Zion I
Encyclopedia
Zion I are a hip hop duo from Oakland, California
. The duo consists of producer
DJ AmpLive
and MC Zumbi
. The group is known to its followers for Amp's futuristic production techniques, using a mix of live instrumentation and samples, and Zumbi's positive and socially conscious lyrics. Zion I debuted in 1997 with the locally distributed cassette-only EP Enter the Woods. Their first single on Indie label Ground Control Records ("Inner Light") paved the way for an album deal and in 2000, they released the critically acclaimed Mind Over Matter
. In total, they have released seven studio albums, 2000's Mind Over Matter
, 2003's Deep Water Slang V2.0
, 2005's True & Livin'
, 2006's Break a Dawn
(a Japan exclusive), also in 2006 a collaborative album with The Grouch, Heroes in the City of Dope
, 2009's The Take Over
, 2010's Atomic Clock
, and in 2011 their latest collaborative album with The Grouch, Heroes in the Healing of the Nation
.
Zumbi (formerly known as Zion) became fascinated by Hip Hop in its early stages; songs like "The Breaks" by Kurtis Blow
and "Rock Box" by Run-D.M.C.
got him hooked on the budding culture. He has said that Q-Tip from A Tribe Called Quest
gave him lyrical inspiration, originally feeling that his vocal tone and style wouldn't be accepted. Zumbi wrote his first rhyme around 1990 during one of his Social Studies classes in high school. After continuing his writing, he gained the confidence to start rapping
in local ciphers and began learning about critical aspects of the technique, like breath control, cadences and rhyme patterns. In 1991, Zumbi and Amp joined up with two other MC's, Sup from Connecticut and Richard Raymond from the Cherry Hill projects in Baltimore to form a group called Metufour. The group signed a deal with Tommy Boy Records
, but never released an album on the label.
. In 1999, they released their next single "Critical" featuring Planet Asia
, and another EP, Chapter 4. Their debut album Mind Over Matter
finally surfaced in 2000. The effort was one of the most critically acclaimed underground albums of the year, and was nominated for Independent Album of the Year by The Source Magazine
. AmpLive's futuristic production techniques and Zumbi's strong and substantial lyrical content were a major hit with underground Hip Hop fans.
Zion I recorded a second album titled Deep Water Slang, set for release in 2002, but their label went under and the album disappeared. They prepared a second version, Deep Water Slang V2.0
, which was released in early 2003. Music videos were shot for the songs "The Drill", "Finger Paint", "Boom Bip" and "Le Le Le", giving them the most exposure of their career. Zion I started their own record label, Live Up Records, in 2003, and released a mixtape titled Curb Servin. In 2004, the duo released a compilation titled Politicks, and another mixtape, Family Business, which served as a prelude to their anticipated third album. They were featured along with Del tha Funkee Homosapien
and Haiku D'Etat
on the CD/DVD Calicomm 2004.
True & Livin'
was released in early 2005, featuring guest appearances from popular underground artists like Talib Kweli
, Aesop Rock
, Del tha Funkee Homosapien
and Gift of Gab
. The album featured the single "The Bay," became a West Coast/College Radio hit, and featured a music video. The remix of "The Bay" earned the group its first significant commercial radio play in the San Francisco Bay area
. The remix, and later projects, represent a concerted effort to reach hyphy
audiences, by collaborating with artists such as Turf Talk
, San Quinn
, and Mistah F.A.B.
.
The duo's fifth album is a collaboration project with Living Legends
member The Grouch
, titled Heroes in the City of Dope
, and was released on October 10, 2006. This fifth album was again highly critically acclaimed, and gained the talented band more artistic respect. Their song "Spinning" was included in the soundtrack of the movie Grandma's Boy.
Zion I's song "Go Hard" was the feature song in popular video game NBA Live 10.
The duo was featured in a Linkin Park song titled "Plc.4 Mie Haed" from the Nu Metal band's album Reanimation.
On September 22, 2010 the duo announced a new album entitled "Atomic Clock" which was released on November 9, 2010 on Gold Dust Records. “The Takeover (2009) was a very external record and we wanted to focus on fun, party music. Atomic Clock is much more reflective and internal. We didn’t want to just recreate what we did last album. Art is not about living in the past.” Zumbi said about the new album on their website.
