Oakland Rap Group Zion I Hit The Road To Promote ‘The Atomic Clock’

(AllHipHop News) Oakland, Hip-Hop staples Zion I are hitting the road on a nationwide tour to promote their upcoming 7th album, Atomic Clock, which marks are creative shift for the group. Atomic Clock, which was produced by group member Amp Live, was inspired by Zion I’s love for reggae and dub and was influenced by […]

(AllHipHop News) Oakland, Hip-Hop staples Zion I are hitting the road on a nationwide tour to promote their upcoming 7th album, Atomic Clock, which marks are creative shift for the group. Atomic Clock, which was produced by group member Amp Live, was inspired by Zion I’s love for reggae and dub and was influenced by classic artists like Max Romeo and The Congos. Amp Live employs live musicians on Atomic Clock for the first time in the group’s career as well. “The Takeover [2009] was a very external record and we wanted to focus on fun, party music,” said group member Zumbi AKA Zion. “This one is much more reflective and internal. We didn’t want to just recreate what we did last album. Art is not about living in the past.”According to Zumbi, it’s not just the music that sound that has changed on Atomic Clock. The writing is more detailed and introspective than on past albums. “The Atomic Clock is the most precise timing device on the planet and I thought that applied to the immaculate timing and rhythm it takes between musicians in one room to make good music,” added Zumbi. “But also, I feel that time is speeding up on the planet and it seems like it’s dilating and contracting really quickly. We’re living in such an interesting time and I think time is on everyone’s mind in one way or another. Everything is exponential now.”Atomic Clock, which is due in stores November 9th, features guest appearances by Locksmith and Macklemore, vocalists Courtney Holiday and Crystal Monee Hall and reggae band Rebelution. Zion I tour dates: 10/19: St. Louis, MO – Gargoyle10/20: Columbia, MO – Blue Note10/21: Carbondale, IL – Copper Dragon10/22: Madison, WI – Majestic Theatre10/23: Grand Rapids, MI – Orbit Room10/24: Chicago, IL – Subterranean10/25: Millvale, PA – Mr. Small’s Theater10/27: State College, PA – State Theatre for the Arts10/28: Syracuse, NY – Wescott Theatre10/29: Providene, RI – Lupo’s Heartbreak Hotel10/30: Towson, MD – Recher Theater10/31: Norfolk, VA – Norva11/1: Brooklyn, NY – Brooklyn Bowl11/2: New Haven, CT – Toad’s Place11/4: Charlottesville, VA – Jefferson Theater11/5: Richmond, VA – The National11/6: Ashville, NC – The Orange Peel11/7: Boone, NC – Legends11/12: Santa Cruz, CA – Catalyst11/16: Chico, CA – Chico State University’s BMU Ballroom