift exit and got into his car. Not long after, the show's executives called him.
Xzibit received an offer to return to Pimp My Ride – but he turned it down (Picture: vixinator)
He emphasised how 'grateful' he is for what the show did for his career (Picture: Matt Baron/BEI/Rex Features/Shutterstock)
'I get a call, and they're like, 'Hey, listen, we know you're on your way out the country but we got one more thing to shoot before you take off. It's this Fantastic Four episode.' 'Yeah, I just heard about it,'' Xzibit told them.
The executives offered to fly the Multiply rapper back and forth to Europe on a private jet to do the episode, as well as double his fee.
Little did they know, however, that the ad team had told him exactly how much the network was being paid for the collaboration.
'I had just heard the f***ing number,' he recalled. 'I said, 'Hey, okay, give me a million dollars. I'll do it.' They're like, 'Oh, Xzibit. You know that's not in the budget, we don't have it.''
Unhappy with their response and perceived unfair treatment, he declined the offer and walked out on the show indefinitely, which is why the episode in question ended up being hosted by Houston rapper Chamillionaire.
Chamillionaire hosted an episode of Pimp My Ride in 2007 (Picture:)
'Chamillionaire did that episode because apparently any n***a with braids could do what Xzibit does,' he jokes.
Asked whether he would come back and host a reboot if it was brought to him, Xzibit is adamant the answer would be no.
'I know that it will never be what it's supposed to be,' he explained.
'And really, ownership is what's attractive. Let's sit at the table together, not underneath it. Don't sit me underneath the table. Let me sit at the table with you.'
Thankful for what the show did for his career, he concluded: 'They've tried to remake that show over and over and over again and I'm glad it represented what it represented.
'And I'm super grateful it did what it did for my career.'
Xzibit's new album Kingmaker is out May 16 via Greenback Records
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