PRESS QUOTES

“Heroes in the Healing of the Nation” has a timeless quality, one that makes radically different sounding songs like the bass heavy “Drop It On the 1″ and the light and Carribean influenced “Journey to Forever” with Mystic fit together seamlessly. The Grouch & Zion I are serious about their craft, but this album is seriously fun.”
- Rap Reviews.com 8.5/10

“Zion I's seventh LP, Atomic Clock, sees the duo continue to give purists what the underground's been missing, with tracks like the rebellious "Always".”
- Danny Mclean, The Source

“On Atomic Clock, Amp [Live] fuses conscious indie rap aesthetics with the world of dub and in doing so concocts Zion I’s strongest outing since True & Livin…. Zumbi melds effortlessly with the beats as uplifting manifestos seem to spill from his pores. 4/5 stars.”
- URB Magazine

“The beauty of “Atomic Clock” is that from the “Foreword” to the “Auto Automic” finale, you could pull any song from this release and open the eyes of a jaded hip-hop listener who thinks that rap really IS dead in 2010. Zion I proudly and loudly prove that’s the furthest thing from the truth. If the end really is coming, flip your playlist and start with Z instead of A, so you can go out on a musical and literal high note.”
- RapReviews.com

“Zion I manage to do what they do best while constantly evolving, both lyrically and musically….Production on the record is consistent as always, but Amp Live still manages to innovate, creating unique textures from unlikely sound pairings….Atomic Clock gives us another installment of Zion I’s trademark pensive lyricism and varying production that makes for good repeat listening.”
- Okayplayer.com

“Ultimately, Atomic Clock must be considered Zion I’s best album”
- Alarm Press

“The Take Over–a post-modern sonic mash-up for Generation O–is Zion I’s best attempt at turning their underground crusade into an overground movement.”
- URB

“Unabashedly upbeat, MC Zumbi compares ghetto life to being a “caged bird,” but even when he dismisses haters, he sounds optimistic. Mad-scientist producer Amplive — whose Radiohead and MGMT remixes created a buzz last year — blends jazz-influenced, melodic orchestrations with stark electro-bass rhythms, and on “Country Baked Yams,” devises a unique Southern sci-fi vibe, mixing eight-bit blips with psychedelic soul.”
- SPIN.com

“Upbeat and energetic, Zion I’s sixth record The Takeover is a genre-bending mishmash of beats crafted by producer AmpLive that provides a relevant, updated backdrop for rapper Zumbi’s socially-conscious lyrics.”
- Okayplayer.com

“[Zion-I] has earned a reputation for having a dynamic live act as well as for putting out high-quality albums for the better part of a decade.”
- Eric Arnold, SFGate.com, Sept. 2007

“Lying somewhere between the abstract rhyme cadence of Blackalicious and the velvety aura of Digable Planets, Zion I is definitely on some new shit…Over the rumbling drum kick and a Premier-esque piano riff, Zion MC and Asia exchange a heat-seeking lyrics in what could be one of the more acclaimed independent singles of the year.”
- The Source, February 2000

The mellow vocals of Zion against the kinetic pace of the backbeat makes for a great contrast.”
- Billboard, Janary 15, 2000

“Zion I let their inner light shine and oh do they ever bless us. Inconspicuous and underrated, this East Bay hip-hop trio has been leaving busters lost in space ever since the Jung list classic Inner Light single induced nods from even the most drum ‘n bass phobic heads…They vibe best on ‘How May Times’ and ‘Trippin,’ lacing irresistible beats with lyrics so intelligent and soulful you wonder why we can’t just all live the good life Zion I Preaches.”
- URB, March/April 1999

“Also keeping it transcendental is Oakland’s Zion I. The trio’s “Critical” rides some sublimely breezy Fender Rhodes textures courtesy of producer Amp Live and drops some disarming populist rap philosophizing from guest MC Planet Asia…Geez we’ve cone a long way since ‘Fuck Tha Police’.”
- Vibe, March 1999

“…the trio achieve the jungle/hip-hop balance that UK cats have tried for years and also challenge the typical indie hip-hop conventions of catering to what’s hot.”
- URB, March/April 1999

“While these brothers are still operating on the low, their production and vocals are wound tighter than a Bay Watch bathing suits…the whole thing is hot. Hot to death.”
- MTV, News 1998

MEDIA RESOURCES