Xzibit released his second album, 40 Dayz & 40 Nightz, on August 25, 1998; it peaked at number 53 on the Billboard 200. The album also contained the single "What U See Is What U Get", which peaked at #50 on the Billboard Hot 100. The album's success caught attention from West Coast rapper Dr. Dre who acted as the executive producer on Xzibit's third album, Restless, which was released on December 12, 2000.
Restless debuted at number 14 on the Billboard 200 and was later certified platinum in the U.S. The album contained the singles "Front 2 Back", "X", and "Get Your Walk On". His follow-up album Man vs. Machine (2002) also enjoyed success; it debuted at number 3 on the Billboard 200 and was certified gold. Weapons of Mass Destruction (2004) also became certified gold. After the release of Full Circle in 2006, Xzibit underwent a hiatus, not releasing music until the release of his seventh studio album Napalm on October 9, 2012. Since 2013, he is part of the hip-hop supergroup Serial Killers.
Xzibit has also gained fame as an actor and television host, for his role as Shyne Johnson in the television series Empire, and as the host for the reality television series Pimp My Ride. He has starred in the films Gridiron Gang (2006), The X-Files: I Want to Believe (2008), Bad Lieutenant: Port of Call New Orleans (2009) and Sun Dogs (2017).
Full Wikipedia article: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Xzibit
Studio albums
At the Speed of Life (1996)
40 Dayz & 40 Nightz (1998)
Restless (2000)
Man vs. Machine (2002)
Weapons of Mass Destruction (2004)
Full Circle (2006)
Napalm (2012)
King Maker (2022)
Been a Long Time
Xzibit Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
Rrrah, uhh, bitch!
It's radio radio station, cat Xzibit huh?
K-W-Balls, Daniel Thompson hold like this
Like that in fact, with a fat-ass Battlecat track
I'm takin caller number one, that is..
Rrrah uhh, bitch - you took too long
Caller number two like this..
[Xzibit]
{*BZZT*} Bounce up out of the house close to midnight
Full rack up in the back {*BZZ BZZ*} shit is tight
Full charge and I'm out for somethin
Mass production, Battlecat bang percussion
End of discussion, hittin some corners, rearrange thangs
and brang change, we expand California
Listen - I lost more than I can ever gain back
from this road to riches, makin my heart turn black
So I'm cold to bitches, and I never call back
Plus I'm stoned and vicious, lay your whole hood flat
Get your, shit together nigga Big Snoop Dogg told me
'Do music and leave that other shit alone homey'
We came from dust, the X-odus, the hard to touch
y'all niggaz ain't fuckin with us, and plus
it ain't nothin like standin on your own two
So run them streets, but never let 'em run you
[Chorus: Nate Dogg]
Time is steady wastin, steady wastin
Since time won't wait for me, yeah, won't wait, won't wait
Just give me a beat that's bang, give me a beat that's bangin
I'll bust 'til I'm deceased, yeah, wooo-oooh, ooh-ooh-ooooh
[Xzibit]
Tune in, witness the rise of a icon
The python wrap around 'til your breath gone
The upper echelon, and I'm the cat you pull a weapon on
and want to squeeze 'til my life is gone?
Back to the wall and trust nobody
Sippin Cognac with Kurupt, Young Gotti
Somebody gotta recognize this
Throw fo' fingers up, add a thumb, then make it a fist
Number one draft pick, lead the league in assists
Give a fuck how you decorate your neck and your wrists
You just settin yourself up for the twist (gimme that) it's like this
Only a few slide through like the Schindler's List
Who's the bitch, who's the mack, what's worse
the niggaz that bring in the coke or smoke the crack?
Metaphor figure four let it break your back (yeah)
It's been a long time, where the gangstas at?
[Chorus]
[Xzibit]
Damn it feels good to be back in the saddle
On top of the game, crackin the frame, the heat of the battle
Been a long time comin but we waited
Xzibit went from bein hated, to makin the whole world say it
Give a fuck if the radio play it
Niggaz fall like the domino effect and you can't delay it
It ain't about who you are when you're makin your stack
It's the look that's on your face when you givin it back
So picture that
[Nate Dogg]
Time, keeps on slippin, slippin.. keeps on slippin away.. mm-hmm
My mind keeps on trippin, trippin.. trippin like ev-ery-day.. mm-hmm
[X] Yeah, it's been a long time
[Chorus]
The lyrics to Xzibit’s “Been A Long Time” ft. Nate Dogg depict the rapper's rise to the top of the game after being hated on for a long time. He opens with a radio station host welcoming him and refers to himself as an icon. Xzibit speaks about how he’s reinvented himself through his journey to riches, expanding California, and in the process, losing more than he can ever gain back. The rapper mentions that he is “cold to bitches” and that he never calls back. The song’s hook is Nate Dogg chiming in about how time won’t wait for him and he needs something that’s bangin’ to rap to until he’s deceased. Xzibit references Kurupt, Young Gotti, and how he trusts nobody at times.
The song’s chorus serves as a reminder that time is not on anyone’s side; therefore, it's crucial to make the most out of it. Xzibit asserts that he’s waited a long time to make it to the top of the game and that it feels good to be back in the saddle. He doesn’t care if the radio plays his music, he merely wants to enjoy the process of making it back to the top. The lyrics to this song depict Xzibit’s journey to success and the struggles he had to go through to get there.
Line by Line Meaning
Rrrah, uhh, bitch!
The radio host Saafir greets the listeners with enthusiasm and slang terms.
It's radio radio station, cat Xzibit huh?
Saafir introduces Xzibit and acknowledges his presence on the radio station.
K-W-Balls, Daniel Thompson hold like this
Saafir mentions the radio station name and the names of people responsible for holding the station together.
