Released: May 20, 2000

Label: Ground Control Records

Length: 74:18

Tracklist:

1. Creation
2. Revolution
3. Critical Feat. Planet Asia
4. Mysterious Wayz
5. Tha Choice
6. Koncrete Jungle
7. Metropolis
8. Oh Lawd
9. Trippin
10. How Many
11. Elevation
12. A Little Change
13. Fools Gold
14. Venus
15. Rap Degreez
16. Silly Puddy Feat. the Grouch
17. Inner Light
18. Big Ups
19. All Tha Way Feat. Eclipse 427 , Knowmatic , Rasco
20. One

This Album belongs in Everyone’s Recordshelf. No matter if you like getting high to chilled music, you are a Hip Hop head, you draw Graffiti, or you simply love lyricism, this album will blow your mind!The Lyrics go deep under the skin, and the beats round it off to create the perfect Vibe.

“Very Oldschool, yet modern at the same Time” is what would probably sum up the Album the best. Zion I proved everyone who claimed Hip Hop to be brainless completely wrong with lines like this:

“Just a microcosm
Of a larger macro-problem
I sit with my pen and pad
Imagine ways to solve ‘em
You can call me a dreamer
But I do not need a Beamer
To validate existence
I’m blessed in every instance
TV, fear, pain
Will leave you stained
Welcome to the other side
They said it never rained
You’ll never win a game
Where the rules always change
First a college degree
Now a PHD
But if you got black skin
You need at least about three”

So if you are looking for something oldschool, that will make you zone out this is definately one album you show be looking for! If heard the First time, Zion I’s old style like on this Album, would most likely be categorized as awkward, but the true beauty of their music comes to mind after listening to for a bit. The beats sound very unmatching at First, yet reveal their actual potential while the MCs begin to flow.

My Favorites: Critical, Silly Puddy, and Trippin’

My Rating: 4/5

After four years in Los Angeles, I am finally back home in The Bay. In my opinion, The Bay Area is simultaneously one of the most under and overrated locations for all of hip-hop. On the one hand, the hyphy “movement” has unfortunately given most outsiders an image of bay area rap that consists of a bunch of ignant ass dreaded motherfuckers, dancing outside of their moving cars while yelling about being so stupid doo doo dumb, that they need to bust out their bike helmets. This has resulted in a strong belief that Bay Area music is cornier than Nebraskan shit, and is unworthy of seasoned ears. While I see where some of y’all are coming from, it’s just wrong. The Bay has birthed the careers of great commercial and underground MC’s, Producers, and DJ’s. Anyone who claims that E-40, Mac Dre, Too $hort, Hieroglyphics, Blackalicious, The Living Legends, Zion I, Rick Rock, E-A-Ski, Traxamillion, Dan The Automater, DJ Q-Bert, Mix Master Mike, and Peanut Butter Wolf has nothing to offer to the world of hip-hop, has absolutely no clue what the fuck they’re talking about. At the same time, there are many Northern Californians who exclusively listen to Bay Area music, which I also think is ridiculous. They may have never heard a verse from Royce Da 5’9”, but they would treat you like a four year old speaking out of turn if you didn’t thoroughly believe that The Jacka’s Tear Gas was one of, if not the best album of 2009. Jaka’s shit was dope, and I strongly believe that you should proudly rep where you’re from on a regular basis, but only listening to artists from a specific geographical region is just way too limiting.

Now that I’m once again living in the birthplace of independent rap, thank you Too $hort, I am trying to get back into the local music scene, and see who from The Yay has the skills to impress hip-hop fans regardless of where they are from. While chances are the clearance rack won’t give you something completely up to date, it is a really good, low risk way of giving some local MC’s and Producers a chance. That’s why when I saw Ya Boy’s 2005 debut album, Rookie Of The Year, for $2.99, I went for it.

