Album Review: Zion I - True and Livin' (Live Up)

Writer: Helene Dancer

Talib Kweli doesn’t only have an unmistakeable magic on the mic. He’s also got an incredible eye for talent, championing the brilliant Pete Philly and Perquisite and now appearing on the latest album from the West Coast Bay Area’s Zion I, True and Livin. This is emcee Zion and producer Amp Live’s third longplayer and Talib was right to add his sparkle to this one. It’s a beautiful melange of politics, love and street poetry, underpinned by eclectic production which incorporates rap, soul, blues and everything inbetween.

As Amp Live says: “I used gritty samples, live music and bangin’ ass drums, topped with a little electro sauce.” It’s all there, true and living. Complementing this attitude, Zion doesn’t shy away from baring all in his incisive lyrics. Amerika is reminiscent of Dilated Peoples in militant mode, with a driving tattoo and a no holds barred diatribe incorporating guns, gang culture and exposing the myth of the American Dream.

Hip hop culture is also interpreted through the quite lovely Bird’s Eye View. It’s in Zion’s heart, soul, spirit, and bones and this unconditional love for the art is what makes this duo shine so bright. Doin’ my thang is another ode to hip hop, with Zion telling the story of how rhyming was the path he chose to take. Others went the crack route, sinking 40s and chasing skirts but Zion is emphatic that emceeing is his thing. Period.

This all may sound just a little virtuous for those who don’t particularly like their hip hop of the backpack variety, but tunes like I need Mo blow those pretensions out of the water. It’s a spicy little number which a sensuous saxophone, skittering beat and lush orchestration to boot. Next To You is another slick number with a rhythm favoured by the likes of the Perceptionists on an insightful tip. It’s a love song – another silly love sick fool – not quite knowing what the next step is going to be. But who cares when there’s such a sensual instrumental telling you all’s good regardless.

And Talib’s spot? He turns [it] up on Temperature and steals the show with his vivid tale of keeping your head up despite the trials of life. As usual, he manages not to be parochial while delivering an image-laden message. The inimitable Aesop Rock guests on the album too, as does Gift of Gab, adding their magic to this defiantly independent and insightful album. The boys done good.

RELATED LINKS:
Zion I - official website



Buy True and Livin' at Amazon UK (CD) / US (CD)




PUBLISHED: 26 July 2005

RELEASED DATE: 19 April 2005(UK/US) .

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