Zion I “The Rebel”
Brothers and sisters! Oakland-based duo Zion I (DJ Amplive and MC Zumbi) have got a […]
Brothers and sisters! Oakland-based duo Zion I (DJ Amplive and MC Zumbi) have got a genuine old-school mixtape (as in an actual cassette), The Search and Seizure, on the table while we wait for their January release, The Takeover. This fresh offering is loaded with re-envisioned versions of hip-hop classics (side A) and electro and indie-rock tracks (side B). “The Rebel” is a cut off the former, pairing glitchy soul and other glimpses of the original, Public Enemy’s “Rebel Without a Pause,” against Zumbi’s cutting lyrics and crystal delivery. Synth horns, Wurlitzer, and a frayed electronic underbelly combine the best of now and then. Lulu McAllister