This duo of genre-bender pride has made a name for itself on the Bay Area scene by successfully mixing spiritualism and hip-hop. Oakland’s MC Zumbi and DJ/producer Amp Live blend hip-hop and trip-hop beats with lyrics focused on a message of unity, hope, and spiritual awareness. After a couple of indie hits, the duo slowly made inroads while opening for rap royalty like De La Soul, Rakim, and Run-D.M.C. Their debut album, Mind Over Matter, was released in May of 2000 and features collaborations with fellow Bay Area rappers Rasco, Planet Asia, and the Grouch. Although Zion I operates out of Berkeley, the group was originally formed in Atlanta, making their music difficult to classify as strictly West Coast hip-hop. Their musical style makes them even harder to define. With a style that borrows from hip-hop, trance, drum’n’bass, and reggae, Zion I’s style is equally mystical and mystifying.
Tag Archives: Hero
Grieves – “Shreds”
Grieves, returns to deliver his fourth studio album, Winter & The Wolves. The insatiable, devil-may-care MC is well known for his meticulous exploration of life, love and loss, through a unique medley of hip-hop and soulful music. Together with B. Lewis, Grieves created 14 new tracks, combining organic pianos and guitars with boisterous synthesizers, to paint a colorful backdrop for his unique blend of rapping and singing.
A reflection on growth and maturity, Winter & The Wolves is about the instinctual fight for survival. It’s about suddenly finding that you’re all alone, facing countless hindrances to your livelihood, and having the courage to overcome them all. Tackling difficult obstacles like addiction and heartbreak, Grieves wrestles with the realization that life doesn’t get any easier as you get older. His signature combination of humor and gloom culminate to depict the struggle of a man’s inner turmoil between abandoning the dreams of his youth, and carving out a new path for himself in this world.
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Shreds is the first single from Grieves forthcoming album, Winter & The Wolves, available for pre-order NOW!
iTunes: bit.ly/WATWitunes
FifthElement: bit.ly/WATWFE
Amazon: bit.ly/WATWamz
Winter & The Wolves is due out 3.25.14 on Rhymesayers Entertainment.
rhymesayers.com/grieves
Grieves on Twitter: twitter.com/grievesmusic
Grieves on Facebook: facebook.com/grievesmusic
Grieves on Instagram: instagram.com/grieves
Rhymesayers on Twitter: twitter.com/rhymesayers
Rhymesayers on Facebook: facebook.com/rhymesayers
Rhymesayers on Instagram: instagram.com/rhymesayers
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