Zion I
(pronounced "Zion Eye") 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 six 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
, and 2009's The Take Over
.
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ZION I TICKETS
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Early years
The duo's musical roots stem back to early childhood. 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.
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
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.
Discography
Albums
Album information
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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'"
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Deep Water Slang V2.0
- Released: February 18, 2003
- Label: Raptivism Records
- Singles: "Boom Bip"/"Le Le Le", "The Drill"/"Flow", "Cheeba Cheeba"/"Kharma"
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True & Livin'
- Released: April 19, 2005
- Label: LiveUp Records
- Singles: "Bird's Eye View"/"Luv", Temperature"/"The Bay", "Soo Tall"
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Break a Dawn
- Released: June 13, 2006
- Label: LiveUp Records
- Singles: "Act Right"/"Target Practice"
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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"
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The Take Over
- Released: February 17, 2009
- Label: Gold Dust Media
- Singles: "Juicy Juice"/"Antenna"/"Rush"
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EPs
Album information
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Enter the Woods
- Released: 1997
- Label: n/a
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New Dimensions
- Released: 1998
- Label: n/a
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Starship
- Released: 1998
- Label: n/a
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Chapter 4
- Released: 1999
- Label: n/a
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Compilations/Mixtapes
Album information
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Curb Servin': The Mixtape Sessions
- Released: July 29, 2003
- Label: Raptivism Records
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Politicks: Collabs & B-Sides
- Released: 2004
- Label: LiveUp Records
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Family Business
- Released: October 5, 2004
- Label: LiveUp Records
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Street Legends
- Released: 2007
- Label: LiveUp Records
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