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Zumbi

First and foremost Eligh is a poet.  Instead of using a blank sheet of paper to display his art he chooses bass filled beats as the backdrop of his masterpieces.  Like a fine wine this album seems to get better with age.  With each successive listen I find myself more and more satisfied and intrigued.  It’s enjoyable watching Eligh’s style, personality and wisdom evolve over time.  I think one thing that has improved on this album is the clarity of Eligh’s flow.  It is no secret that Eligh can rap fast but sometimes rappers like this can alienate their audience by rapping too fast and leaving their listeners a little lost.  This album has found the happy medium of those ever impressive quick rap skills with the balance of clarity.  Rapping quickly is a skill that is left for only a select few but the amount of fast-rapping emcees that actually articulate well enough to make their lyrics accessible is far fewer still.  Aside from flow, Eligh gives us behind the scenes access to his struggles with drug use, low self-esteem and confusion over his place in this world.  Yet even through tough subject matter the underlying tone of this album is very positive and hopeful indeed.  You can’t help but feel complete compassion for Eligh after listening to this album and a sense of wanting to be part of his movement for a better world.

Production: Eligh

Features: Aesop Rock, Basik, Brother Ali, Inspired Flight, K-Flay, Lisa Ahlstrom, Luckyiam, Marty James, Paris Hayes, Paul Datah, Pigeon John, Rifleman, Scarub, The Grouch, Zumbi

Label: Legendary Music

Eligh - ‘Love Ov My Life ft. Luckyiam’

Eligh – ‘Find Yourself’

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’

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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