Zion I Albums (6)
'Break a Dawn'
Release Date 12/15/2007
Tracks 14
Label Universal Japan
See Album Tracklist and Review
'Zion I & the Grouch Are Heroes in the City of Dope'
Release Date 10/9/2006
Tracks 15
Label Om
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What The Critics Say
Bay Area hip-hoppers Zion I & the Grouch have stayed relatively off the national radar, even though they've been in the scene for a while now. With the upsurge in popularity of hyphy in 2006, however, as well as greater exposure thanks to a signing with Om Records, the group has been able to gain exposure in the rest of the U.S. Their first album together, Zion I & the Grouch Are Heroes in the City of Dope is partially introspection, partially consciousness, and partially hyphy-inspired dance music. Fellow West Coasters Chali 2na (formerly of Jurassic 5) and Mistah F.A.B. make guest appearances, giving credibility to both their backpacker side and their street side. The production on the record is laid-back and smooth, giving plenty of space to the MCs' rhymes while still making itself known. Unfortunately, there's nothing on Zion I & the Grouch Are Heroes in the City of Dope that really grabs you, makes you listen, aside from the occasional line or two, but it's still a pretty decent album, and nice to hear how well Zion I and the Grouch work together. ~ Marisa Brown, All Music Guide
'Deep Water Slang V2.0'
Release Date 2/18/2003
Tracks 34
Label Raptivism
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What The Critics Say
This Berkeley-based (big ups, Cal Bears!) underground hip-hop duo's sophomore effort is chock-full of their usual lyrical hooks and flows, but as with much product released by those looking to make their way in the bling-bling marketplace, it suffers somewhat in the production department. Not that the overly synthetic sounds -- such as depthless keys, Casio-style hi-hat swipes, and denatured snare hits -- aren't still hot when it comes to artists as varied (and/or lame) as Jay-Z and 50 Cent. On the contrary, hip-hop's musical register has moved farther and farther (some would argue backwards) away from noise and impact in favor of highlighting its vocal counterparts ("Here comes the drums!" this ain't). Truth is, as wordsmiths go, MC Zion is one of the more interesting talents flying underneath MTV and BET's radar. But Deep Water Slang V2.0 works best when the music matches him in skill, such as on the varied "Finger Paint" or in the poignant piano work found on "Flow," featuring the underground siren Goapele. Or when MC Zion gets some added wordplay from hip-hop all-stars like Aceyalone, whose turn on the homage to all things green, "Cheeba Cheeba," is this (ahem) joint's finest moment. Don't misunderstand, the music has its moments too, such as on the stellar "Kick Snare" (featuring some humorous German samples and an addictive beatbox complement from Killa Kela) or "Dune," a silky smooth trance dance track that closes out the album. Not to mention the hidden track, "One More Thing," which showcases some heartfelt guitar plucking. But Deep Water Slang V2.0 may leave those with a hip-hop memory that goes back farther than The Chronic wanting more meat and less vegetables. Dig? ~ Scott Thill, All Music Guide
'Mind over Matter'
Release Date 5/30/2000
Tracks 21
Label Ground Control
See Album Tracklist and Review
What The Critics Say
This Bay Area trio's debut album is a loaded 22-track effort that dares you to try and classify it. Influenced equally by hip-hop and various forms of electronica, Zion I offers listeners a collage of new sounds mixed with ancient spiritualism. Mind over Matter's lead single, "Creation," is a track that combines choppy drum snares, razor sharp scratches, and great interplay between Zion and Bay Area rapper Planet Asia, and should appeal to hip-hop fans who are down with abstract rappers such as Blackalicious and Digable Planets. Other songs such as "Metropolis," with its mellow keyboards, are bound to appeal to fans of trip-hop. On top of Amp Live's varying beats are Zion's mystical rhymes such as "Trippin'," which focus on spirituality and are a welcome relief from much of the materialism that permeates modern hip-hop. Many of the other tracks fall somewhere in between rap and trip-hop, and its lack of a center may mean that Zion I may struggle to find listeners. That's too bad, because, unlike so many other artists, this trio actually has something to say. ~ Jon Azpiri, All Music Guide
