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.
Prophecy
Zion I Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
You know I... and you... you, me...
And this message is to myself...
Rhymes for the mind...
Yo, frustrations, pulsations, livin' in the land of castrations
Nations is overhauled with all this greed, that people need to plant seeds in deeds
I move at godspeed, buildin', 45 the degree
To maintain my sensibilities, without a foundation we gettin' weak
Please, peep the words that we speak, these are the last days of false ways
Ideologies and infections like disease, and in the USA everything is OK
(OK) - no matter what the people say, brothers homeless, smellin' like piss
Defecatin' on the streets today is a normal thing, and everything is everything
Picking up a chicken wing, to get a bite to eat up off the streets
Seems like I'm livin' in hell, without the heat, huh?
But what you get is what you gave
You better watch the way you behave... this is a Prophecy
[scratching]
This is the Prophecy... Prophecy...
A simple Prophecy...
Prophecy... this is he Prophecy.... Prophecy [fade out]
Now, the time will come when money runs
Run out the mattress, house will be in slums
Feminists like me borne enemy, see how the cycle revolves to envy
We empty without the cash flow
Just so you know, the world will hang his head low
Disgrace and shame, but who's to blame?
Money was the food, stoppin' hunger was the aim
But the hunk of pain just got too rough
Now they wanna blow the world away in one puff
Can't get enough of hurt, just a fiend
Wanna spread around the blood in between
The whole planet just can't stand it
See a little peace so you gotta release a megaton
Bombs like Vietnam, but I'm calm
Cause you cannot harm the G-O-D inside of me...
This is a Prophecy
[scratching]
This is the Prophecy... Prophecy...
This is the Prophecy... Prophecy... [fade out]
Stereophonic, I spread antibiotic
Humans across the whole world chaotic
Check, six dolla pressure, rhymes get fresher
All the hard times I see make me better
And just like Lettermans, I leave hot
Buildings used to be the kids chillin' spot
Scared of my vocal cords, but I see the Lord
Bless me with a gift, I stare at shore
On an ocean of emotion
Intuition got my back so I'm coastin', past Devilish stakes
So stay awake, don't sleep - that's when they creep inside your front gate
Keep your eye towards the skies
Deprived of my mind, you be enterin' eternal life
Breakin' cycles and bein' reborn
Leavin' all the pain and sufferin' for God
Your spirit's transformed - into a higher mentality...
Huh, this is The Prophecy
[scratching]
This is the Prophecy... Prophecy...
This is a Prophecy...
Stereophonic, I spread antibiotic...
Humans across the whole world chaotic..
Humans across the whole world chaotic..
The lyrics to Zion I's song Prophecy provide a message and warning about the current state of society. The first verse discusses the frustration and greed present in the world, with the need for people to take action and make a change. The rapper highlights the importance of peace and maintaining sensibilities, as false ways and ideologies are infecting the world like a disease. The second verse delves deeper into the issues, discussing the potential future where money runs out and the world falls into chaos. The lyrics address the constant hunger for money and power, which has led to a world of shame and disgrace. However, the chorus offers hope, with the prophecy that those who keep their eye on the skies and maintain a higher mentality can break the cycles of pain and suffering.
Overall, the lyrics to Prophecy are a powerful and insightful reflection of the current state of society. The message is clear - we need to take action to create a more peaceful and just world, and in doing so, we can transform our spirits and break free from the cycle of suffering.
Line by Line Meaning
You know who you are... (love is God)
We all know our true identity and purpose, which is to love and be loved
You know I... and you... you, me...
There is a deep connection between us all, and we are all interconnected
And this message is to myself...
The message of this song is a reminder to the artist himself to stay true to his values and beliefs
Rhymes for the mind...