Ya Boy – Bad Company ft. Bailey (Produced by Sean T)

I remember that when this album came out, it was something that I had legitimate interest in owning. Ya Boy is the cousin of San Francisco legend, San Quinn, and in the early millennium started dropping verses with San Quinn’s group Fully Loaded, which consisted of Big Rich, Bailey, and Don Toriano. In 2004 Ya Boy released his first single “16’s With Me” which sampled Darth Vader’s Theme from Star Wars, and became a local hit. Additionally, he had West Coast hip-hop forums and websites buzzing like a kid smoking hookah for the first time, largely due to the fact that Dr. Dre labeled him as “the beginning of the next episode of West Coast fury”. Then I heard YB’s “100 Bars of Crack” over Dre’s “Nothing But A G Thing” instrumental, and his mixture of wordplay and cockiness convinced me that I should support his music. Yet somehow I never got around to picking up the CD, and as a result he slowly faded off of my radar.

Practically 5 years later, the music on “Rookie of the Year” contrasts strongly with last Spring’s “We Run LA”, Ya Boy’s ultra hipster single that blazed Los Angeles air waves, but sounded more fit for a designer clothing store that stains and rips your pants before you get a chance to do so yourself. For those of you that have listened to that pile of hot garbage, or remember that YB ghostwrote Kevin Federline’s entire album, you would probably be shocked to hear that “Rookie of the Year” is straight gangster. If you’re looking for anything beyond punchlines about drugs, guns, stuntin, and ho’s I would suggest that you listen to a different record.

“Rookie of the Year” starts off well. The Introduction track is a nice slap produced by one of The Bay’s best sample based producer, Rob Lo. Unfortunately the verses are too short for Ya Boy to fully get into the zone, and as a result lyrically, it is pretty unimpressive. Still, it somehow inspires hope that the album will turn out to be a memorable one. The Rick Rock produced “Step Ya Game Up” is a good example of Rick’s unique take on the Hyphy movement. It’s the type of high energy music that makes you want drive at 120 miles per hour, get out of the car and throw bricks through windows, rather than pop a thizz and dance the night away. On the flip side there’s “We So Cold” featuring E-40 and Turf Talk. Produced by Droop-E, E-40’s son, this song displays the much more danceable side of hyphy. At 17 years old Droop-E produced three tracks on the album, which is pretty god damn impressive, especially when considering their quality. My favorite is the sparse “Fly As This” featuring The Team’s Clyde Carson, who ended up affiliating himself with The Game right around the same time Ya Boy did as well. The track sounds simple but actually has a fair amount of elements, and when the extra heavy kicks get added in towards the end of each verse, it just bleeds The Bay Area sound.

Ya Boy – Fly As This ft. Clyde Carson (Produced by Droop-E)

On a MC stand point, Ya Boy is consistently average. He knows how to ride the beat, although he rarely if ever tries to experiment with different flows. Additionally, his most impressive quality is his ability to craft legit punch lines. Unlike other punch line rappers such as Ras Kass and Chino XL, Ya Boy doesn’t try to grab your attention by being outrageous and offensive. Instead, his punch lines utilize surprisingly impressive imagery, which is probably best exemplified in “Bigger Than Drama” ft. Messy Marv. On the other hand, he saves his best punchlines for when he goes toe to toe with Roscoe, Kurupt’s younger brother and a real spitter, on the generically titled “The Hardest”. Yet if I had to choose a favorite track it most likely would be “Bad Company” featuring Ya Boy’s cousin Bailey. Both rappers come solid lyrically, and their family connection creates a great sense of chemistry. At the same time, the best part of the track is the beat. It was produced by the under acknowledged bay area vet Sean T, who made a career producing for San Quinn and Messy Marv, but most famously did the beats for Mac Dre’s “Feeling Myself” and Mistah F.A.B.’s “Ghost Ride It”. The track manages to feel triumphant, laid back, and harder than calculus all at the same time.

