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.
North Star
Zion I Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
Got it by my Northern star
Light rays, they say
Lost in the wilderness I see forests
Tangled in the trees jungle love like Morris Day
See Adam, Eve parlay
Shout to creation, the knees and pray
I lay, creep like C.I.A
Watchin' for signs, life Be That Way
Sometimes it's clear but right now feelin' stormin'
It's calm in the center, Outside heed the warnings
The forecast call for tornadoes
Today and tonight and tomorrow volcanoes
Eruptin' to bust
But what do they know
Enough is enough I just trust in my halo
The daylight glow in the night sky
So when I fly away, no need to ask why
Lost and found we always are
Got it by my Northern star
Light rays, they say
From the loom these words to say
My North star won't ever fade
Light rays, that say. That say
Feel like a maze when the walls look the same
It's paper mâché kid don't play in that lane
Cash rules all, we must be insane
Everything we live for has lost all gain
I'm aiming to leave 'em behind: challenge
Trying to understand the sublime Mayan calen-dar
Rhymes, supply my balance
I, close my eyes tryin' to find my silence
Sure, you are now ? the lion's feet
Multiply third eye and reliance, Earth
Seed but we seek the stars
Tryin' to get perspective, Venus, Mars
Countin' constellations
In my meditation
Speaking incantations
And seriously vibrations
For the cultivation we plant another seed
Towards an evolution, move at light speed
Lost and found we always are
Got it by my Northern star
Light rays, they say
From the loom these words to say
My North star won't ever fade
Light rays, that say. That say
North, star
Lost and found we always are
Got it by my Northern star
Light rays, they say
In "North Star," Zion I talks about feeling lost in the complexities of life and seeking guidance from his "Northern star." The star symbolizes a higher power or divine intervention that helps him navigate the struggles of life. He talks about being lost in the wilderness, navigating the maze of life, and trying to understand the mysteries of the universe. Zion I also touches on themes of spirituality, seeking enlightenment, and evolving as a human being.
He uses nature imagery to illustrate his points, with references to forest, jungles, and constellations. The lyrics convey a sense of seeking clarity and understanding amidst chaos, and a desire to leave behind the negative aspects of society and focus on personal growth and evolution towards a better future.
Line by Line Meaning
Lost and found we always are
We are constantly experiencing times when we feel lost, but we always end up finding our way eventually.
Got it by my Northern star
We have found guidance and direction in life by following our personal north star.
Light rays, they say
We are following the light rays of our north star to guide us.
Lost in the wilderness I see forests
Feeling lost and confused can make life feel like a dense forest that we can't navigate through.
Tangled in the trees jungle love like Morris Day
In these moments, we can feel consumed by the confusing and conflicting emotions we feel, similar to Morris Day's song 'Jungle Love.'
See Adam, Eve parlay
We are reminded of the biblical story of Adam and Eve, who found their way despite being lost in the Garden of Eden.
Shout to creation, the knees and pray
We look to a higher power and pray for guidance and protection on our journey of self-discovery.
Guidance protection Divine intervention seekin' the self is my primal selection
We prioritize our own self-discovery and personal growth, seeking guidance, protection, and intervention from a higher power in the process.
I lay, creep like C.I.A
We move carefully and quietly, observing the world around us and searching for signs that can guide us on our path.
Watchin' for signs, life Be That Way
We are aware that life can be unpredictable and always keep our eyes open for signs that can help us navigate the ups and downs.
Sometimes it's clear but right now feelin' stormin'
At times, we can feel certain and sure of our direction in life, while other times, it feels like we're lost in a storm.
It's calm in the center, Outside heed the warnings
In these moments of chaos, we remind ourselves to remain calm and grounded, listening to the warnings and wisdom that guide us from our center.
The forecast call for tornadoes
Life can throw unexpected events our way that can feel like a storm or a tornado, unbalancing our sense of direction.
Today and tonight and tomorrow volcanoes
We can brace ourselves for more unexpected events coming our way, even if things seem calm currently.