The lyrics of this song have a deeper meaning and message that can resonate with the listener
Yo, frustrations, pulsations, livin' in the land of castrations
Living in a society that emasculates and oppresses individuals can be frustrating and overwhelming
Nations is overhauled with all this greed, that people need to plant seeds in deeds
The world is consumed by greed, and individuals should focus on taking actions that promote positive change
I move at godspeed, buildin', 45 the degree
The artist is moving quickly and with purpose towards self-improvement and building a better future
Cyphers, right, we don't stop, peace is a prayer to the East
The artist and his community are not giving up in their pursuit of peace and are always striving towards this goal
To maintain my sensibilities, without a foundation we gettin' weak
Without a solid foundation, individuals can become lost and lose sight of their values and beliefs
Please, peep the words that we speak, these are the last days of false ways
The artist is urging the listener to pay attention to the message of the song, as we are currently living in a world of deception and falsehood
Ideologies and infections like disease, and in the USA everything is OK (OK) - no matter what the people say
Toxic ideologies and societal issues are spreading like a disease, and people are being ignored and silenced despite their struggles
Brothers homeless, smellin' like piss, defecatin' on the streets today is a normal thing, and everything is everything
Homelessness and poverty have become normalized in today's society, and the artist recognizes the injustice in this
Picking up a chicken wing, to get a bite to eat up off the streets, seems like I'm livin' in hell, without the heat, huh?
Living in poverty can feel like being in a living hell, and even finding basic sustenance can be a constant struggle
But what you get is what you gave, you better watch the way you behave... this is a Prophecy
The choices and actions of individuals will ultimately have consequences, and this song is a prophecy of what is to come
[scratching]
The instrumental break in the song
Now, the time will come when money runs, run out the mattress, house will be in slums
As the world becomes more corrupt and money-focused, those who do not have excessive wealth will suffer the consequences
Feminists like me borne enemy, see how the cycle revolves to envy
The artist recognizes that those who fight for justice and equality are often seen as enemies and face backlash from those who seek to maintain the status quo
We empty without the cash flow, just so you know, the world will hang his head low
The world is obsessed with money and financial gain, and this is causing people to lose sight of what is truly important
Disgrace and shame, but who's to blame? Money was the food, stoppin' hunger was the aim
Our societies have become so consumed by money that we have lost sight of basic human needs and humanitarian goals
But the hunk of pain just got too rough, now they wanna blow the world away in one puff
The world is in so much pain and turmoil that people want to destroy it completely rather than face the difficulties head-on
Can't get enough of hurt, just a fiend, wanna spread around the blood in between
Those who crave power and control over others will stop at nothing to maintain their dominance and inflict harm
The whole planet just can't stand it, see a little peace so you gotta release a megaton
The world is desperate for peace, but instead, we are faced with violence and destruction
Bombs like Vietnam, but I'm calm, cause you cannot harm the G-O-D inside of me... this is a Prophecy
The artist refuses to be shaken and remains steadfast in his beliefs, knowing that his true self and values cannot be destroyed
[scratching]
The instrumental break in the song
Stereophonic, I spread antibiotic, humans across the whole world chaotic
The artist's message and lyrics serve as a healing and empowering force in a world that is often in disarray
Check, six dolla pressure, rhymes get fresher, all the hard times I see make me better
The artist uses his struggles and hardships as fuel to improve and create impactful art
And just like Lettermans, I leave hot, buildings used to be the kids chillin' spot
The artist is leaving behind a legacy and impact with his art that will inspire others to create and improve the world
Scared of my vocal cords, but I see the Lord, bless me with a gift, I stare at shore
The artist recognizes the power of his voice and the impact of his message, and sees his talent as a gift from a higher power
On an ocean of emotion, intuition got my back so I'm coastin', past Devilish stakes
The artist is guided by his emotions and intuition in a world that is often filled with negativity and temptation
So stay awake, don't sleep - that's when they creep inside your front gate
The artist advises listeners to stay vigilant and aware, as there are always negative forces trying to infiltrate and harm us
Keep your eye towards the skies, deprived of my mind, you be enterin' eternal life
By focusing on something greater than ourselves, we can find peace and transcend beyond the difficult realities of our world
Breakin' cycles and bein' reborn, leavin' all the pain and sufferin' for God, your spirit's transformed - into a higher mentality...
By breaking negative cycles and focusing on our spiritual and divine connections, we can transform ourselves and strive for a higher level of existence
Huh, this is The Prophecy
The overall message of the song is a prophecy of what is to come, urging listeners to focus on what is truly important and resist the negative forces in our world
[scratching]
The instrumental break in the song
Stereophonic, I spread antibiotic...
The artist's message and music serve as a healing and uplifting force in a world that is often in chaos
Humans across the whole world chaotic...
The world is in turmoil and disarray, but artists like Zion I can inspire and uplift us all
Contributed by Jordyn V. Suggest a correction in the comments below.