Since the emergence of their highly acclaimed Mind Over Matter LP, Oakland underground standouts Zion I have stood at the forefront of progressive hip hop, foreshadowing the merging of electronic music and hip hop years in advance. Producer Amp-Live’s intricate soundscapes, combined with soulful, intelligent lyrics from MC Zumbi, have earned co-signs from hip hop icons as diverse as Too $hort and Talib Kweli, along with legions of die-hard fans. In 2012, it is time for the rest of the world to meet Zion I.

To aid in this effort, and in anticipation of their upcoming release Shadow Boxing (October 2, Live Up Records), Zion I joins forces with Brooklyn mixtape master J.Period (remixer/DJ for Q-Tip, The Roots, K’Naan) to present Bomb First, a pre-emptive strike on the stagnating state of commercial hip hop. Featuring new music from Zion I, Kendrick Lamar, Azelia Banks, Action Bronson, Curren$y and more, Bomb First finds Zion I once again at the forefront of progressive hip hop-this time foreshadowing the emergence a new generation of artists dedicated to the preservation of the art.

On Bomb First, Zion I & J.Period shine a light on hip hop that is inspiring THEM in 2012. The result is a fun, diverse and soulful listening experience designed to inspire a new crop of fans, and re-ignite the spark in die-hard fans still hungry for quality hip hop.

J. Period + Zion I – “Bomb 1st” (Mixtape)