# Zion I

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"Starship EP" redirects here. For other recordings, see [Starship (disambiguation)](/source/Starship_(disambiguation)).

"What U Need" redirects here. For the JoJo song, see [Good to Know](/source/Good_to_Know).

**Zion I** was an American [hip hop](/source/Hip_hop_music) project founded by [MC](/source/Rapping) and [producer](/source/Record_producer) **Baba Zumbi** (real name Stephen Gaines) in Oakland, California.[2] K-Genius and [Amp Live](/source/Amp_Live) were also project members.[3]

## Career

Originally formed as a group, Zion I released the debut studio album, *[Mind over Matter](/source/Mind_over_Matter_(Zion_I_album))*, in 2000.[4] It was nominated for "Independent Album of the Year" by *[The Source](/source/The_Source_(magazine))*.[5] *[Deep Water Slang V2.0](/source/Deep_Water_Slang_V2.0)* was released in 2003.[6]

In 2005, Zion I released *[True & Livin'](/source/True_%26_Livin')*.[5] It featured guest appearances from [Gift of Gab](/source/Gift_of_Gab_(rapper)), [Talib Kweli](/source/Talib_Kweli), and [Aesop Rock](/source/Aesop_Rock).[7]

*[Heroes in the City of Dope](/source/Heroes_in_the_City_of_Dope)*, the first collaborative album with [The Grouch](/source/The_Grouch_(rapper)), was released in 2006.[8] In 2009, Zion I released *[The Takeover](/source/The_Takeover_(Zion_I_album))*.[9]

In 2010, Zion I released *[Atomic Clock](/source/Atomic_Clock_(Zion_I_album))*.[10] *[Heroes in the Healing of the Nation](/source/Heroes_in_the_Healing_of_the_Nation)*, the second collaborative studio album with The Grouch, was released in 2011.[11] In 2012, Zion I released *[Shadowboxing](/source/Shadowboxing_(album))*, which was included on *[SF Weekly](/source/SF_Weekly)'*s "10 Best Bay Area Hip-Hop Records of 2012" list.[12]

In 2015, Amp Live left the group, and Zion I became Baba Zumbi's one-man project.[2]

In 2016, Zion I released *The Labyrinth*, their first studio album not to include Amp Live.[13]

## Death of Stephen “Baba Zumbi” Gaines

On August 12, 2021, Gaines checked himself into the [Alta Bates Summit Medical Center](/source/Alta_Bates_Summit_Medical_Center) for a mental health examination.[14] He had reportedly also contracted [COVID-19](/source/COVID-19) roughly three weeks prior.[14] On August 13, 2021, he died of initially unknown causes at the age of 48.[15][16][17] On August 20, 2021, the Gaines family announced that they hired attorneys to investigate what they believed was a suspicious death.[18]

In May 2022, the Alameda County Coroner’s Bureau finalized a report detailing Gaines's death.[14] According to officers and hospital staff, Gaines experienced a panic attack which involved him chasing hospital staff for fifteen minutes and putting a security officer in a "choke hold." The report stated that Gaines died after being held down by three hospital security guards and handcuffed by officers from the [Berkeley Police Department](/source/Berkeley_Police_Department) while unconscious.[19]

## Members

- Baba Zumbi – rapper (1996–2021)
- K-Genius – DJ (2000–2002)
- [Amp Live](/source/Amp_Live) – producer, DJ (1996–2015)

