Homepage

das undergroundhiphop.ch zion i - interview (veröffentlicht am 1.3.02)
Fragen: Simi & Revoxx, Interview: Simi. Bildmaterial von www.zionicrew.com ausgeliehen. Hier gehts zur DEUTSCHEN VERSION. (veröffentlicht am 17.März '02)
let your inner light shine...
1. Where and how did you grow up? Where did you meet?
Zion grew up in Philadelphia, Cincinnati, Texas, but mostly in the Bay Area, California. Amp Live grew up in San Antonio, Texas. We met at Morehouse College in Atlanta, Georgia. We lived in the same dorm and became friends within the first two weeks of our freshman year.
2. Why are you making music?
We make music because it is what we love to do. We’re blessed to be able to meet so many good people and travel the world on the fact that we make music. I wouldn’t want it any other way.
3. How come you are so believing (religious)? What’s the context between your faith and the music you make?
Our music just speaks about who we are on the inside. Our faith in God is something that we nurture in our everyday lives, so it just kind of seeps through in the music we make. It is not our intent to overload people with our beliefs, and sway them into thinking that we have it all figured out. Because, point blank we don’t…we’re figuring too. Yet, I think that God is the foundation upon which we stand, and that gives us strength and courage in the face of adversity.
4. In tracks like “tha choice” and “koncrete jungle” you rap about how hard it is living in the ghetto not getting corrupted by crime, drugs and violence. How come you could bring up that much power and strength to make music, releasing albums and especially writing lyrics that are full of hope an very uplifting?
My lyrics reflect many of the things that I witness in life. I don’t necessarily go through all of the struggles, yet I empathize with those who do, because I watch them all around me, all the time. In fact, that’s one of the reasons why we seek to give people something that is encouraging, because there is so much out there to be discouraged by. It’s like deprogramming a thought pattern. If you think that all you can do is be a criminal..well, the chances that you will be are incredible. However, if you believe that there are other options, those chances of becoming a criminal begin to slim down. We just want to offer another option, we aren’t criminals, and don’t have to act like we are.
5. Where did you get your education? Did you go to school, if yes, for how long or did you teach yourself, for example by reading lots of books?
We both graduated from Morehouse College. I (zion) hold a bachelors in Psychology with an English Minor, while Amp Live has a bachelor of science in Biology.
6. In the song “Trippin” you rap about how the majority of people are not living natural, not living right and that they are not even realizing that fact. And in the song “How many” you make the listener open up his eyes so he realizes what actually is going on, giving facts to think about. Now the question: Is it a primary goal of you to make music to change the world to better?
Of course. We want to effect as much positive change as possible. What else would be beneficial about making music? It’s not to show how super fresh we think we are, or to make all the ladies hot? I’ve learned a lot about myself by listening to other people’s music, and we work to have the same effect on those who listen to our jams.
7. What does freedom mean to you?
Freedom is the opportunity to live life to its fullest. To follow your dreams and eventually experience the joy that life has to offer. I think we all have freedom within our spirits. Now, we just have to take time to nurture that freedom and have faith that its alive and well deep down inside. It’s our duty to trust in that freedom to inspire us and push us forward.
8. How come you have these incredibly dope Drum-N-Bass, Jungle and Garage influences on your Album in Songs like Metropolis, Elevation etc., also given the fact that these Styles were born in Europe? What’s your relation towards these styles?
When we first experienced Jungle it was like, “What the hell is this?? It’s dope!!” Since then, we’ve always experimented with its vicious velocity. I think it’s an exchange really…since hip hop helped to span jungle, then it makes another rotation and returns back to hip hop…only to again transform into something else at a later date. We just want to grow and evolve with the artform. All of these styles are ways for us to keep forging ahead.
9. What’s your inspiration for making beats, where do you get your ideas from?
From what I know about Amp, I would say his beats express his feelings to a tee. He doesn’t use words, so everything he says is more of a vibe that we receive from his beats and melodies. They serve to express his joy, anger, contentment, and frustration. Just living life is ample inspiration for any artistic endeavor. It’s all right here, its just how you look at it.
10. What equipment do you use to make the beats?
We have a lot of analog keyboards, ASR sampler, MPC drum machine..we’re kinda old school right now because we haven’t acquired pro tools yet!
