The four-man collective known as Strong Arm Steady is now a trio.
Rapper Xzibit has officially left the group, which is now comprised of fellow emcees Krondon, Phil Da Agony and Mitchy Slick.
"I'm not in Strong Arm Steady anymore," Xzibit told AllHipHop.com. "They actually signed the deal without me and went over to Blacksmith. It's Krondon, Phil Da Agony and Mitchy Slick. It was a decision that they made and they felt it was in their best interests to go that route."
The group, which also includes extended family members Will Blast, Chace Infinite & DJ Khalil (Self Scientific), Planet Asia and DJ Truly OdD, is expected to put out its debut album Arms and Hammers under Talib Kweli's Blacksmith Music Corporation in 2007.
Known as a staple on the West Coast rap scene, Strong Arm Steady earned fans through the release of mixtapes like D-Bo Vol.1 & 2, True Crime: Streets Of L.A., LA Ballin' 2004, Hulk Steady, Green Up and others.
The rapper didn't reveal his reasons for departing the group and representatives for the group did not respond to requests for comment.
Xzibit, who serves as host of MTV's successful series Pimp My Ride, is continuing his recording career, having recently released a new album titled Full Circle.
The album, which hit stores last week, features guest appearances from Kurupt, DJ Quik, Too Short, The Game and others.
Xzibit also also continues to build an impressive résumé with a series of high-profile acting roles.
While he has been featured in movies like Full Clip, 8 Mile, XXX: State of the Union, Derailed and Hoodwinked, the rapper said his latest effort, Gridiron Gang, was his most challenging part to date.
The movie, which also stars Dwayne "The Rock" Johnson, costars Xzibit as a probation officer and assistant-football coach of a Los Angeles juvenile detention center football team.
"Gridiron Gang was my first costarring role that I felt comfortable enough to go with something that was totally opposite [of] Hip-Hop," Xzibit said. "I play a probation officer and a football coach, and I do neither. "
The rapper's choice to take on a more difficult role proved to be the right decision, as the movie raked in an over $15 million in ticket sales and topped the box-office upon hitting movie theaters in mid-September.
While he enjoys starring in action-oriented movies, Xzibit said he wants to prove that he can have a long lasting career as a serious actor.
"Every n***a wants to blow some s**t up," Xzibit said of his love for action movies. "In XXX: State of the Union, I got to blow a hole in the side of the f***in' Capitol Building with a tank—come on, man! In Derailed with Jennifer Anniston and Clive Owen, I get to smack around America's sweetheart with a god**ned Desert Eagle and I got a check! I've got a lot of respect for the craft and I read a lot, so I know what to look for. I just wanted to take baby steps so I didn't jump into something that I wasn't ready for."
Rapper Xzibit has officially left the group, which is now comprised of fellow emcees Krondon, Phil Da Agony and Mitchy Slick.
"I'm not in Strong Arm Steady anymore," Xzibit told AllHipHop.com. "They actually signed the deal without me and went over to Blacksmith. It's Krondon, Phil Da Agony and Mitchy Slick. It was a decision that they made and they felt it was in their best interests to go that route."
The group, which also includes extended family members Will Blast, Chace Infinite & DJ Khalil (Self Scientific), Planet Asia and DJ Truly OdD, is expected to put out its debut album Arms and Hammers under Talib Kweli's Blacksmith Music Corporation in 2007.
Known as a staple on the West Coast rap scene, Strong Arm Steady earned fans through the release of mixtapes like D-Bo Vol.1 & 2, True Crime: Streets Of L.A., LA Ballin' 2004, Hulk Steady, Green Up and others.
The rapper didn't reveal his reasons for departing the group and representatives for the group did not respond to requests for comment.
Xzibit, who serves as host of MTV's successful series Pimp My Ride, is continuing his recording career, having recently released a new album titled Full Circle.
The album, which hit stores last week, features guest appearances from Kurupt, DJ Quik, Too Short, The Game and others.
Xzibit also also continues to build an impressive résumé with a series of high-profile acting roles.
While he has been featured in movies like Full Clip, 8 Mile, XXX: State of the Union, Derailed and Hoodwinked, the rapper said his latest effort, Gridiron Gang, was his most challenging part to date.
The movie, which also stars Dwayne "The Rock" Johnson, costars Xzibit as a probation officer and assistant-football coach of a Los Angeles juvenile detention center football team.
"Gridiron Gang was my first costarring role that I felt comfortable enough to go with something that was totally opposite [of] Hip-Hop," Xzibit said. "I play a probation officer and a football coach, and I do neither. "
The rapper's choice to take on a more difficult role proved to be the right decision, as the movie raked in an over $15 million in ticket sales and topped the box-office upon hitting movie theaters in mid-September.
While he enjoys starring in action-oriented movies, Xzibit said he wants to prove that he can have a long lasting career as a serious actor.
"Every n***a wants to blow some s**t up," Xzibit said of his love for action movies. "In XXX: State of the Union, I got to blow a hole in the side of the f***in' Capitol Building with a tank—come on, man! In Derailed with Jennifer Anniston and Clive Owen, I get to smack around America's sweetheart with a god**ned Desert Eagle and I got a check! I've got a lot of respect for the craft and I read a lot, so I know what to look for. I just wanted to take baby steps so I didn't jump into something that I wasn't ready for."
