Zion I

This duo of genre-bender pride has produced a name for itself in the Bay Area scene by successfully mixing spiritualism and hip-hop. Oakland’s MC Zumbi and DJ/manufacturer Amp Live mix hip-hop and trip-hop beats with lyrics centered on a note of unity, wish, and spiritual understanding. Although Zion I operates away from Berkeley, the set originally fulfilled in Atlanta, producing their music tough to classify as totally West Coastline hip-hop. Their musical design makes them also harder to define. With a method that borrows from hip-hop, trance, drum’n’bass, and reggae, Zion I’s design is similarly mystical and mystifying. Zumbi and Amp Live produced Zion I in Oakland, CA in 1996, and created many self-released cassettes. The duo gradually produced inroads while starting for rap royalty like De La Spirit, Rakim, and Run-D.M.C. Their debut record, Brain Over Matter, premiered by Surface Control Information in-may of 2000 and presented tracks using their earlier cassettes and singles, in addition to collaborations with fellow Bay Region rappers Rasco, World Asia, as well as the Grouch. This is also the only real Zion I recording to feature DJ K-Genius, who consequently remaining the group. Sophomore recording Deep Drinking water Slang was planned for launch in 2002, but its distributor Nu Gruv Alliance shuttered, as well as the recording was postponed until 2003, when it had been reconfigured and released as Deep Drinking water Slang V2.0 on Raptivism Files. The recording spawned many singles and music video clips, and was even more commercially effective than their debut. Zion I released many mixtapes independently Live Up Information, before the release of the third recording, 2005’s Accurate & Livin’. The recording featured guest looks by Talib Kweli, Aesop Rock and roll, and Del tha Funkee Homosapien. The duo’s 4th recording, Break a Dawn, was just released in Japan in 2006, but was consequently released internationally. Also in 2006, Zion I documented Heroes in the town of Dope, a collaborative recording using the Grouch, which Om Information released toward the finish of the entire year. Following this recording, Zion I released some more mixtapes, and added guest looks to albums by Ty, CLP, DJ Deckstream, among others. The Takeover, the duo’s 1st recording for Gold Dirt Media, found its way to early 2009, and presented guest looks by Sibling Ali and Devin the Dude. Atomic Time clock followed this year 2010, also on Platinum Dust Press. Heroes within the Curing of the country, Zion I’s second full-length in cooperation using the Grouch, made an appearance on Z & G Music in 2011. Zion I released their 2012 full-length Shadowboxing on Live Up Information. Following this recording, the prolific duo made a decision to concentrate their energy on creating EPs. The Vapors made an appearance in 2013, accompanied by The Experts of Wedding ceremony and Libations (both 2014), in addition to 2015’s SUNLIGHT Moon and Celebrities.