## Discography

### Studio albums

- *[Mind over Matter](/source/Mind_over_Matter_(Zion_I_album)) (2000)*
- *[Deep Water Slang V2.0](/source/Deep_Water_Slang_V2.0) (2003)*
- *[True & Livin'](/source/True_%26_Livin') (2005)*
- *[Break a Dawn](/source/Break_a_Dawn) (2006)*
- *[Heroes in the City of Dope](/source/Heroes_in_the_City_of_Dope) (2006) (with [The Grouch](/source/The_Grouch_(rapper)))*
- *[The Takeover](/source/The_Takeover_(Zion_I_album)) (2009)*
- *[Atomic Clock](/source/Atomic_Clock_(Zion_I_album)) (2010)*
- *[Heroes in the Healing of the Nation](/source/Heroes_in_the_Healing_of_the_Nation) (2011) (with The Grouch)*
- *[Shadowboxing](/source/Shadowboxing_(album)) (2012)*
- *Shadowboxing (The Remixes) (2013)*
- *The Labyrinth (2016)*
- *Stay Woke (2016) (with Mikos Da Gawd)*
- *The Tonite Show with Zion I (2018) (with [DJ Fresh](/source/DJ_Fresh_(American_DJ)))*
- *The Endless Summa Mixtape (2018)*
- *Ritual Mystik (2018)*

### Compilation albums

- *Curb Servin': The Mixtape Sessions (2003)*
- *[Politicks: Collabs & B-Sides](/source/Politicks:_Collabs_%26_B-Sides) (2004)*
- *Family Business (2004)*
- *The Alpha: 1996–2006 (2006)*
- *Science Of Breath (2006)*
- *Street Legends (2007)*
- *The Search & The Seizure (2008)*
- *Bringers Of The Dawn (2009)*
- *Zion I Sampler (2010)*
- *Live At KEXP Vol. 5 (2009)*
- *Hella Fresh Fest (2013)*
- *The Rapture: Live From Oaklandia (2015)*
- *Street Legends (Volume 2) (2017)*

### EPs

- *Enter The Woods (1997)*
- *New Dimensions (1998)*
- *Starship (1998)*
- *Chapter 4 (1999)*
- *The Vapors (2013)*
- *The Masters Of Ceremony (2014)*
- *Libations (2014)*
- *The Sun Moon And Stars (2015)*
- *Wake Up (2017)*

### Singles

- *"Inner Light" (1998)*
- *"Critical" b/w "Venus" (1999)*
- *"Revolution (B-Boy Anthem)" (2000)*
- *"Boom Bip" b/w "Le Le Le" (2001)*
- *"Cheeba Cheeba" b/w "Kharma" (2002)*
- *"The Drill" b/w "Flow" (2003)*
- *"Salt in the Game" b/w "Break Rap" (2005)*
- *"Bird's Eye View" b/w "Luv" (2005)*
- *"Temperature" b/w "The Bay" (2005)*
- *"Act Right" b/w "Target Practice" (2006)*
- *"One" b/w "Trippin" (2006)*
- *"Hit 'Em" (2006) (with The Grouch)*
- *"Lift Me Up" (2007) (with The Grouch)*
- *"Count It Down (Nomak Remix)" (2007)*
- *"Juicy Juice" (2008)*
- *"We Don't Wife 'Em" (2016)*
- *"Saving Souls" (2016)*
- *"Peace" (2017) (with Locksmith)*
- *"End Times" (2020)*
- *"2 Eyes" (2021)*
- *"Stay Focused" (2021)*