While the album shows some serious promise, Ya Beezy makes the rookie mistake of including 20 tracks on the disc. I don’t know if I can think of a single record 20 songs deep that is consistently enjoyable from start to finish. “Rookie of Year” is definitely not one of them, largely due to the fact that by the time you’ve reached track 10, there is absolutely nothing new on the disc. Ya Boy doesn’t include a single story or concept song, and has the classic problem for most gangster rappers, which is a complete lack of vocabulary. Additionally the second half of the album is when the no name producers start showing up, which only makes each track sound more generic and unmemorable. “Not For Free” hints at the rapper that would eventually release “We Run LA”, although I find it funny that The Bay is the only place where pretty much every rapper claims that beezies pay them to fuck. All in all, while the second half appears to be a much lamer version of the first half, the real problem with “Rookie of the Year” is that for the most part all of Ya Boy’s verses are interchangeable. If the second verse of “Wuts Good” was switched with the third verse of “Something To Rap About” no one would notice, and in my opinion that’s a lazy way to approach an album.

Ya Boy – The Hardest ft. Roscoe (Produced by Davey D Cohn)

In short “Rookie of the Year” is not the album that will convince a naysayer that the bay is worth listening to, but there are a few tracks worth repeating. Ya Boy shows promise as an up and comer, but he seems to lack the hunger that would force you to believe that he was going to be a factor in the rap game. On the other hand, if being a factor in the rap game today means making tracks like “We Run LA”, as a fan of music I’d much rather Ya Boy stay underground and keep churning out that gangsta shit.

click here to download

1. Guess It
2. Ladies
3. Check It Out
4. Swing
5. Sometime
6. Nothing
7. I See, I Know
8. Going Back (J Period remix)
9. Dolphin Dive
10. For Your Love
11. Crib On The Moon
12. Party Metroid
13. Listen-Deuce
14. The Bay (DJ Smoke 1 remix)

//Adam Dumper, aka Dumperfoo
For Booking NOVACANCYBOOKING. COM
is a community leader in the Arizona Hip Hop, Art, and Social scene. Having been involved in promotions in Arizona since 1990, beginning at the Grind Night Club. Dumper began as an after-hours DJ and Mural artist there. For a few years Dumper did freelance graphics and logo work for such artists Vanilla Ice, Sugar Ray, Everlast, The Headquarters, Zulu Nation, Hip Step Massive, XIS, and many more from punk rock to hip hop.

Concentrating on his graphic and live painting Dumper hit the Music circuit hard performing and promoting at numerous events from Raves to Concerts in the mid to late 90’s.

In 2002 Dumper teamed up with Keith Nichols, Emerg McVay, Hyder, Catalyst and friends to start his new venture, The Blunt Club. For the past years the Blunt Club has been Arizona’s Hip Hop church, hosting nearly every local live painter, poet, mc, dj, fashion designer, and beyond, supporting the artistic community in a multidimensional format.  The Blunt Club has since been named one of the top “101 hot spots in the U.S” by Spin magazine, as well as AZ’s “Best Hip Hop Night 2003-2006″ by Phoenix New Times and 944 magazine.

In 2003 Dumper founded with Baron Gordon, the Alpha Monster Art Collective, consisting of over 20 members globally. The collective’s goals are to advance each artist, business wise and ethically, give back to the community.Currently Dumper and the Alpha Monster’s perform all over the USA traveling and doing gallery events, to hip hop shows & Festivals , every final Friday at Club 909, First Friday’s downtown at the UM Gallery , and every Thursday at the Blunt Club In Tempe AZ . In 2003 Dumper joined forces becoming a resident artist with the So Cal collective, theAbstract Workshop. In 2005, Dumperfoo has since become a resident artist traveling out to paint live once a month at Abstract Workshop’s major events.

Recently Dumper joined the Pacific Art Collective, and doing gallery shows from San Jose, to Seattle, back to L.A. You can catch Dumper live every Thursday at The Blunt Club in Mesa, AZ or you might just see his paintings hanging in a studio or home near you. You can also check him out at
www.myspace.com/dumperfoo.

