Zion I Crew dropped dope bombastic beats coupled with slick superlative rhyme flow at The Nectar Lounge in Seattle on Saturday October 30th. Baba Zumbi, Deuce Eclipse and DJ Twelvz had the Lounge bobbin to the beat and jumping to the deep and heavy bass. The Zion I crew has always shattered the boarders of rap stereotypes connecting spiritualism, politics and Hip Hop. Never a moment of rest while attending a show, their followers hold on to their substance and shout out the chorus. Promoting his newly released album The Labyrinth.
Baba Zumbi stopped the music, explaining going through trials and tribulations of family tragedies and depression went into making the album, this allowed a real connection between us and him. Performing his song “Wings” from the album took you in to his struggle with self; his higher self and lower self-asking for help with his wings so he can shine.
The lyrics that flow through the new album allow you to join him on his journey recognizing and appreciating all that went into the completion. Performing songs from previous works such as “Bird’s Eye View” from the 2005 release “True &Livin” and “Drop It On The 1” from “Heroes In The City of Dope” a collaboration with The Grouch (who did not attend) kept the crowd jumpin’.
Towards the end Deuce Eclipse and Zumbi demonstrated what emcees do; inviting Lafa Taylor from Eugene, Oregon and Pure Powers from the West Coast, to share the stage in an almost 20-minute freestyle cypher. Let me remind you a true emcee tells stories while a rapper tells tales. Deuce Eclipse shared his political view in his freestylesstanding with our ancestors #NODAPL. He enlightened us in a short interview with DJ Luvva J after the show saying “pay attention, water is life, my heart goes out, img_8322nodapl, oil in in the earth that’s its blood we can‘t use it to make our lives better or good.” If you have not attended a Zion I Crew show you are missing out on real Hip Hop, substance, culture, knowledge, understanding and the breakin’ of barriers in sounds & lyrics.
Seaspot
Charli TerminKNOWLEDGEE / JSGJr