### Guest appearances

- *[Linkin Park](/source/Linkin_Park) – "Plc.4 Mie Haed" from [Reanimation](/source/Reanimation_(Linkin_Park_album)) (2002)*
- *The Planets – "Can't Stop" from The Opening (2002)*
- *Triple Threat – "Hit 'Em Off" from Many Styles (2003)*
- *[Goapele](/source/Goapele) – "The Daze" from [Even Closer](/source/Even_Closer) (2004)*
- *Relic – "Trust Yourself" from Note to Self (2004)*
- *Rico Pabón – "Pa 'Fuera" from Louder Than Fiction (2006)*
- *[Ty](/source/Ty_(rapper)) – "Oh!" from [Closer](/source/Closer_(Ty_album)) (2006)*
- *DJ Deckstream – "Spread Love" from Soundtracks (2007)*
- *Omina – "Keep Move'n" from Bust (2007)*
- *[Crown City Rockers](/source/Crown_City_Rockers) – "B-Boy (Remix)" (2007)*
- *[Guru](/source/Guru_(rapper)) – "For Ya Mind" from Guru's Jazzmatazz: Back to the Future (2008)*
- *[Ise Lyfe](/source/Ise_Lyfe) – "Thigh Bone" from Prince Cometh (2008)*
- *CLP – "Rockin' Wiz Us" from Supercontinental (2008)*
- *[The Jacka](/source/The_Jacka) – "Dream" from [Tear Gas](/source/Tear_Gas_(album)) (2009)*
- *Jern Eye – "Get Right" from Vision (2009)*
- *Webcam Hi-Fi – "Promised Land" from Livity Is My Temple (2009)*
- *[Bicasso](/source/Bicasso) – "Party Metroid" from Rebel Musiq (2009)*
- *Pro the Leader & Dopestyle – "Back Wit a Vengence" from Hip Hop Depression (2010)*
- *Rebelution – "Safe and Sound Remix" from Remix EP (2011)*
- *Minnesota – "Float" from Altered States LP (2012)*
- *[Latyrx](/source/Latyrx) – "It's Time" from [The Second Album](/source/The_Second_Album_(Latyrx_album)) (2013)*
- *[Matisyahu](/source/Matisyahu) – "Built to Survive" from [Akeda](/source/Akeda_(album)) (2014)*
- *[Bassnectar](/source/Bassnectar) – "Lost in the Crowd" from [Noise vs. Beauty](/source/Noise_vs._Beauty) (2014)*
- *Unified Highway – "Same Thing Coming" from Unified Highway (2016)*
- *[Bassnectar](/source/Bassnectar) – "The Antidote" from All Colors (2020)*

## References

1. Weiner, Erik (September 3, 2013). ["SUPERB Fall 2013 Lineup"](https://www.dailycal.org/2013/09/03/superb-fall-2013-lineup/). *[The Daily Californian](/source/The_Daily_Californian)*. Retrieved September 20, 2019.

1. John, Matt St. (February 28, 2018). ["The Reawakening of Zion I's Baba Zumbi"](https://www.eastbayexpress.com/oakland/the-reawakening-of-zion-is-baba-zumbi/Content?oid=13674336). *[East Bay Express](/source/East_Bay_Express)*. Retrieved September 4, 2019.

1. Keast, Darren (June 14, 2000). ["Changing the True School"](https://web.archive.org/web/20190904085658/http://www.sfweekly.com/music/changing-the-true-school/). *[SF Weekly](/source/SF_Weekly)*. Archived from [the original](http://www.sfweekly.com/music/changing-the-true-school/) on September 4, 2019. Retrieved September 4, 2019.

1. Phaneuf, Whitney (October 24, 2012). ["Zion I Fully Embraces the EDM Craze"](https://www.eastbayexpress.com/oakland/zion-i-fully-embraces-the-edm-craze/Content?oid=3372008). *[East Bay Express](/source/East_Bay_Express)*. Retrieved September 20, 2019.

1. Braidwood, Stefan (May 11, 2005). ["Zion I: True & Livin'"](https://www.popmatters.com/zion1-true-2496121232.html). *[PopMatters](/source/PopMatters)*. Retrieved September 20, 2019.

1. Drumming, Neil (February 21, 2003). ["Deep Water Slang v2.0 (2003) – Zion I"](http://www.ew.com/ew/article/0,,422817,00.html). *[Entertainment Weekly](/source/Entertainment_Weekly)*. [Archived](https://web.archive.org/web/20141023021434/http://www.ew.com/ew/article/0,,422817,00.html) October 23, 2014 at the Wayback Machine. Retrieved September 20, 2019.

1. Mudede, Charles (May 18, 2005). ["Wonder Twins"](https://www.thestranger.com/seattle/wonder-twins/Content?oid=21359). *[The Stranger](/source/The_Stranger_(newspaper))*. Retrieved September 20, 2019.

1. Brown, Marisa. ["Zion I & the Grouch Are Heroes in the City of Dope"](http://www.allmusic.com/album/zion-i-the-grouch-are-heroes-in-the-city-of-dope-mw0000550299). *[AllMusic](/source/AllMusic)*. Retrieved August 6, 2014.

