ZION I
Jun 1, 2005 12:00 PM, By Brolin Winning
A two-man crew based in Oakland, Calif., Zion I has been creating next-level hip-hop for many years and building a devoted following through imaginative beats and intelligent wordplay. Producer and DJ Amp Live and MC Zion first came together in the early 1990s, when both were attending college in Atlanta. As part of the group Metafour, they were signed to Tommy Boy and, like so many others, later dropped by the label. Undaunted, Amp and Zion struck off on their own and relocated to the Bay Area. Once there, Nu Gruv picked up the duo and released their first single, “Inner Light,” in 1998.
Zion I's next 12-inch, “Critical,” featured Planet Asia and quickly became an underground hit, paving the way for the full-length debut Mind Over Matter (Ground Control, 2000), which was universally hailed by critics and listeners alike. Since then, Amp and Zion have been working relentlessly. Their sophomore LP, Deep Water Slang (Raptivism), appeared in 2003, and they also put out several mix CDs; licensed their music to television and films; and established their own label, Live Up Records. Now, they hit up listeners with True & Livin' (Live Up, 2005), which may be their best offering yet.
Zion I's future-funk sound is a result of endless hours in the studio, a balanced fusion of high technology and organic instrumentation. An Akai MPC3000, Digidesign Pro Tools and Apple Logic Pro are the main tools. But even though the duo uses programmed sounds and samples, live instrumentation is integral. “Definitely keep the live instruments, 'cause a lot of the stuff that comes with computers, they're cool, but they don't necessarily sound right,” Amp says. “I think a good studio just has everything.” As far as his keyboard collection goes, Amp has a varied arsenal, including a Yamaha Motif, a Korg microKorg, a Fender Rhodes, an Ensoniq ASR-10 and a Roland Juno-106. A key mic is the Blue Mouse, and for monitors, it's a pair of KRK Rokits. But first and foremost, Amp couldn't live without his Motif and MPC.
Zion I's music has always benefited from freaky electronic flourishes, though the drum 'n' bass vibe that permeated earlier tunes has made way for more rock and blues excursions this time around, especially on “Amerika” and “Oh Lawd.” When speaking on the change in direction, Zion and Amp contend that it was more coincidental than deliberate. “It seems like it just happened,” Zion says. “You know, we try to make albums that are like you get the meat and potatoes, and then we add spices to it. So those kinds of songs are just like the spices; they're kind of out there, but they keep people's ears open.”
Amp still has some d'n'b joints up his sleeve but is also looking to move on to new frontiers. “I'm putting together an all — drum 'n' bass album for someone, instrumental,” he says. “After that, that'll probably be it. There's just so much other stuff out there.”
While many subterranean acts are revisiting the production styles of yesteryear, Zion I steers clear of blatant imitation, though the duo is definitely influenced by that classic boom-bap. “The goal I set was like [A Tribe Called Quest's] Low End Theory mixed with the Pharcyde,” Amp admits. “That's the vibe I kept the whole time, but this is what came out. When you make something, you keep on listening to it, add stuff and take stuff away.”
“He's got mad styles,” Zion says in appreciation of Amp's production. “Some heads, they just do one style; they do that really well, but that's all they do. [Amp] does hella different kinds of stuff, so it has all these different elements.”
All of the elements come together on True & Livin'. Cameos from Talib Kweli, Aesop Rock, Del and Gift of Gab should help bring some attention, but the real selling point is the music itself. Zion describes the sound as “conscious knock-slapula.” “I mean, the main thing we're trying to do is just make people feel good; that's probably the best thing that happens — that's the reaction I like to get,” Zion says. “So I think it's feel-good music. It's hip-hop, but it's soul music, essentially, at the core.”
| Want to use this article? Click here for options! |  |
