After signing with independent label Ground Control Records, the duo released their debut single "Inner Light" in 1998, along with their debut EP Starship. In 1999, they released their next single "Critical" featuring Planet Asia, and another EP, Chapter 4. Their debut album Mind Over Matter finally surfaced in 2000. The effort was one of the most critically acclaimed underground albums of the year, and was nominated for Independent Album of the Year by The Source Magazine. AmpLive's futuristic production techniques and Zumbi's strong and substantial lyrical content were a major hit with underground Hip Hop fans.
Zion I recorded a second album titled Deep Water Slang, set for release in 2002, but their label went under and the album disappeared. They prepared a second version, Deep Water Slang V2.0, which was released in early 2003. Music videos were shot for the songs "The Drill", "Finger Paint", "Boom Bip" and "Le Le Le", giving them the most exposure of their career. Zion I started their own record label, Live Up Records, in 2003, and released a mixtape titled Curb Servin. In 2004, the duo released a compilation titled Politicks, and another mixtape, Family Business, which served as a prelude to their anticipated third album. They were featured along with Del tha Funkee Homosapien and Haiku D'Etat on the CD/DVD Calicomm 2004.
True & Livin' was released in early 2005, featuring guest appearances from popular underground artists like Talib Kweli, Aesop Rock, Del tha Funkee Homosapien and Gift of Gab. The album featured the single "The Bay," became a West Coast/College Radio hit, and featured a music video. The remix of "The Bay" earned the group its first significant commercial radio play in the San Francisco Bay area. The remix, and later projects, represent a concerted effort to reach hyphy audiences, by collaborating with artists such as Turf Talk, San Quinn, and Mistah F.A.B..
The duo's fifth album is a collaboration project with Living Legends member The Grouch, titled Heroes in the City of Dope, and was released on October 10, 2006. This fifth album was again highly critically acclaimed, and gained the talented band more artistic respect.
Their song "Spinning" was included in the soundtrack of the movie Grandma's Boy.
Zion I's song "Go Hard" was the feature song in popular video game NBA Live 10.
Borderline
Zion I Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
Forse nei confronti di tutti quegli alti, quei buffoni... ma non con te. No bimba, in questo momento sono proprio io... all'apice del mio masochismo.
Yeah...
Check...
Lebon al mic...
Yeah...
Ah...
Yeah...
Yeah...
Day, night
Day, night
Day, night
Day, night...
Nati lo stesso giorno, legati come in amplesso,
L′esaltazione di sole due immagini di se stesso.
Spinto da semplice istinto,
Quando la paura ha già vinto,
L'uomo si sdoppia e ricopia la parte peggiore se è stato respinto!
Schizofrenico,
Mando all'osceno sul palcoscenico!
Sai amico, guardo da solo il suicidio, ti manderò il video del rito esoterico!
Ti sto cercando tra gli specchi per non perderti,
Ho nascosto la maschera nell′armadio tra gli scheletri.
Ah! Eccoti!
La parte meretrice, ego-trip,
Usa la calcolatrice multiplo dei me medesimi!
Non ha problemi di personalità e neanche io...
Ho le paranoie già di mio,
Pensa se fossimo un trio!
Credo stanotte ricapiti,
Spero che il doppio si auto-decapiti.
Cauto, stai calmo e rilassati,
Guarda: mi esplode la testa, vi prego aiutatemi!
Adepril, Laroxyl, Noritren, Dropaxin,
Sei l′antagonista nel più oscuro dei baratri.
Io sto b-b-b-bene, ho b-b-bisogno del tuo p-p-p-parere,
Richiamami una di queste sere.
Day, night
Day, night
Day, night
Day, night...
Day, night
Day, night
Day, night
Day, night...
"Borderline" by Zion I is a song that unearths deep-rooted emotions of a man who is constantly battling his inner demons. The song starts with Italian lyrics which translates to "I like to think that you are lucid enough even now. To know that there is nothing sadistic about my actions... Maybe with all those highs, those buffoons... but not with you. No baby, right now it's me... at the apex of my masochism." This verse sets the tone for the song which talks about the internal conflict faced by the artist. The song goes on to describe the relationship between two beings, who were born the same day and are bound together as if in an embrace. The man in the song seems to be struggling with some issues which have prompted him to split his personality.
The lyrics are dark and delve into the artist's psyche. The artist describes the personality disorder he is battling and how it takes over him every time he feels rejected. There is a sense of desperation in the song, with lyrics like "I'm looking for you in the mirrors so I won't lose you, I hid the mask in the wardrobe among the skeletons" showcasing how the man is struggling to hold on to his emotions. The song ends with the artist acknowledging that he has problems but is still searching for someone to listen to him and provide their opinion.
Line by Line Meaning
Mi piace pensare che tu sia abbastanza lucida persino ora. Da sapere, che non c′è nulla di sadico nelle mie azioni...
I like to think that you are clear-headed even now. To know that there's nothing sadistic in my actions...
Forse nei confronti di tutti quegli alti, quei buffoni... ma non con te. No bimba, in questo momento sono proprio io... all'apice del mio masochismo.
Perhaps towards all those arrogant clowns...but not with you. No, baby, right now it's me...at the pinnacle of my masochism.
Nati lo stesso giorno, legati come in amplesso, L′esaltazione di sole due immagini di se stesso.
Born on the same day, tied like in embrace, the exaltation of only two images of himself.
Spinto da semplice istinto, Quando la paura ha già vinto, L'uomo si sdoppia e ricopia la parte peggiore se è stato respinto!
Driven by simple instinct, when fear has already won, man splits and copies the worst part if he has been rejected!
Schizofrenico, Mando all'osceno sul palcoscenico! Sai amico, guardo da solo il suicidio, ti manderò il video del rito esoterico!
Schizophrenic, I send the obscene to the stage! You know, friend, I watch suicide alone, I'll send you the video of the esoteric ritual!
Ti sto cercando tra gli specchi per non perderti, Ho nascosto la maschera nell′armadio tra gli scheletri.
I am searching for you in the mirrors so as not to lose you, I have hidden the mask in the closet among the skeletons.
Ah! Eccoti! La parte meretrice, ego-trip, Usa la calcolatrice multiplo dei me medesimi!
Ah! Here you are! The harlot part, ego-trip, Uses the multiple calculator of the same me!
Non ha problemi di personalità e neanche io... Ho le paranoie già di mio, Pensa se fossimo un trio!
She doesn't have personality problems and neither do I...I already have my own paranoias, Imagine if we were a trio!
Credo stanotte ricapiti, Spero che il doppio si auto-decapiti.
I believe that tonight we'll meet again, I hope the double self decapitates itself.
Cauto, stai calmo e rilassati, Guarda: mi esplode la testa, vi prego aiutatemi!
Cautious, stay calm and relaxed, Look: my head explodes, please help me!
Adepril, Laroxyl, Noritren, Dropaxin, Sei l′antagonista nel più oscuro dei baratri.
Adepril, Laroxyl, Noritren, Dropaxin, You are the antagonist in the darkest abyss.
Io sto b-b-b-bene, ho b-b-bisogno del tuo p-p-p-parere, Richiamami una di queste sere.
I-i-i'm fine, I n-n-need your opinion, Call me one of these evenings.
Day, night Day, night Day, night Day, night...
Day and night, day and night, day and night, day and night...
Day, night Day, night Day, night Day, night...
Day and night, day and night, day and night, day and night...
Contributed by Lucy Y. Suggest a correction in the comments below.