On its previous seven albums, Oakland hip-hop duo Zion I balanced the socially conscious lyrics and jazz sampling of its backpacker roots with electronic-based party beats. Zion I’s new album, ...

Zion I is back with a new project that celebrates his past and future. Spearheaded by rapper Baba Zumbi, the 21-track project features guest appearances from the late ...

Steve “Baba Zumbi” Gaines, founder of the hip-hop group Zion I, has died at age 49. The California rapper’s family confirmed his death to KQED Friday, but did not share a cause of death. AllHipHop ...

Oakland rap crew Zion I delivers MC Zumbi's deliberative rhymes over revved-up soul and spastic scraper beats engineered by AmpLive. The pair takes a generous view of technology's role in creating and ...

Celebrating 25 Years of J Dilla's 'Welcome 2 Detroit' On 'Welcome 2 Detroit,' the legendary rapper/producer did more than just announce himself, he painted a picture of his city using a palette from ...

Meet underground hip hop artist Zumbi, who performs as Zion I. In director Mohammad Gorjestani’s hybrid of a short film and a music video, “Zion I” will introduce you to a man making his way through ...

Zumbi, born Steve Gaines, made up half of the Oakland duo Zion I, who were stalwarts of the Bay Area hip-hop scene for decades. Zumbi died at 49 and what follows is an appreciation of his art and ...

Good luck finding this one in your local store. Since Bay Area distributor Nu Gruv Alliance recently went under, this forward thinking hip hop crew may be left high and dry with no distribution. But ...