Like that in fact, with a fat-ass Battlecat track
Saafir boasts about the Battlecat track that he is currently playing on the show.
I'm takin caller number one, that is..
Saafir invites the first caller to speak on the radio show.
Rrrah uhh, bitch - you took too long
Saafir insults the first caller for taking too long to speak up.
Caller number two like this..
Saafir moves on to the second caller and invites them to speak on the show.
{*BZZT*} Bounce up out of the house close to midnight
Xzibit describes leaving the house late at night.
Full rack up in the back {*BZZ BZZ*} shit is tight
Xzibit has a full set of audio and music equipment in his car.
Full charge and I'm out for somethin
Xzibit has a lot of energy and motivation for something.
Mass production, Battlecat bang percussion
Xzibit is producing a lot of work and the Battlecat track has a strong drumbeat.
End of discussion, hittin some corners, rearrange thangs
Xzibit concludes a topic and changes direction, driving around the corners and making changes.
and brang change, we expand California
Xzibit is making a change and trying to expand what California is known for.
Listen - I lost more than I can ever gain back
Xzibit admits to losing a lot in the past and not being able to regain it.
from this road to riches, makin my heart turn black
Xzibit's path to wealth has made him cold and unfeeling.
So I'm cold to bitches, and I never call back
Xzibit is distant and uninterested in women and doesn't call them back.
Plus I'm stoned and vicious, lay your whole hood flat
Xzibit is under the influence of drugs and can take down entire neighborhoods.
Get your, shit together nigga Big Snoop Dogg told me
Xzibit's friend Snoop Dogg gave him advice to get his life in order.
'Do music and leave that other shit alone homey'
Snoop Dogg told Xzibit to focus on his music and leave other distractions behind.
We came from dust, the X-odus, the hard to touch
Xzibit came from humble beginnings and had to work hard to get to where he is now.
y'all niggaz ain't fuckin with us, and plus
Xzibit feels superior to others and that he is unbeatable.
it ain't nothin like standin on your own two
Xzibit values independence and hard work.
So run them streets, but never let 'em run you
Xzibit advises listeners to be independent and not be controlled by the streets or society.
Time is steady wastin, steady wastin
Nate Dogg sings that time is always slipping away and is being wasted.
Since time won't wait for me, yeah, won't wait, won't wait
Nate Dogg emphasizes that time won't wait for anyone and that every moment counts.
Just give me a beat that's bang, give me a beat that's bangin
Nate Dogg requests a beat that has a strong rhythm and excites him.
I'll bust 'til I'm deceased, yeah, wooo-oooh, ooh-ooh-ooooh
Nate Dogg promises to continue performing until he dies.
Tune in, witness the rise of a icon
Xzibit invites listeners to watch him become an icon.
The python wrap around 'til your breath gone
Xzibit compares his prowess to a snake that can take down someone's breath.
The upper echelon, and I'm the cat you pull a weapon on
Xzibit describes himself as being in the top tier of success and that people might try to attack him.
and want to squeeze 'til my life is gone?
Xzibit questions why someone would try to kill him.
Back to the wall and trust nobody
Xzibit feels threatened and trusts no one.
Sippin Cognac with Kurupt, Young Gotti
Xzibit is drinking Cognac with his friends Kurupt and Young Gotti.
Somebody gotta recognize this
Xzibit wants someone to acknowledge his talent and success.
Throw fo' fingers up, add a thumb, then make it a fist
Xzibit describes a hand gesture popular among gangsters.
Number one draft pick, lead the league in assists
Xzibit compares himself to a successful athlete that was picked first in the draft and leads in assists.
Give a fuck how you decorate your neck and your wrists
Xzibit does not care about how people decorate themselves with jewelry.
You just settin yourself up for the twist (gimme that) it's like this
Xzibit warns people that they are going to get in trouble if they flaunt their wealth, and he demands that they give it to him instead.
Only a few slide through like the Schindler's List
Xzibit compares only a select few to Schindler's List, where few were saved from the Holocaust.
Who's the bitch, who's the mack, what's worse
Xzibit questions who is inferior and what is worse than the other.
the niggaz that bring in the coke or smoke the crack?
Xzibit compares the people who bring in drugs to the people who use them and questions which is worse.
Metaphor figure four let it break your back (yeah)
Xzibit uses a metaphor from wrestling and warns that it will break one's back.
It's been a long time, where the gangstas at?
Xzibit asks where the gangsters are.
Damn it feels good to be back in the saddle
Xzibit is happy to be back and in control of his life.
On top of the game, crackin the frame, the heat of the battle
Xzibit is back on top of his game and is competitive and determined.
Been a long time comin but we waited
Xzibit has waited a long time to get back to where he is now.
Xzibit went from bein hated, to makin the whole world say it
Xzibit was once disliked, but now he is popular among many people.
Give a fuck if the radio play it
Xzibit does not care if his music is played on the radio.
Niggaz fall like the domino effect and you can't delay it
Xzibit warns that people will fall like dominoes and that it cannot be prevented or delayed.
It ain't about who you are when you're makin your stack
Xzibit emphasizes that success is not about who you are, but what you have earned.
It's the look that's on your face when you givin it back
Xzibit believes that it is important to give back and show gratitude for one's success.
So picture that
Xzibit encourages his listeners to picture and remember his words.
My mind keeps on trippin, trippin.. trippin like ev-ery-day.. mm-hmm
Nate Dogg's mind is constantly active and thinking about something.
Yeah, it's been a long time
Xzibit acknowledges that it has been a long time since he has been at the top of his game.
Lyrics © Sony/ATV Music Publishing LLC, Kobalt Music Publishing Ltd.
Written by: KEVIN GILLIAM, ALVIN N JOINER
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind