Zion I
Zion I | |
|---|---|
 Amp Live (left) and Zion | |
| Background information | |
| Origin | Oakland, California, USA |
| Years active | 1998 – Present |
| Members | Zion Amp Live |
Zion I is a hip hop duo from Oakland, California. The duo consists of producer Amp Live and emcee Zion. DJ Khalid Aalim was a member for their debut album, but later split with the group. The two are highly respected underground artists, famous for Amp's live instrumentation production and Zion's poetic, positive and socially conscious lyrics. Zion I debuted in 1998 with an EP titled Starship, and their debut single "Inner Light". They have released three studio albums, 2000's Mind Over Matter, 2003's Deep Water Slang V2.0 and 2005's True & Livin'.
Early Years
The duo's musical roots stem back to early childhood. Amp Live began reassembling his family's radios at a young age, and soon began to play musical instruments like the drums and piano. He started crafting beats in his high school years, finding inspiration in a number of musical genres. Zion became fascinated by Hip Hop in it's 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 unique vocal tone and style wouldn't be accepted. Zion 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 rapping, like breath control, cadences and rhyme patterns. In 1991, Zion and Amp joined up with two other MC's to form a group called Metufour, and signed a deal with Tommy Boy Records. Their independent musical style wasn't what the label was looking for, causing the two to leave the group and the label.
Recording Career
After signing with independent label Nu Gruv Alliance, 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 IV. Their debut album Mind Over Matter finally surfaced in 2000. The effort was one of the most critically acclaimed underground albums of the year, being named Independent Album of the Year by The Source Magazine. Amp Live's futuristic production techniques and Zion'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, and was another highly acclaimed effort. Music videos were shot for the singles "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 and a compilation titled Politicks. They released another mixtape in 2004, Family Business, which served as a prelude to their anticipated third album. True & Livin' was released in early 2005, featuring guest appearances from popular underground artists Talib Kweli, Aesop Rock, Del Tha Funkee Homosapien and Gift Of Gab. The album was another highly praised release for them, featuring their widest range of musical styles. The single "The Bay" became a West Coast/College Radio hit, and featured a music video. Amp Live has furthered his production career, producing for artists like Linkin Park, Goapele and Planet Asia. His work has also been featured in a number of movies and TV shows, most prominently in ESPN's Playmakers, but also Honey, Big Fat Liar, America's Next Top Model, ESPN's SportsCenter. The duo currently finished a collaboration album with Living Legends member The Grouch, titled Heroes in the City of Dope, which is tentatively scheduled for release on October 10, 2006.
Discography
Albums/EP's
| Album cover | Album information |
|---|---|
Starship EP
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Chapter IV EP
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Mind Over Matter |
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Deep Water Slang V2.0
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True & Livin' |
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Heroes in the City of Dope
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Compilations/Mixtapes
Zion solo mixtapes
- The Science of Breath Vol. 1 (Released under the name Baba Zumbi, 2004)
- The Science of Breath Vol. 2 (Released under the name Baba Zumbi, 2006)
Amp Live solo mixtapes
- Electrowonderland Vol. 1: Drum N Bass Sessions (1997-2020 A.D.) (2006)
- Beats, Remixes & A Side of Mashups (2006)