Videos: Zion I

Always

Finger Paint

Revolution

Soo Tall

The Bay

The Drill

Zion I (pronounced "Zion Eye") are a hip hop duo from Oakland, California. The duo consists of producer and 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, their latest effort being in 2010 with Atomic Clock

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 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.
[edit] 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 Starship. 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.

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.[1]
[edit] Discography
[edit] Albums
Album information
Mind Over Matter

* Released: May 30, 2000
* Label: Ground Control Records
* Singles: "Inner Light"/"Rap Degreez"/"Inner Light (Icey Mix)", "Critical"/"Venus",
"Revolution (B-Boy Anthem)", "One"/"Trippin'"

Deep Water Slang V2.0

* Released: February 18, 2003
* Label: Raptivism Records
* Singles: "Boom Bip"/"Le Le Le", "The Drill"/"Flow", "Cheeba Cheeba"/"Kharma"

True & Livin'

* Released: April 19, 2005
* Label: LiveUp Records
* Singles: "Bird's Eye View"/"Luv", Temperature"/"The Bay", "Soo Tall"

Break a Dawn

* Released: June 13, 2006
* Label: LiveUp Records
* Singles: "Act Right"/"Target Practice"

Heroes in the City of Dope (with The Grouch)

* Released: October 10, 2006
* Label: Om Records
* Singles: "Hit 'Em"/"Trains & Planes", "Lift Me Up"/"Smack"

The Take Over

* Released: February 17, 2009
* Label: Gold Dust Media
* Singles: "Juicy Juice"/"Antenna"/"Rush"

Atomic Clock

* Released: November 9, 2010
* Label: Gold Dust Media

[edit] EPs
Album information
Enter the Woods

* Released: 1997
* Label: n/a

New Dimensions

* Released: 1998
* Label: n/a

Starship

* Released: 1998
* Label: n/a

Chapter 4

* Released: 1999
* Label: n/a

[edit] Compilations/Mixtapes
Album information
Zion I Sampler[1]

* Released: January, 2010
* Label: ?

The Search & The Seizure Mixtape[2]

* Released: November, 2008
* Label: ?

Curb Servin': The Mixtape Sessions

* Released: July 29, 2003
* Label: Raptivism Records

Politicks: Collabs & B-Sides

* Released: 2004
* Label: LiveUp Records

Family Business

* Released: October 5, 2004
* Label: LiveUp Records

Street Legends

* Released: 2007
* Label: LiveUp Records

Live at KEXP Vol.5

* Released: 2009
* Label: KEXP
* Song: "Antenna"