In between their critically acclaimed sophomore release and their forthcoming LP, True & Livin (due out Spring of 2005), hip-hop duo Zion-I bring fans a 14-track mixtape Family Business.
A raw hip-hop record with an emphasis on the art of MCing, Family Business blends old school breaks and melodious loops with a taste of drum ‘n’ bass.
As the name implies, Family Business features many extended family members of the Zion-I crew, including Lyrics Born, Vast Aire, A-plus, Pep Love, Encore, C Rayz Walz, and Raashan Ahmad of Crown City Rockers. Production on the cd is handled by Zion-I track-master, Amp-Live.
With tracks like the electro-groove heavy “Oxygen,” the group touches on the socio-political nature of our times. On the albums’ single “Act Right,” newcomer Miss Marianna and Encore provide knowledge to the music industry game from the emcee’s perspective. And, to add gasoline to the fire, Bay Area brethren, Lyrics Born provides his silver tongued flow to the highly anticipated remix of Zion-I’s classic joint “Silly Puddy.”
Coming off the success of their critically acclaimed debut, Mind Over Matter, Zion-I dropped their sophomore release, Deep Water Slang version 2 in Spring of 2003. Nominated for Independent Album of the Year by both THE SOURCE AWARDS and the new VIBE AWARDS in 2003, Deep Water Slang proved to be a powerful melding of political personal poetics with soulful, electronic-inflected rhythms.
Zion I’s latest offering will prove to be yet another jewel in the catalogue of independent hip-hop’s most adventurous and eclectic group. Family Business drops October 5, 2004. The much anticipated LP True & Livin’ (Live Up Records) is due out in Spring 2005.
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