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.
Ride
Zion I Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
Whom gazing down a muzzle
I know you came to hustle
Grit your teeth and clench your knuckles
We didn't come to fight
We came to get **** light
You rolling with be till we die that how homies ride
No need for consternation
Got a good with the congregation
I'm rocking for my nation
To get that spirit racing
Tell all my cousins and my clicks, family and folks
We got to ride out to till we break up all them 100 spokes
Each day's another change my homies stay the same
Life feeling strange cos the world's getting so deranged
Each day's another change my homies stay the same
Life feeling strange cos the world's getting so deranged
I'm with my homies... yeah
I'm with my homies... yeah
I'm with my homies... yeah
I'm with my homies... yeah
Never knew **** till I met with beef
Never knew war till I met with peace
Never knew tired till I came to rest
Got a couple real homies and they all the best
Never knew cos it's hard to watch
Seen a couple of my homies die pouring on the block
With the beat to stop
And the vultures flock
And the cops on the watch for there life to stop
Hard to see in the cold of night
When it's cold tonight
With my soul on ice
Got a bead that I'm holding tight
And I hold the light
Scared of poltergeists
BUT
Real homies never turn they back
My homies are in all these tracks
My homies all wrapped in mat
We rolling out like Cadillac
Each day's another change my homies stay the same
Life feeling strange cos the world's getting so deranged
Each day's another change my homies stay the same
Life feeling strange cos the world's getting so deranged
I'm with my homies... yeah
I'm with my homies... yeah
I'm with my homies... yeah
I'm with my homies... yea
The lyrics to Zion I's "Ride" reflect a sense of loyalty, brotherhood, and perseverance through tough times. The song is an ode to the rapper's homies or close friends, who have stood with him in both good and bad times. The first two lines describe the reality of living in a dangerous neighborhood, where guns and violence are common. However, the following lines encourage resilience and strength in the face of adversity. The rapper tells his homies that they didn't come to fight but to make things right and that they'll stand together until the end.
Zion I talks about how the world is getting more and more confusing and dangerous, but his homies remain constant. They are his support system, and he relies on them to keep him grounded. The chorus repeats the line "I'm with my homies" four times, emphasizing how important his friends are to him. He also talks about losing friends to violence and how it's difficult to accept. But instead of dwelling on the painful memories, he chooses to celebrate the memories and carry them with him.
Overall, "Ride" is a song about brotherhood and resilience. Zion I recognizes the difficulties of life but finds solace and strength in his homies.
Line by Line Meaning
Real homies stand and struggle
True friends are there to support and fight through tough times
Whom gazing down a muzzle
Even when staring down a dangerous situation, real friends stand by each other
I know you came to hustle
I know you came to work hard and succeed
Grit your teeth and clench your knuckles
Let's get ready to work hard and fight through challenges
We didn't come to fight
We didn't come to start trouble
We came to get **** light
We came to have fun and enjoy ourselves
You rolling with be till we die that how homies ride
I'll be with you until the end, that's how true friends go through life
No need for consternation
Don't worry or be stressed out
Got a good with the congregation
I have a good group of people around me
I'm rocking for my nation
I'm making music for my country
To get that spirit racing
To get people excited and energized
Tell all my cousins and my clicks, family and folks
I want all my friends and family to know
We got to ride out to till we break up all them 100 spokes
Let's ride and party until the bike rims can't handle it anymore
Each day's another change my homies stay the same
Even though life is constantly changing, my true friends are always there for me
Life feeling strange cos the world's getting so deranged
Life feels weird because the world is becoming more and more chaotic
I'm with my homies... yeah
I'm with my true friends
Never knew **** till I met with beef
I never truly understood conflict until I faced it
Never knew war till I met with peace
I never truly understood peace until I realized what it's like to be in a warzone
Never knew tired till I came to rest
I never knew what true rest felt like until I was exhausted
Got a couple real homies and they all the best
I have a few true friends, and they're all amazing
Never knew cos it's hard to watch
It's hard to watch my friends go through tough times
Seen a couple of my homies die pouring on the block
I've seen a few of my friends die on the streets
With the beat to stop
The music stops
And the vultures flock
People who only care about themselves take advantage of the situation
And the cops on the watch for there life to stop
The police are watching, waiting for something bad to happen
Hard to see in the cold of night
It's difficult to see in the dark night
When it's cold tonight
Especially when it's very cold outside
With my soul on ice
Feeling numb and disconnected
Got a bead that I'm holding tight
I have something valuable that I'm holding onto tightly
And I hold the light
And I'm trying to stay positive
Scared of poltergeists
Even though they're not real, I'm still scared of the unknown
Real homies never turn they back
True friends never abandon each other
My homies are in all these tracks
My true friends are represented in my music
My homies all wrapped in mat
My true friends are like family, always there for me
We rolling out like Cadillac
We're leaving, just like a luxurious Cadillac driving away
Contributed by Nora V. Suggest a correction in the comments below.
@zionfair9519
Real homies stand and struggle
Whom gazing down a muzzle
I know you came to hustle
Grit your teeth and clench your knuckles
We didn't come to fight
We came to get ** light
You rolling with be till we die that how homies ride
No need for consternation
Got a good with the congregation
I'm rocking for my nation
To get that spirit racing
Tell all my cousins and my clicks, family and folks
We got to ride out to till we break up all them 100 spokes
Each day's another change my homies stay the same
Life feeling strange cos the world's getting so deranged
Each day's another change my homies stay the same
Life feeling strange cos the world's getting so deranged
I'm with my homies...yeah
I'm with my homies...yeah
I'm with my homies...yeah
I'm with my homies...yeah
Never knew ** till I met with beef
Never knew war till I met with peace
Never knew tired till I came to rest
Got a couple real homies and they all the best
Never knew cos it's hard to watch
Seen a couple of my homies die pouring on the block
With the beat to stop
And the vultures flock
And the cops on the watch for there life to stop
Hard to see in the cold of night
When it's cold tonight
With my soul on ice
Got a bead that I'm holding tight
And I hold the light
Scared of poltergeists
BUT
Real homies never turn they back
My homies are in all these tracks
My homies all wrapped in mat
We rolling out like Cadillac
Each day's another change my homies stay the same
Life feeling strange cos the world's getting so deranged
Each day's another change my homies stay the same
Life feeling strange cos the world's getting so deranged
I'm with my homies...yeah
I'm with my homies...yeah
I'm with my homies...yeah
I'm with my homies...yea
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Zion I
@shawnnem3508
Who here in 2019 and miss those 2k16 days๐ฉ๐
@luxraylul
ใShawnBrazy ใ it's so sad our childhood memories are gone forever
@IamKingTrizzy
ใShawnBrazy ใ Iโm going thru it rn
@demirdemiryol213
Luxray ikr :(
@LarryDaGoat23
@@demirdemiryol213 in my opinion I like nba2k19 more
@sofoklis1031
@@LarryDaGoat23 say you joking
@shemarknelson9497
Wtf, lol. This song is in 2k6 and 10 years later, 2k16
@shemarknelson9497
^
@airbatsenoj
+Drake Vibez
I mean they do have a 2K classics soundtrack on the game so that would why they brought it back.
@shad2466
+Drake Vibez ea recycle soundtracks too