Eruptin' to bust
In these tough moments, we can feel like things are about to explode and fall apart.
But what do they know
Despite the unpredictable nature of life, we remind ourselves to ignore the fears and doubts of others and trust in our inner guidance.
Enough is enough I just trust in my halo
Instead of feeling overwhelmed or doubtful, we choose to trust in our own inner light and guidance.
The daylight glow in the night sky
Our north star shines brightly and guides us even in the darkest moments of life.
So when I fly away, no need to ask why
We have clarity and confidence in our direction in life and believe that our north star will guide us always.
From the loom these words to say
As we reflect on our journey of self-discovery, we feel inspired to share our perspective with others.
My North star won't ever fade
Our personal sense of direction and guidance will remain strong and steadfast throughout our lives.
Light rays, that say. That say
We follow the light rays of our inner north star and trust in their guidance.
Feel like a maze when the walls look the same
Life can feel confusing and overwhelming, like a maze where we can easily lose our way.
It's paper mâché kid don't play in that lane
We remind ourselves not to get bogged down in illusions or distractions in life, like a flimsy wall made of paper mache.
Cash rules all, we must be insane
In a world where money can often dictate our choices, we remind ourselves that we have our own sense of direction that cannot be bought or sold.
Everything we live for has lost all gain
When we lose sight of our inner guidance and sense of purpose, life can feel meaningless and without any true value.
I'm aiming to leave 'em behind: challenge
We aim to overcome our fears and doubts, challenging ourselves to live a life guided by our north star, no matter what others may think or say.
Trying to understand the sublime Mayan calen-dar
We seek understanding and meaning in the universe around us, looking to ancient cultures like the Maya for wisdom and knowledge.
Rhymes, supply my balance
Personal expression and creativity, like rhyming, bring balance and a sense of grounding to our lives.
I, close my eyes tryin' to find my silence
We seek moments of quiet and stillness in our lives to better connect with our inner guidance and direction.
Sure, you are now ? the lion's feet
We feel confident and powerful in our sense of direction, strong like a lion.
Multiply third eye and reliance, Earth
We believe in the power of our intuition and inner vision to guide us on our journey, anchoring ourselves to the earth in the process.
Seed but we seek the stars
We have planted the seed of our own personal growth, but are constantly looking up towards the future and the stars with hope and inspiration.
Tryin' to get perspective, Venus, Mars
We seek perspective and understanding by looking to the larger universe around us, studying planets like Venus and Mars.
Countin' constellations
We find inspiration and guidance in the patterns of the stars and constellations in the night sky.
In my meditation
We find peace and clarity in moments of quiet introspection and meditation.
Speaking incantations
We use words and thoughts to cast spells of positivity and hope in our lives and in the world around us.
And seriously vibrations
We believe that the energy and vibrations we put out into the world have a serious impact on our lives and the lives of those around us.
For the cultivation we plant another seed
We are constantly working towards personal growth and development, planting new seeds and nurturing them over time.
Towards an evolution, move at light speed
We are constantly evolving and growing as individuals, always moving towards the future as fast as possible, guided by our inner north star.
Contributed by Savannah L. Suggest a correction in the comments below.
jarkokoo
Dudes have pretty much reached the next level, again. Just mindblowing track!
Tommy Lauderdale
SO dope. Can't wait for the album drop!
stokelycalm
this album is real nice...i even like it more than "Heroes In The Healing Of The Nation"...this is my 2nd favorite track on "atomic clock" ..only after that brilliant "so many stylez"...zion i always amazes!
citystar619
This shit right here is some chilled out music. Love It.
Jose Aurelio
This is gonna be peace on earth. Self expression through love and music.
Christian charles
If I ever had they ability to travel through space, theirs one thing I would always bring; an entire collection of Zion I from MindoverMatter up till now.
crankworx42
Just throwing it out there, this song is stellar after you smoke a little something something.
fergie_fresh
an entire album of hits? i think yess
DSYL
so under-rated. dope shit
timkills
I want badly to click on another zion i video, but each song is worth finishing every time