Zion I
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Zion I was an influential alternative hip-hop project originating in Oakland, California, founded in 1996 by MC and producer Baba Zumbi (Stephen Gaines). The group initially consisted of Zumbi, K-Genius, and Amp Live. Throughout their career, Zion I released numerous albums, with their debut studio album, Mind over Matter (2000), receiving a nomination for “Independent Album of the Year” by The Source. Deep Water Slang V2.0 (2003), True & Livin’ (2005), and Heroes in the City of Dope (2006) followed, featuring collaborations with artists like Gift of Gab, Talib Kweli, and Aesop Rock.

Zion I continued to release acclaimed albums, such as Atomic Clock (2010) and Heroes in the Healing of the Nation (2011). In 2012, their album Shadowboxing made it onto SF Weekly’s “10 Best Bay Area Hip-Hop Records of 2012” list. Amp Live’s departure from the group in 2015 led to Zion I becoming Baba Zumbi’s solo project. Zumbi released The Labyrinth (2016) and several other albums without Amp Live’s involvement.

Tragically, Baba Zumbi passed away at the age of 49 in 2021, following hospitalization for COVID-19. His death sparked an investigation by the Gaines family, who believed it to be suspicious. Zion I’s legacy remains in the form of their impactful discography and their influence on the alternative hip-hop scene.

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