More On Dumperfoo:
I’ve painted onstage with at one time or several times..
HAIKU DE TAT, ABSTRACT WORKSHOP COLLECTIVE , TALIB KWELI , SCRATCH , AESOP ROCK & LIF , CROWN CITY ROCKERS , MF DOOM , AFRICA BAMBAATAA , HIERO , SOULS OF MISCHIEF , SAGE FRANCIS , ATMOSPHERE , MR. DIBBS , GRAYSKULL , SCRIBBLE JAM , J.BOOGIE , ANTEDOTE, JOSH MARTINEZ , SLEEP, 2MEX, SHAPESHIFTERS, DULOK, EYERIS ONE, GRIFFIN ONE, STACKS MALONE, BUKUE, UNIFIED SCHOOL DIST, DJ QUEST, Z-MAN, SACRED HOOP, TREK-LIFE, ONE SELF, DJ SAMMY B (JUNGLE BROTHERS), DJ DREZ, Z-TRIP, RADAR, ELEMENT, SANTOS, SCOTTY COATS, DJ COCOE, REBIRTH, DEEP ROOTED, ANTEDOTE, DIGABLE PLANETS, LIVING LEGENDS, HEIRO, ZION I, SCARUB, DJ NEIL ARMSTRONG, ROB SWIFT, ILL INSANITY, SNOOP DOGG, PUBLIC ENEMY, WILDCHILD, PSYCHO REALM, MISTH FAB, ZION I, edIT, BASSNECTAR, PERCEE P, KIDZ IN THE HALL, B.DOLAN, XCLAN, MEDUSA, CUT CHEMIST, BLACK SHAKESPEAR, DJ SHORTKUT, CHICHARONES, & Many , Many , More

FESTIVALS : ROCK THE BELLS (San Bernadino CA. & Concord CA, UM Booth) SCRIBBLE JAM (Um Booth) COMIC CON INT. after parties 2001-2009 (San Diego) , GOOD TIMES FESTIVAL 2007, 2009, EASTER MOON, GEM & JAM, SPEAK YOUR MIND INVASION.

Gallery

….and of course I have my own Dumperfoo piece !!!

As a longtime fan of Zion I, I am hugely excited for Amp Live’s upcoming record, Murder at the Discotek coming out in 2010. Gary is a Robot is the first cut off of Murder and features the Bay-Arean and Fools Gold signed Trackademiks along with Mr Micro.
The track has been turning heads world wide. The remixes EP features remixes from Blu Jemz, DFA’s James Curd, and more. Make sure to check out the song on the upcoming Metropark Sound Off Volume 5 CD coming to a Metropark near you SOON!

Get it now at iTunes

Elevation.

The Bay.

Dont Lose Your Head.

Bay Area HipHop team Zion-I (MC Zumbi and producer Amp Live) deliver another cinematic video for their single Coastin off their new album The Takeover. Zion-I’s also been showing a lot of love to up-and-coming female artist K-Flay, def be on the look out for her.

Wen das neue Album auch nicht wirklich begeistern kann, der sollte mal wieder den alten Scheiß auf die Teller legen und sich gemütlich an die alten grandiosen Zion I Alben erinnern…. und wer’s nicht kennt, lernt es am besten mal schleunigst kennen…

so, nun ist aber auch mal genug…

My class notes from Tuesday:

Yeah, I totally played MASH for the first time since middle school with my discussion partner Miriam instead of learning what conflict perspectives are.

…and yeah, I totally cheated. After figuring out the system (in like, third grade), it’s simply a matter of knowing where to place my prospects and picking the right lucky number so I can get what I want.

Hey, there’s nothing wrong with adjusting the odds a little to get my happy ending, right?

If only real life were so easy…

—————-
Now playing: Zion I – Act Right
via FoxyTunes

New track off the The Science Of Breath Vol. 4 mixtape, dropping November 24. Produced by Lee Bannon.
Zumbi – Infinite

Do The Right Thing with the Lasonic i931 Boombox, it’s iPod-ready!

Haven’t been as persistent as I should be with my Sound Table segments, my apologies. So here’s some fly music to get you through the rest of hump day, Enjoy!