Oakland, California
Oakland is a major West Coast port city on San Francisco Bay in the U.S. state of California. It is the eighth-largest city in the state with a 2010 population of 390,724...
. The duo consists of producer
Hip hop production
Hip hop production is the creation of hip hop music. Though the term encompasses all aspects of hip hop music, it's most commonly used to refer to the instrumental, non-lyrical aspects of hip hop. This means that hip hop producers are the instrumentalists involved in a work...
DJ AmpLive
AmpLive
Amp Live is an American music producer and DJ best known as half of the Hip-Hop duo Zion I. Amp Live furthered his production career collaborating with Goapele, Planet Asia, Too Short, Chali 2na, Codany Holiday and Del the Funky Homosapien, as well as remixing works by MGMT, Linkin Park, and...
and MC Zumbi
Baba Zumbi
Baba Zumbi is an American music producer and MC best known as half of the Hip-Hop duo Zion I. Born in Oakland, California, Real Detroit Weekly has described his lyrics as positive and socially conscious. Graduating from De La Salle High School in 1991, Zumbi chose to enroll into college while...
. The group is known to its followers for Amp's futuristic production techniques, using a mix of live instrumentation and samples, and Zumbi's positive and socially conscious lyrics. Zion I debuted in 1997 with the locally distributed cassette-only EP Enter the Woods. Their first single on Indie label Ground Control Records ("Inner Light") paved the way for an album deal and in 2000, they released the critically acclaimed Mind Over Matter
Mind Over Matter (Zion I album)
Mind Over Matter is the debut album from Oakland hip hop group Zion I. The effort was one of the most critically acclaimed underground Hip Hop albums of the year 2000, popular for their use of futuristic beats, live instrumentation and positive, socially conscious lyrics. Mind Over Matter was...
. In total, they have released seven studio albums, 2000's Mind Over Matter
Mind Over Matter (Zion I album)
Mind Over Matter is the debut album from Oakland hip hop group Zion I. The effort was one of the most critically acclaimed underground Hip Hop albums of the year 2000, popular for their use of futuristic beats, live instrumentation and positive, socially conscious lyrics. Mind Over Matter was...
, 2003's Deep Water Slang V2.0
Deep Water Slang V2.0
Deep Water Slang V2.0 is the second album from underground Hip Hop duo Zion I. This was another critical success for the group, and with music videos for the singles "The Drill", "Finger Paint", "Boom Bip" and "Le, Le, Le", this received more commercial attention than their past work.-Track...
, 2005's True & Livin'
True & Livin'
True & Livin is the third album from Oakland Hip hop duo Zion I, their first on self-owned LiveUp Records. Zion and Amp Live expand their creative and experimental sounds on the album, featuring a wide range of musical styles, laced with intelligent, socially conscious lyrics...
, 2006's Break a Dawn
Break a Dawn
Break a Dawn is the fourth studio album by Oakland Hip hop duo Zion I, released exclusively in Japan on June 13, 2006 through the duo's own Live Up Records and Japan's Handcuts Records. The album was re-released in December 2007 and is available internationally online...
(a Japan exclusive), also in 2006 a collaborative album with The Grouch, Heroes in the City of Dope
Heroes in the City of Dope
Heroes in the City of Dope is a collaboration album by West Coast hip hop artists Zion I and The Grouch, released October 10, 2006 on Om Records. The album features production from Zion I's producer Amp Live, The Grouch and his fellow Living Legends member Eligh. Guest appearances are provided by...
, 2009's The Take Over
The Take Over
The Takeover is the sixth studio album by West Coast hip hop duo Zion I, released February 17, 2009 on Gold Dust Media. The album features production from Zion I's producer Amp Live. Guest appearances are provided by Brother Ali, Devin The Dude, K. Flay, TY and Jennifer Johns.-Track listing:...
, 2010's Atomic Clock
Atomic clock
An atomic clock is a clock that uses an electronic transition frequency in the microwave, optical, or ultraviolet region of the electromagnetic spectrum of atoms as a frequency standard for its timekeeping element...