1. Berry, David (February 1, 2009). ["Zion I: The Take Over"](https://www.popmatters.com/69626-zion-i-the-take-over-2496067837.html). *[PopMatters](/source/PopMatters)*. Retrieved September 20, 2019.

1. Maine, David (January 12, 2011). ["Zion I: Atomic Clock"](https://www.popmatters.com/135277-zion-i-atomic-clock-2496094440.html). *[PopMatters](/source/PopMatters)*. Retrieved September 20, 2019.

1. Faraone, Chris (May 6, 2011). ["Zion I & the Grouch – Heroes In the Healing of the Nation"](http://thephoenix.com/boston/music/120163-zion-i-and-the-grouch-heroes-in-the-healing-of-the/). *[The Phoenix](/source/The_Phoenix_(newspaper))*. [Archived](https://web.archive.org/web/20160424083455/http://thephoenix.com/boston/music/120163-zion-i-and-the-grouch-heroes-in-the-healing-of-the/) April 24, 2016 at the Wayback Machine. Retrieved September 20, 2019.

1. Palmer, Tamara (December 21, 2012). ["The 10 Best Bay Area Hip-Hop Records of 2012"](http://www.sfweekly.com/shookdown/2012/12/21/the-10-best-bay-area-hip-hop-records-of-2012). *[SF Weekly](/source/SF_Weekly)*. [Archived](https://web.archive.org/web/20150924130055/http://www.sfweekly.com/shookdown/2012/12/21/the-10-best-bay-area-hip-hop-records-of-2012) September 24, 2015 at the Wayback Machine. Retrieved September 20, 2019.

1. Dandridge-Lemco, Ben (April 17, 2017). ["Zion I's "Wake Up!" Video Is A Call To Action"](https://www.thefader.com/2017/04/17/zion-i-wake-up-video-premiere-the-labyrinth). *[The Fader](/source/The_Fader)*. Retrieved September 4, 2019.

1. Gartrell, Nate (30 September 2022). ["Exclusive: Zion I rapper Zumbi's death ruled a homicide, but no criminal charges filed"](https://www.mercurynews.com/2022/09/30/exclusive-zion-i-rapper-zumbis-death-ruled-a-homicide-but-no-criminal-charges-will-be-filed/). *The Mercury News*. Bay Area News Group. Retrieved 24 May 2023.

1. St. Jawnson, Kershaw (August 14, 2021). ["Bay Area Mourns as Reports Say Baba Zumbi of Zion I Dies of COVID-19"](https://allhiphop.com/news/bay-area-mourns-as-reports-say-baba-zumbi-of-zion-i-dies-of-covid-19/). *All HipHop*. Retrieved August 15, 2021.

1. Moench, Mallory (August 15, 2021). ["Bay Area rapper Zumbi dies at a Berkeley hospital. Fans are grieving and police investigating"](https://www.sfchronicle.com/bayarea/article/Police-investigating-death-of-well-known-Bay-Area-16388574.php). *San Francisco Chronicle*

1. Woodrow, Mallory (August 20, 2021). ["Family of hip hop artist Stephen 'Baba Zumbi' Gaines hires attorneys to investigate hospital death"](https://abc7news.com/stephen-gaines-baba-zumbi-bay-area-rapper-hip-hop-artist/10964707/). *ABC7 Bay Area*

1. Woodrow, Mallory (August 20, 2021). ["Family of hip hop artist Stephen 'Baba Zumbi' Gaines hires attorneys to investigate hospital death"](https://abc7news.com/stephen-gaines-baba-zumbi-bay-area-rapper-hip-hop-artist/10964707/). *ABC7 Bay Area*

1. Voynovskaya, Nastia (5 October 2022). ["Criminal Charges in Zumbi Homicide Investigation Still Possible, Family Says"](https://www.kqed.org/arts/13920004/zumbi-homicide-investigation-criminal-charges). *KQED*. PBS. Retrieved 24 May 2023.

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Adapted from the Wikipedia article [Zion I](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Zion_I) by Wikipedia contributors ([contributor history](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Zion_I?action=history)). Available under [Creative Commons Attribution-ShareAlike 4.0 International](https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/4.0/). Changes may have been made.