Sound Table

David Banner ft. Twista, Naledge, Rhymefest, Skooda Chose & Lisa Ivey – Something Is Wrong (Remix) Prod. 9th Wonder

DJ JS-1 & O.C. – Life

Emilio Rojas – Bold & Arrogant Prod. M-Phazes

Exile ft. J. Mitchell – Your Summer Song

Idle Warship (Talib Kweli, Res & Graph Noble) ft. Skyzoo – Go Brooklyn

   Idle Warship – Party Robot

Jern Eye ft. Mistah F.A.B. & Zion I – Get Right

Lil’ Wayne ft. Brisco – I’m The Truth (Full Version)

Potholes in my Blog Presents The Ozone Mixtape [Shouts to the homie Reyn]

Ryan Leslie – I Choose You

Slaughterhouse ft. Bun B - The One (Travis Barker Remix)

Bay area hip-hop stars Zion-I and The Jacka spent some time with their Santa Cruz fans on Friday evening at Streetlight Records. The patient and enthusiastic crowd had everything from hats and t-shirts to cds and concert tickets signed by AmpLive, Zumbi (formerly MC Zion) and The Jacka. It was a great night that brought local fans face to face with some of the biggest names in the bay.

Thanks to everyone who came out and thanks to Zion-I and The Jacka for taking time to meet their fans and show their support for independent record stores.

Zion-I

Zion-I and their fans

Wes and The Jacka

The Jacka signs a fan's hat

Friday evening at 5pm, before their show at The Catalyst, Zion-I and The Jacka are going to be at Streetlight Records in Santa Cruz, signing their albums, meeting fans and just hanging out.

Come by the store for a chance to say hello, pick up a new album and get it autographed by these bay area heavyweights.

Zion-I bio
This trio of genre-bender pride has made a name for itself on the Bay Area scene by successfully mixing spiritualism and hip-hop. Oakland’s MC Zion and DJ/producer Amp Live blend hip-hop and trip-hop beats with lyrics focused on a message of unity, hope, and spiritual awareness. After a couple of indie hits, the trio slowly made inroads while opening for rap royalty like De La Soul, Rakim, and Run-D.M.C. Their debut album, Mind Over Matter, was released in May of 2000 and features collaborations with fellow Bay Area rappers Rasco, Planet Asia, and the Grouch. Although Zion I operates out of Berkeley, the group was originally formed in Atlanta, making their music difficult to classify as strictly West Coast hip-hop. Their musical style makes them even harder to define. With a style that borrows from hip-hop, trance, drum’n'bass, and reggae, Zion I’s style is equally mystical and mystifying. (Jon Azpiri, All Music Guide)

The Jacka bio
Coming out of Pittsburg, CA, rapper The Jacka was influenced by local heroes C-Bo, Mac Dre, and Too Short. He launched his career in the late ’90s as a member of the Mob Figaz, appearing on many of the group’s albums and mixtapes before launching his solo career in 2001 with a self-titled album. His second album, The Jack Artist, appeared in 2005 and was followed by a series of mixtapes and street level releases. He won Ozone magazine’s Patiently Waiting: California award in 2008, signifying the West Coast’s high anticipation for his next album. It arrived a year later when the “Glamorous Lifestyle” single and the Tear Gas album both landed on the SMC label. (David Jeffries, All Music Guide)

Remix with Zumbi of Zion I getting in.
U-N-I ft. Talib Kweli, Zumbi – The Return 2

No, it’s not a new single, but it is a fresh cut from the vault. Most likely from the Heroes in the City of Dope sessions.

DOWNLOAD | Zion I & The Grouch – Soul Searchin’

Oh, where has my youth gone?

Part of moving to FC’s version of the suburbs has been the addition of neighborhood kids. Apparently, neighborhood kids these days love long boards and the subsequent long boarding. They like to take breaks from shredding the pavement gnar gnar at the end of my driveway.

Pulling into my driveway the other day, the pave-pave-gnar-shredders were at their post. I had my windows down. I was listening to hip-hop that came out when those kiddos were still sitting in their own poo and liking it. Now they long board and I thump in my luxury sedan. I’m a business, man. Guffaw.

I turn my car off and hear:

“Too loud, too old.” “Yep. Too loud too old.” *insert sound of skating away here followed by yelling* “TOO LOUD TOO OLD!”

Official nominee for Greatest All-Time Moment Of Anyone’s Late Twenties Ever.

Too loud. Too old.