, and in 2011 their latest collaborative album with The Grouch, Heroes in the Healing of the Nation
Heroes in the Healing of the Nation
Heroes in the Healing of the Nation is the sophomore collaboration album by West Coast hip hop artists Zion I and The Grouch, released March 22, 2011. The album features production from Zion I's producer Amp Live, The Grouch and his fellow Living Legends member Eligh...
.
Early years
The duo's musical roots stem back to early childhood where they were greatly influenced by Tim Scott. Taking interest in the workings of musical instruments, AmpLive began reassembling his family's radios at a young age and he soon began to play musical instruments like the drums and piano. In his high school years he started crafting beats , finding inspiration in a number of musical genres.Zumbi (formerly known as Zion) became fascinated by Hip Hop in its early stages; songs like "The Breaks" by Kurtis Blow
Kurtis Blow
Kurt Walker , better known by his stage name Kurtis Blow, is an American rapper and record producer. He is one of the first commercially successful rappers and the first to sign with a major record label...
and "Rock Box" by Run-D.M.C.
Run-D.M.C.
Run–D.M.C. was an American hip hop group from Hollis, in the Queens borough of New York City. Founded by Joseph "Run" Simmons, Darryl "D.M.C." McDaniels, and Jason "Jam-Master Jay" Mizell, the group is widely acknowledged as one of the most influential acts in the history of hip hop culture.Run–D.M.C...
got him hooked on the budding culture. He has said that Q-Tip from A Tribe Called Quest
A Tribe Called Quest
A Tribe Called Quest is an American hip hop group, formed in 1985, and is composed of rapper/producer Q-Tip , rapper Phife Dawg , and DJ/producer Ali Shaheed Muhammad. A fourth member, rapper Jarobi White, left the group after their first album but rejoined in 2006...
gave him lyrical inspiration, originally feeling that his vocal tone and style wouldn't be accepted. Zumbi wrote his first rhyme around 1990 during one of his Social Studies classes in high school. After continuing his writing, he gained the confidence to start rapping
Rapping
Rapping refers to "spoken or chanted rhyming lyrics". The art form can be broken down into different components, as in the book How to Rap where it is separated into “content”, “flow” , and “delivery”...
in local ciphers and began learning about critical aspects of the technique, like breath control, cadences and rhyme patterns. In 1991, Zumbi and Amp joined up with two other MC's, Sup from Connecticut and Richard Raymond from the Cherry Hill projects in Baltimore to form a group called Metufour. The group signed a deal with Tommy Boy Records
Tommy Boy Records
Tommy Boy Entertainment is an independent record label started in 1981 by Tom Silverman.-History:...
, but never released an album on the label.
Recording career
After signing with independent label Ground Control Records, the duo released their debut single "Inner Light" in 1998, along with their debut EP StarshipStarship EP
Starship is an EP from underground Hip hop duo Zion I, released two years before their debut album Mind Over Matter.-Track listing:...
. In 1999, they released their next single "Critical" featuring Planet Asia
Planet Asia
Planet Asia aka King Medallions is an underground hip hop MC from Fresno, California who is a member of hiphop groups the Cali Agents, and Skhool Yard...
, and another EP, Chapter 4. Their debut album Mind Over Matter
Mind Over Matter (Zion I album)
Mind Over Matter is the debut album from Oakland hip hop group Zion I. The effort was one of the most critically acclaimed underground Hip Hop albums of the year 2000, popular for their use of futuristic beats, live instrumentation and positive, socially conscious lyrics. Mind Over Matter was...
finally surfaced in 2000. The effort was one of the most critically acclaimed underground albums of the year, and was nominated for Independent Album of the Year by The Source Magazine
The Source (magazine)
The Source is a United States-based, monthly full-color magazine covering hip-hop music, politics, and culture, founded in 1988. It is the world's second longest running rap periodical, behind United Kingdom-based publication Hip Hop Connection. The Source was founded as a newsletter in 1988...
. AmpLive's futuristic production techniques and Zumbi's strong and substantial lyrical content were a major hit with underground Hip Hop fans.
