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Zion I – True & Livin’ (2005)

August 29, 2010
*LiveUp Records, Aesop Rock, Del The Funky Homosapien, Fred Hampton Jr., Gift of Gab, Talib Kweli, Zion I, Zumbi, ^Amp Live
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This album is the absolute most pure essence of hip hop.  Its crazy to me that Zion I aren’t super famous by now but in a way I’m secretly glad that the  mainstream hasn’t caught wind of them yet and ruined their amazing vibe.  One of the best things about this album is that you can straight up listen to every track without wanting to skip anything.  From beginning to end it is packed with sublime cuts.  There aren’t any Zion I albums that I don’t like but I’m gonna go out on a limb here and say that this album personifies their overall feel better than any other.  It’s inspiring, uplifting and only gets better with time.

Production:  Amp Live

Features:  Aesop Rock, Del The Funky Homosapien, Fred Hampton Jr., Gift of Gab, Talib Kweli

Label:  LiveUp Records

Website:  http://www.zionicrew.com

Zion I – ‘ Bird’s Eye View’

The Grouch & Eligh – Say G & E (2009)

August 28, 2010
*Legendary Music, Blu, Eligh, Gift of Gab, Living Legends, Mark Bell, Mike Marshall, Mistah Fab, Mystic, Paris Hayes, Pigeon John, Sage Francis, Slug, The Grouch, The Grouch & Eligh, ^Amp Live, ^DJ Fresh, ^Flying Lotus, ^Rick Rock
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Wow this album has grown on me so damn much.  There is just so much lyrical substance on this album its ridiculous.  The Grouch & Eligh are such good souls and really are for a big improvement of humanity in general.  I love how they are not afraid to call people out for the bullshit they are contributing to the world and they certainly aren’t afraid of taking a different path in life.  But the best thing about it is that you don’t get the sense that they are preaching at you, you just feel like you are sitting there listening to one of your homies kick some real deep shit.  This is an album that may just make you a better person by listening to it and on top of that it can provide some strong support for getting through some hard times.

Production:  Amp Live, DJ Fresh, Eligh, Flying Lotus, Rick Rock

Features:  Blu, DJ Fresh, Gift of Gab, Mark Bell, Mike Marshall, Mistah Fab, Mystic, Paris Hayes, Pigeon John, Sage Francis, Slug

Label:  Legendary Music

Website:  http://www.myspace.com/thegrouchandeligh

The Grouch & Eligh – ‘ Worried About the World ft. Mike Marshall & Sage Francis)

The Grouch & Eligh – ‘ Old Souls ft. Blu’

Zion I – Mind Over Matter (2000)

August 6, 2010
*Ground Control Records, Eclipse 427, Khalid Aalid, Knowmatic, Mrs. Gaines, Planet Asia, Rasco, The Grouch, VinRoc, Zion I, Zumbi, ^418 HZ Productions, ^Amp Live
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Zion I is my kind of hip hop because they are all about positivity, spirituality, progression and respect 100% of the time.  They don’t make a few obligatory “positive” tracks per album & then proceed to contradict themselves with the remaining tracks like so many other hip hoppers do.  Amp Live provides the beats for Zumbi’s smooth and uplifting flow and they truly have a dope dynamic.  This album was one of the first to introduce me to the other side of hip hop that didn’t include guns, drugs and ho’s and it was definitely something that I could relate to more.  This is Zion I’s first album and I can honestly say that I have enjoyed this and every release since.  Zion I has been, is now, and will forever be one of my all time favorites.

Production:  418 Hz Productions, Amp Live

Features:  Eclipse 427, Khalid Aalid, Knowmatic, Mrs. Gaines, Planet Asia, Rasco, The Grouch, VinRoc

Label:  Ground Control Records

Full Preview:  Mind Over Matter

Website:  http://www.zionicrew.com

Zion I – ‘Silly Puddy ft. The Grouch’

 

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