Genre: Hip-Hop Year: 2005 Country: USA Official Site: Zion I Details: Tracks & Audio Label: Live Up
On their third entry, Zion I deliver their smooth blend of hip-hop and jazz, mixing instruments, scratches, samples and seductive melodies.
Going beyond the limit of hip-hop with subtlety, each song incorporates elements borrowed from other musical genres, be they ethnic, world, electro, acoustic or classical sounds.
Their songs are carried by a laid-back mid-tempo and lead by catchy melodies, creating a cohesive ensemble of songs that flow well as an album. True & Livin' reminds me of the great productions of Jazzmatazz, which kept me under their charms more than 10 years ago during my stoner college years.
Several guests pay a visit here so there is never a dull moment, from Aesop Rock on "Poems 4 post modern decay", to Del from the Funky Homosapien (the beat-muscled "What U Hear") and Talib Kweli ("Temperature").
The result is a work that is both ambitious and discreet, a musical instant that is worth living.
Zion I True Livin'