Zion I recorded a second album titled Deep Water Slang, set for release in 2002, but their label went under and the album disappeared. They prepared a second version, Deep Water Slang V2.0
Deep Water Slang V2.0
Deep Water Slang V2.0 is the second album from underground Hip Hop duo Zion I. This was another critical success for the group, and with music videos for the singles "The Drill", "Finger Paint", "Boom Bip" and "Le, Le, Le", this received more commercial attention than their past work.-Track...
, which was released in early 2003. Music videos were shot for the songs "The Drill", "Finger Paint", "Boom Bip" and "Le Le Le", giving them the most exposure of their career. Zion I started their own record label, Live Up Records, in 2003, and released a mixtape titled Curb Servin. In 2004, the duo released a compilation titled Politicks, and another mixtape, Family Business, which served as a prelude to their anticipated third album. They were featured along with Del tha Funkee Homosapien
Del tha Funkee Homosapien
Teren Delvon Jones , better known as Del the Funky Homosapien or Del tha Funkee Homosapien, is an American MC.-Early life and beginnings: 1990-1997:...
and Haiku D'Etat
Haiku D'Etat
Haiku D'Etat is a hip hop supergroup trio consisting of Aceyalone & Myka 9 of the Freestyle Fellowship, and Abstract Rude, the leader of Abstract Tribe Unique . Abstract Rude previously worked with Aceyalone as the A-Team. All three artists are heavily affiliated with the Project Blowed, group...
on the CD/DVD Calicomm 2004.
True & Livin'
True & Livin'
True & Livin is the third album from Oakland Hip hop duo Zion I, their first on self-owned LiveUp Records. Zion and Amp Live expand their creative and experimental sounds on the album, featuring a wide range of musical styles, laced with intelligent, socially conscious lyrics...
was released in early 2005, featuring guest appearances from popular underground artists like Talib Kweli
Talib Kweli
Talib Kweli Greene , better known as Talib Kweli, is an American hip-hop artist and poet from Brooklyn, New York. His first name in Arabic means "student" or "seeker" ; his in Swahili means "true"...
, Aesop Rock
Aesop Rock
Ian Matthias Bavitz , better known by his stage name Aesop Rock, is an American hip hop artist and producer. He was at the forefront of the new wave of underground and alternative hip hop acts that emerged during the late 1990s and early 2000s. He was signed to El-P's Definitive Jux label until it...
, Del tha Funkee Homosapien
Del tha Funkee Homosapien
Teren Delvon Jones , better known as Del the Funky Homosapien or Del tha Funkee Homosapien, is an American MC.-Early life and beginnings: 1990-1997:...
and Gift of Gab
Blackalicious
Blackalicious is an American hip hop duo from Sacramento, California made up of rapper Gift of Gab and DJ/producer Chief Xcel . They are noted for Gift of Gab's often "tongue-twisting", multisyllabic, complex rhymes and Chief Xcel's "classic" beats...
. The album featured the single "The Bay," became a West Coast/College Radio hit, and featured a music video. The remix of "The Bay" earned the group its first significant commercial radio play in the San Francisco Bay area
San Francisco Bay Area
The San Francisco Bay Area, commonly known as the Bay Area, is a populated region that surrounds the San Francisco and San Pablo estuaries in Northern California. The region encompasses metropolitan areas of San Francisco, Oakland, and San Jose, along with smaller urban and rural areas...
. The remix, and later projects, represent a concerted effort to reach hyphy
Hyphy
The word hyphy is Conor Devlin's preferred short word meaning "hyperactive." It was created by Bay Area rapper Keak Da Sneak when he used the term on an album he recorded in 1994. From the USA Today article: "Every record label was getting at us at that time, but we fumbled the ball," says E-40,...
audiences, by collaborating with artists such as Turf Talk
Turf Talk
Turf Talk , is a Bay Area rapper at the forefront of the hyphy movement. His unique style of delivery has earned both local and national acclaim...
, San Quinn
San Quinn
Quincy Brooks IV better known by his stage name San Quinn, is an American rapper from San Francisco, California.-Career:Born in Oakland, California, Quincy moved to the Fillmore district of San Francisco at the age of three...
