Zion I

Last updated

Zion I
Zioni.jpg
Amp Live (left) and Baba Zumbi (right).
Background information
Origin Oakland, California, U.S.
Genres Alternative hip hop [1]
Years active1996–2021
Labels
  • Ground Control
  • Raptivism
  • Live Up
  • Gold Dust
Past members
Website www.zionicrew.com

Zion I was an American hip hop project founded by MC and producer Baba Zumbi (real name Stephen Gaines) in Oakland, California. [2] K-Genius and Amp Live were also project members. [3]

Contents

Career

Originally formed as a group, Zion I released the debut studio album, Mind over Matter , in 2000. [4] It was nominated for "Independent Album of the Year" by The Source . [5] Deep Water Slang V2.0 was released in 2003. [6]

In 2005, Zion I released True & Livin' . [5] It featured guest appearances from Gift of Gab, Talib Kweli, and Aesop Rock. [7]

Heroes in the City of Dope , the first collaborative album with The Grouch, was released in 2006. [8] In 2009, Zion I released The Takeover . [9]

In 2010, Zion I released Atomic Clock . [10] Heroes in the Healing of the Nation , the second collaborative studio album with The Grouch, was released in 2011. [11] In 2012, Zion I released Shadowboxing , which was included on SF Weekly 's "10 Best Bay Area Hip-Hop Records of 2012" list. [12]

In 2015, Amp Live left the group, and Zion I became Baba Zumbi's one-man project. [2]

In 2016, Zion I released The Labyrinth, their first studio album not to include Amp Live. [13]

Death of Stephen “Baba Zumbi” Gaines

On August 12, 2021, Gaines checked himself into the Alta Bates Summit Medical Center for a mental health examination. [14] He had reportedly also contracted COVID-19 roughly three weeks prior. [14] On August 13, 2021, he died of initially unknown causes at the age of 48. [15] [16] [17] On August 20, 2021, the Gaines family announced that they hired attorneys to investigate what they believed was a suspicious death. [18]

In May 2022, the Alameda County Coroner’s Bureau finalized a report detailing Gaines's death. [14] According to officers and hospital staff, Gaines experienced a panic attack which involved him chasing hospital staff for fifteen minutes and putting a security officer in a "choke hold." The report stated that Gaines died after being held down by three hospital security guards and handcuffed by officers from the Berkeley Police Department while unconscious. [19]

Members

Discography

Studio albums

Compilation albums

EPs

Singles

Guest appearances

References

  1. ↑ Weiner, Erik (September 3, 2013). "SUPERB Fall 2013 Lineup". The Daily Californian . Retrieved September 20, 2019.
  2. 1 2 John, Matt St. (February 28, 2018). "The Reawakening of Zion I's Baba Zumbi". East Bay Express . Retrieved September 4, 2019.
  3. ↑ Keast, Darren (June 14, 2000). "Changing the True School". SF Weekly . Archived from the original on September 4, 2019. Retrieved September 4, 2019.
  4. ↑ Phaneuf, Whitney (October 24, 2012). "Zion I Fully Embraces the EDM Craze". East Bay Express . Retrieved September 20, 2019.
  5. 1 2 Braidwood, Stefan (May 11, 2005). "Zion I: True & Livin'". PopMatters . Retrieved September 20, 2019.
  6. ↑ Drumming, Neil (February 21, 2003). "Deep Water Slang v2.0 (2003) – Zion I". Entertainment Weekly . Archived from the original on October 23, 2014. Retrieved September 20, 2019.
  7. ↑ Mudede, Charles (May 18, 2005). "Wonder Twins". The Stranger . Retrieved September 20, 2019.
  8. ↑ Brown, Marisa. "Zion I & the Grouch Are Heroes in the City of Dope". AllMusic . Retrieved August 6, 2014.
  9. ↑ Berry, David (February 1, 2009). "Zion I: The Take Over". PopMatters . Retrieved September 20, 2019.
  10. ↑ Maine, David (January 12, 2011). "Zion I: Atomic Clock". PopMatters . Retrieved September 20, 2019.
  11. ↑ Faraone, Chris (May 6, 2011). "Zion I & the Grouch – Heroes In the Healing of the Nation". The Phoenix . Archived from the original on April 24, 2016. Retrieved September 20, 2019.
  12. ↑ Palmer, Tamara (December 21, 2012). "The 10 Best Bay Area Hip-Hop Records of 2012". SF Weekly . Archived from the original on September 24, 2015. Retrieved September 20, 2019.
  13. ↑ Dandridge-Lemco, Ben (April 17, 2017). "Zion I's "Wake Up!" Video Is A Call To Action". The Fader . Retrieved September 4, 2019.
  14. 1 2 3 Gartrell, Nate (September 30, 2022). "Exclusive: Zion I rapper Zumbi's death ruled a homicide, but no criminal charges filed". The Mercury News. Bay Area News Group. Retrieved May 24, 2023.
  15. ↑ St. Jawnson, Kershaw (August 14, 2021). "Bay Area Mourns as Reports Say Baba Zumbi of Zion I Dies of COVID-19". All HipHop. Retrieved August 15, 2021.
  16. ↑ Moench, Mallory (August 15, 2021). "Bay Area rapper Zumbi dies at a Berkeley hospital. Fans are grieving and police investigating". San Francisco Chronicle.
  17. ↑ Woodrow, Mallory (August 20, 2021). "Family of hip hop artist Stephen 'Baba Zumbi' Gaines hires attorneys to investigate hospital death". ABC7 Bay Area.
  18. ↑ Woodrow, Mallory (August 20, 2021). "Family of hip hop artist Stephen 'Baba Zumbi' Gaines hires attorneys to investigate hospital death". ABC7 Bay Area.
  19. ↑ Voynovskaya, Nastia (October 5, 2022). "Criminal Charges in Zumbi Homicide Investigation Still Possible, Family Says". KQED. PBS. Retrieved May 24, 2023.
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