Alvin Nathaniel Mendonça Joiner was born in September 1974) and is better known by his stage name Xzibit (pronounced as ‘exhibit’). He began his music career as a member of the Likwit Crew, a loose collective of West Coast rappers including King Tee, Defari, and Tha Alkaholiks. He appeared on King Tee's 1994 album, “IV Life” (on the song "Free Style Ghetto"), and then on Tha Alkaholiks' 1995 album, “Coast II Coast” (on the song "Hit and Run"). After touring with Likwit Crew in 1995, Xzibit signed to Loud Records and released his debut album, “At the Speed of Life”, in 1996, which produced his first single "Paparazzi" (number 86 on the US Billboard Hot 100). This was followed by the 1998 LP “40 Dayz & 40 Nightz”, spawning the single "What U See Is What U Get", which reached number 50 on the US Billboard Hot 100. The following year Xzibit joined Snoop Dogg on the hit “Bitch Please”, produced by Dr. Dre, and appeared on Dr. Dre's multi platinum album “2001” (on the songs "Lolo", "Some L.A. Niggaz", and "What's the Difference" with Eminem).

In 2000, Loud Records released Xzibit’s “Restless”, with Dr. Dre as executive producer. This album was home to the single "X“, which became Xzibit’s biggest hit since "What U See Is What U Get". Fourth album “Man vs. Machine” (2002) went gold, and Xzibit continued to collaborate with his closest West Coast colleagues, mainly Ras Kass and Saafir, with whom he formed The Golden State Project rap collective, and Tha Liks. In 2004, fifth LP ”Weapons of Mass Destruction” also achieved gold status. October 2006 saw the release of “Full Circle”, his sixth studio album.

Xzibit has appeared in several acting roles, for example as Duncan in “Full Clip” (2004), as Dexter in “Derailed” in 2005, as Chief Grizzly in the animated movie “Hoodwinked” (2005), and as Zeke in “XXX: State of the Union”, also in 2005. In 2007, he co-starred along with Dwayne "The Rock" Johnson in the movie “Gridiron Gang”, and had a cameo role as a freestyling co-worker of Eminem’s at New Detroit Stamping in “8 Mile”. He also played an FBI agent in 2008's “The X-Files: I Want to Believe”.

Xzibit has also been involved in the video game industry, providing the voice for Abbott in the 2004 game “The Chronicles of Riddick: Escape from Butcher Bay”, and also featured in “Def Jam: Fight For NY” (aligned to Snoop Dogg's group). He is also in the “Pimp My Ride” game, and is the main player's ‘guide’ in “NFL Street 2”, in addition to appearing as a quarterback, and also as the narrator of the tutorial mode. Xzibit’s song "The Mad In Game" was in “Madden NFL 2001”, and he was an unlockable character on Team ECKO. His song "Klack" appeared in the racing game “Juiced”, "L.A.X." appeared on the soundtrack and trial for “Need For Speed Underground 2”, and "Paparazzi" featured in “Tony Hawk's Pro Skater 3”.