, and Mistah F.A.B.
Mistah F.A.B.
Stanley Petey Cox , better known by his stage name Mistah F.A.B. , is an American rapper. He attended Oakland Technical High School and Emery High School. He is signed to Bay Area rap legend Mac Dre's label, Thizz Entertainment and Atlantic Records. Mistah F.A.B...
.
The duo's fifth album is a collaboration project with Living Legends
Living Legends
Living Legends is a rap group composed of eight hip hop artists from California. Beginning in the early 1990s, the crew garnered a following by recording, promoting, and performing their music independently...
member The Grouch
The Grouch
The Grouch may refer to:*Dyskolos, a comedy by the Greek dramatist Menander whose title has been translated as The Grouch, The Curmudgeon, or The Misanthrope*The Grouch *Oscar the Grouch, a character on Sesame Street...
, titled Heroes in the City of Dope
Heroes in the City of Dope
Heroes in the City of Dope is a collaboration album by West Coast hip hop artists Zion I and The Grouch, released October 10, 2006 on Om Records. The album features production from Zion I's producer Amp Live, The Grouch and his fellow Living Legends member Eligh. Guest appearances are provided by...
, and was released on October 10, 2006. This fifth album was again highly critically acclaimed, and gained the talented band more artistic respect. Their song "Spinning" was included in the soundtrack of the movie Grandma's Boy.
Zion I's song "Go Hard" was the feature song in popular video game NBA Live 10.
The duo was featured in a Linkin Park song titled "Plc.4 Mie Haed" from the Nu Metal band's album Reanimation.
On September 22, 2010 the duo announced a new album entitled "Atomic Clock" which was released on November 9, 2010 on Gold Dust Records. “The Takeover (2009) was a very external record and we wanted to focus on fun, party music. Atomic Clock is much more reflective and internal. We didn’t want to just recreate what we did last album. Art is not about living in the past.” Zumbi said about the new album on their website.
Albums
| Album information |
|---|
| Mind Over Matter Mind Over Matter (Zion I album) Mind Over Matter is the debut album from Oakland hip hop group Zion I. The effort was one of the most critically acclaimed underground Hip Hop albums of the year 2000, popular for their use of futuristic beats, live instrumentation and positive, socially conscious lyrics. Mind Over Matter was...
|
| Deep Water Slang V2.0 Deep Water Slang V2.0 Deep Water Slang V2.0 is the second album from underground Hip Hop duo Zion I. This was another critical success for the group, and with music videos for the singles "The Drill", "Finger Paint", "Boom Bip" and "Le, Le, Le", this received more commercial attention than their past work.-Track... Boom Bip (song) "Boom Bip" is a single by Oakland Hip Hop group Zion I, released in 2001, their last release on Ground Control Records. The single was the first released from their second album Deep Water Slang V2.0, and features singer Goapele. The single's B-side is "Le Le Le", featuring group affiliates... , "The Drill"/"Flow" The Drill (song) "The Drill" is a single by Oakland Hip hop group Zion I, released in 2003 on Raptivism Records. The single was the opening track and lead single from their second album Deep Water Slang V2.0... , "Cheeba Cheeba"/"Kharma" Cheeba Cheeba "Cheeba Cheeba" is a single by Oakland Hip Hop group Zion I, released in 2002 on Raptivism Records. The single was the second released from their second album Deep Water Slang V2.0, and features a verse from California underground legend Aceyalone... |
| True & Livin' True & Livin' True & Livin is the third album from Oakland Hip hop duo Zion I, their first on self-owned LiveUp Records. Zion and Amp Live expand their creative and experimental sounds on the album, featuring a wide range of musical styles, laced with intelligent, socially conscious lyrics... Bird's Eye View "Bird's Eye View" is a single by Oakland Hip Hop group Zion I, released in 2005 on Live Up Records. The single was the first released from their third album True & Livin. The song, like Common's classic "I Used to Love H.E.R.", addresses the state of Hip Hop by comparing the culture to a woman. The... , Temperature"/"The Bay" Temperature (Zion I song) "Temperature" is a single by Oakland Hip Hop group Zion I, released in 2005 on Live Up Records. The single features Talib Kweli. The single's B-side, "The Bay", became a hit locally in California and on college radio, and featured a music video.-A-Side:... , "Soo Tall Soo Tall "Soo Tall" is a single by Oakland Hip hop group Zion I, released in 2006 on Live Up Records. It was the third and final single released from their third album True & Livin. The music video was created by Encyclopedia Pictura.... " |