11. Is it the way that you write lyrics and Amp Live makes the beats individually and independently and then you check which lyrics would match which beat, or do you show your lyrics to Amp Live and then he generates a matching beat for your lyrics, or is it like amp live hooks you up with a couple of his beats and you write your rhymes while listening to the beats?
Generally, we work hand in hand. I may have some topics developing in my mind, and Amp is constantly working on new tracks. Then I’ll come in the studio and hear something that’s fresh and I’ll just sit down and start writing on the spot. I’ll tell him what I like in the beat, and what I think should change. He does the same with my lyrics. That way, we both influence each other’s work, so we’re constantly working together.
12. How important is performing shows for you?
Shows are of ultra importance to us, because that’s how a lot of people get to see us for the first time. Being that we’re underground, its easy for people to overlook us. When we’re up in your face performing, its kinda hard to ignore.
13. What’s your attitude towards money, after critisizing money in several tracks?
Money? Wow, money? “Guns and money go hand in hand-that’s the way that the Devil keep control of Man”. For a long time I hated even having to think about money, because I’ve always known that there is so much more to life. Yet, at this stage in my life, I’m starting to see that it is important to understand money, in order to be successful in raising a family and continuing a legacy. I don’t think it in itself is evil, but I do think that people use it in manipulative ways to conduct power over other people. Yet, think of how much good a wealthy person could do for poor children in the ghetto. They could help create programs that would greatly benefit them. My problem is that people place so much emphasis on getting dough, that they’d kicked someone in the mouth to get it. We forget about humanity when we worship cash. The trick is to stay grounded, and to use your resources to better your environment.
14. What does the Zion-I future look like? Tell us about future projects and what they’re gonna be like! For example, what Styles can we expect? When is your new stuff gonna be available?
Our new album is entitled “Deep Water Slang” and will be released May 28th. This album is going to sound a little more gritty and rugged. When we were creating it, both of us were going through a great deal personally, and its reflected in the music. However, I also think it shows the spirit of triumph because creating this album was the perfect way to relieve many tense feelings and moments.We have featured on our album Aceyalone, PepLove, the Grouch, Goapele, and on the LP version we have Foreign Legion, Deuce Eclipse, Dust, and Khari of SunMoon Sekt. The LP features an extra song for the DJ's.
15. How important do you think is it for an artist to stay independent? What are the advantages/disadvantages of being independent?
I think it is of utmost importance for an artist to have the skills of being independent. To know how a record company is run, and the many steps it takes to make a record successful. The advantages are that you determine your own destiny, point blank. You have to hold yourself accountable. You maintain artistic integrity, and make or break yourself. The disadvantage is that there’s a great possibility that not as many people will be able to hear your music…because you probably won’t have the corporate dollar to mass market your product. But you can also rest assured that those that need to hear it will.
16. What do you think about the european Hip Hop Culture?
It really surprised me because the hip hoppers there keep it universal, meaning that graffiti is just as much a part of the vibe as rapping, as djing and as breaking. Everything felt like it was on the same level which was fly! Out here (the States), hip hop music gets most of the glory, because you can package it and sell it. I respect the way that the culture as a whole is maintained and perpetuated.
17. Are you plannin on coming to Switzerland?
Oh yes!! God bless, we’ll be there in late October or so! Stay tuned!
18. Do you drink tea?
Yes. I really like peppermint because it taste great with honey! Could you also tell people to check out our website www.zionicrew.com! We’re doing a new one, and it should be done in early march. Thanks!!
Das aktuelle 2000er Zion I Album "Mind over Matter" kann zum Beispiel bei www.cede.ch bezogen werden. Wer dieses Album noch nicht sein Eigen nennen darf, dem sei der Kauf wärmstens empfohlen. Meisterwerk von A-Z. Höhrproben gibt es auf www.zionicrew.com .	creation revolution critical mysterious wayz tha choice koncrete jungle metropolis oh lawd trippin how many elevation a little change fools gold venus rap degreez silly puddy inner light big ups all tha way one


trage dich für den undergroundhiphop.ch newsletter ein! contact@undergroundhiphop.ch