Zion I
Hip-Hop group Zion I continue to forge new ground musically on their latest LP Shadowboxing, a beat-heavy hip-hop album decidedly grittier than past projects. Always pushing the literal—and figurative—needle forward, the duo, consisting of emcee Zumbi and producer Amp Live, have once again created something experimental and heartfelt. Shadowboxing features guests such as Bassnectar, Grouch and Eligh, Collie Buddz and Goapele. A move from the live instrumentation of their last record, Shadowboxing enlists a range of producers such as Traxamillion, Timeline, DexBeats, Minnesota, who bring an unconventional, eclectic flavor to the album. With its futuristic beat, “Float,” produced by Santa Cruz up-and-comer Minnesota, is reminiscent of Zion I’s earlier work, Mind Over Matter. On “Bounce,” Bassnectar masters the manipulating of frequencies and crushing basslines. “I just did my thing with the image of a huge crowd going ham in my mind while I penned the verse,” explains Zumbi of recording the track. Thematically, Shadowboxing is signature Zion I: “This is an album about metaphorical kicks and throws at oneself,” explains Zumbi, “looking inward at the shadow self, and seeking awareness in the darkness of one’s own psyche.” To support the album, Zion I will hit 30 cities from Brooklyn to Boulder and Atlanta to Orlando with Santa Cruz Dubstep DJ Minnesota for the “2012 Shadowboxing Tour.” Since 1999, Zion I has released seven critically acclaimed LPs, including Mind Over Matter (1998), Deep Water Slang (2000), True & Livin’ (2003), Break of Dawn (2004), The Take Over (2009), and Atomic Clock (2010). They also have two highly acclaimed albums under the name [Zion I and The Grouch with long time collaborator The Grouch, Hereos in the City of Dope and Hereos in the Healing of the Nation. Voted best Bay Area hip-hop group by the SF Weekly numerous times, Zion I have been featured in media outlets from XXL, The Source, Vibe, YRB, 944, Prefixmag.com, Popmatters, 7+7, SF Chronicle, and SF Bay Guardian.
Sol is a hip hop artist from Seattle, Washington, whose understated lyrics, exuberant performances, and diverse instrumentation have solidified him among the leaders of the northwest music scene. 2012 marked a transcendent year for Sol’s career, starting with the highly anticipated independent album Yours Truly (1/20/12), which quickly rose to #1 on iTunes US Hip-Hop Chart (#4 worldwide) and debuted on Billboard’s Heatseekers Albums chart. Following a west coast tour, as well as performances before a ruckus crowd at Live Nation’s Sasquatch Music Festival and a sold out farewell show at Seattle’s Showbox at the Market, Sol left the United States on a ten month globe-trotting hiatus as part of the Bonderman Honors Travel Fellowship he was awarded at the University of Washington. Ten months and ten countries later, Sol returned to the United States, evolved and inspired. Now equipped with a world of perspective, Sol is ready to share his newest project, Eyes Open, available now.
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