Zion I was a hip-hop duo from Oakland, California, USA, consisting of the l… Read Full Bio ↴Zion I was a hip-hop duo from Oakland, California, USA, consisting of the late MC Zumbi and producer AmpLive . The group is known to its followers for Amp's futuristic production techniques, using a mix of live instrumentation and samples, and Zumbi's positive and socially conscious lyrics. Zion I debuted in 1997 with the locally distributed cassette-only EP Enter the Woods. Their first single on Indie label Ground Control Records ("Inner Light") paved the way for an album deal and in 2000, they released the critically acclaimed Mind Over Matter. In total, they have released six studio albums, 2000's Mind Over Matter, 2003's Deep Water Slang V2.0, 2005's True & Livin', 2006's Break a Dawn (a Japan exclusive), also in 2006 an album with The Grouch, Heroes in the City of Dope, 2009's The Take Over, 2010's Atomic Clock, and their newest collaborative album with The Grouch, 'Heroes in the Healing of the Nation'.

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.

Free Your Mind
Zion I Lyrics

Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴

I'll take a runaway train from the reigns of shame
And focus things so my head don't hear my brain
It's how I'm seeing - keeping it even with balanced breathin
When the Zion train come it's the last one leavin
I'll be long gone, when I'm finally home Just relaxing from the action in the danger zone
It's my rest bit, catching my breath before I exit
Return to the Earth, be on some next shit, bless this!
One time, maintain shine, chains can't bind, free your mind!

Lemme holla, lemme holla, lemme holla, lemme holla
Aiyyo one time, maintain shine, chains can't bind, free your mind!
Lemme holla, lemme holla, lemme holla, lemme holla
Scolding sill, mellow ice grill, people keep on telling me to chill
But I know it only poetry can feel
With emotions that I mostly need to heal It's all part feeling, strong whip black children
March through the streets with a million Dealing with injurious, just us against us We must bust back until they vanquished Attack, pull over fool this is a jack
Now gimme back the fad and my bamma weed sack
My culture, every day I'm getting closer Living it up like I'm supposed ta
Who the king ruling this? (Jah!!)
Jah the light'll never miss ya
One of these days I'm gonna kiss ya Touch you with my lips against the cheek Gonna hit ya, so every day I'm reading scripture
One day!
One time, maintain shine, chains can't bind, free your mind!
Lemme holla, lemme holla, lemme holla, lemme holla
Aiyyo one time, maintain shine, chains can't bind, free your mind!
Lemme holla, lemme holla, lemme holla, lemme holla
Holla (holla!) holla (holla!)
Let's get steady the beat get 'eavy
When this hit you better get ready Barricade your brain the fallout to deadly Runaway for the 'ad the Serengeti
The good that you speak no speak of the smelly
Stink like meat gone bad brother tell me Why you never want to call Jah from the celly?
Why you wanna never call Jah from the celly yo?
Maybe gold, when I unload, make an ego explode uh
They be gone soon's I enter in the do' uh We be venting unrelenting too cold uh Fuck a white collar, sucker can't do me nada
Been in a lotta situations made it hotter Homie but we gotta live it gotta follow Give it then I get it, spit it make it proper It's alright, plus my mic sound nice
Flip it, be specific, them yell dice
We fly on a gamble, try learn to handle Ways that the days of life fade to candle And flicker, sicker, black when the cut back '
Fore we lose track of where we at...
One time, maintain shine, chains can't bind, free your mind!
Lemme holla, lemme holla, lemme holla, lemme holla

Aiyyo one time, maintain shine, chains can't bind, free your mind!
Lemme holla, lemme holla, lemme holla, lemme holla

Overall Meaning

"Free Your Mind" by Zion I is a song about the importance of self-liberation and a call to action to break free from emotional and psychological restraint. The lyrics speak of taking control of one's life and refusing to be bound by the chains of shame, fear, and societal expectations. The song reflects the idea of finding balance through meditation and focused breathing techniques, which allow us to tap into our highest selves and reach our full potential.

The song also touches on the idea of cultural identity and the struggle to maintain it in the face of racism and cultural appropriation. The lyrics present a vision of a world in which people of color can live freely and embrace their culture without fear of prejudice or prosecution. The repetition of the phrase "lemme holla" throughout the song is a nod to the African American tradition of hollering, a form of communication and expression that dates back to the days of slavery.

Overall, Free Your Mind is a song about empowerment, self-realization, and the importance of staying true to oneself. It is a call to action to break free from the constraints that hold us back and embrace the life that we were meant to live.

Line by Line Meaning

I'll take a runaway train from the reigns of shame
I will escape from the oppressive feelings of shame that hold me back.

And focus things so my head don't hear my brain
I will concentrate and remain balanced to quiet the negative thoughts in my mind.

When the Zion train come it's the last one leavin
When the time comes for me to move on, I will be ready and won't look back.

I'll be long gone, when I'm finally home
Once I find my true self, I will leave behind the things that were weighing me down.

It's my rest bit, catching my breath before I exit
I will take a moment to regroup before moving on to my next journey.

Return to the Earth, be on some next shit, bless this!
I will reconnect with nature and move on to the next chapter of my life, and I am grateful for the experience.

One time, maintain shine, chains can't bind, free your mind!
Stay optimistic, keep shining, and don't let anyone hold you back.

Scolding sill, mellow ice grill, people keep on telling me to chill
I may seem cold on the outside, but I have deep emotions that I need to work through.

With emotions that I mostly need to heal
I have been carrying emotional wounds and it's time for me to heal.

Touch you with my lips against the cheek Gonna hit ya
I will show my appreciation for life and for those around me in every way possible.

Jah the light'll never miss ya
God is always with me, even in my darkest moments.

Let's get steady the beat get 'eavy
The music will help me focus and prepare for my journey.

The good that you speak no speak of the smelly
Don't focus on negative things, keep your words positive.

Why you never want to call Jah from the celly yo?
Why don't you turn to God for comfort when you're feeling down?

We be venting unrelenting too cold uh
There are times when we hold back our emotions, but it's time to express ourselves authentically.

It's alright, plus my mic sound nice
Everything will be okay, and I will share my message through music.

We fly on a gamble, try learn to handle
Life is a gamble, and we must learn to handle the ups and downs.

Ways that the days of life fade to candle
Life is fleeting and we must cherish each moment while we can.

Before we lose track of where we at...
We must stay grounded and not let life get away from us.

Writer(s): Anthony Anderson, Stephen Gaines

Contributed by Natalie C. Suggest a correction in the comments below.