| Break a Dawn Break a Dawn Break a Dawn is the fourth studio album by Oakland Hip hop duo Zion I, released exclusively in Japan on June 13, 2006 through the duo's own Live Up Records and Japan's Handcuts Records. The album was re-released in December 2007 and is available internationally online... Act Right "Act Right" is a single by Oakland Hip Hop group Zion I, released exclusively in Japan in 2006 on Handcuts Records. It was the only single released from the duo's fourth album Break a Dawn, another Japanese exclusive. The song features a guest appearance from female rapper Ms. Marianna. The singles... |
| Heroes in the City of Dope Heroes in the City of Dope Heroes in the City of Dope is a collaboration album by West Coast hip hop artists Zion I and The Grouch, released October 10, 2006 on Om Records. The album features production from Zion I's producer Amp Live, The Grouch and his fellow Living Legends member Eligh. Guest appearances are provided by... (with The Grouch) Om Records Om Records is a US-based record label, established in 1995, which releases electronic music, dance music, and hip hop. The label was founded in San Francisco in 1995 by Chris Smith. Om Records releases both artist albums and various compilations. Some of the most notable compilations include Om... Hit 'Em "Hit 'Em" is a single by Oakland Hip Hop artists Zion I & The Grouch, released in 2006 on Om Records. The single was the first released from their collaborative album Heroes in the City of Dope, and features Bay-area rapper Mistah F.A.B. The single's B-side is "Trains & Planes", produced by... , "Lift Me Up"/"Smack" |
| The Take Over The Take Over The Takeover is the sixth studio album by West Coast hip hop duo Zion I, released February 17, 2009 on Gold Dust Media. The album features production from Zion I's producer Amp Live. Guest appearances are provided by Brother Ali, Devin The Dude, K. Flay, TY and Jennifer Johns.-Track listing:... |
| Atomic Clock Atomic Clock (Zion I album) - Atomic Clock :Atomic Clock is the 7th studio album by West Coast hip hop duo Zion I, released November 9, 2010 on Gold Dust Media . The album features production from Zion I's producer Amp Live, and Ben Yonas. Guest appearances features Rebelution, Macklemore, Locksmith, and Martin Luther. The... |
EPs
| Album information |
|---|
| Enter the Woods Enter the Woods Enter the Woods is the debut EP from underground Hip hop duo Zion I, released on cassette in 1997, three years before their debut album Mind Over Matter. The duo would release three more EPs before releasing their first full length album...
|
| New Dimensions New Dimensions EP New Dimensions is an EP from underground Hip hop duo Zion I, released on cassette in 1998, two years before their debut album Mind Over Matter. The only song exclusive to the EP is the title track "New Dimensions". "Inner Light" and "Rap Degreez" were both featured on the "Inner Light" single, and... |
| Starship Starship EP Starship is an EP from underground Hip hop duo Zion I, released two years before their debut album Mind Over Matter.-Track listing:... |
| Chapter 4
|
Compilations/Mixtapes
| Album information |
|---|
Zion I Samplerhttp://zionl.bandcamp.com/album/zion-i-sampler
|
| The Search & The Seizure Mixtapehttp://www.zionicrew.com/mixtape/
|
| Curb Servin': The Mixtape Sessions
|
| Politicks: Collabs & B-Sides Politicks: Collabs & B-Sides Politicks: Collabs & B-Sides is a compilation album by Oakland Hip hop duo Zion I, released in 2004 on the duo's own Live Up Records imprint. The album is compiled of various collaborative tracks and single B-sides.-Track listing:... |
| Family Business
|
| Street Legends
|
| Bringers of the Dawn
|
| Live at KEXP Vol.5
|