Legendary Bay Area Rapper ZION I Premieres Stunning New 'Age of Darkness' Visual Featuring Black Cowboys from Compton @zioni

Bay Area legend ZION I just premiered his highly anticipated new visual "Kali Yuga," which is another name for the Age of Darkness. The Joseph Buckley Campbell directed visual masterpiece features three Compton area Horsemen who are equestrian members of The Hill Foundation. Filmed by January Sixth Productions, one long shot beautifully captured within 45 minutes and masterfully with only three takes, the artistic video pays homage to black cowboys representing South Central Los Angeles as they ride on horseback behind Steven Gaines, AKA Baba Zumbi of ZION I, alongside the LA River. The riders have Zumbi's back as brother's keepers while he is followed around by trumpet players dressed in all black.

The visual includes Zumbi dressed in all white, representing the ego as he walks on his journey through life while a dancer dressed in all black with a mask on does his best to distract him by dancing in and out of his path. The dancer is his alter-ego, who also represents the voice in the back of his head that tries to derail him or lure him away from greatness.

"My vision of Kali Yuga is that of a human being walking through life with the different energies of one's life personified. I, in the all white, am much like the ego. I am self-aware, but consciously attempting to balance all of the energy with which I am engaging. The dancer in all black is like the Id, he is instinctive and impulsive, the shadow aspect of ourselves. He lured us towards the darkness. The cowboys are the higher self, gently guiding and protecting while on the journey of life. Always present, but hardly ever acknowledged, they feel like protectors or ancestors to me. The video illustrates the interplay of all of these different facets of the self while moving through the obstacles of life." - ZION I

ZION I - "Kali Yuga"
https://youtu.be/NCDsDzYRk1Q

Since the release of the debut album, Mind Over Matter in 2000, ZION I has risen up the ranks of independent hip-hop to solidify their standing as one of the most prolific, conscious rap groups of the past 2 decades. Boasting a catalog that consists of over two-dozen albums, EPs, mixtapes and collaborations, ZION I (currently consisting solely of MC/producer Zumbi) continues to create inspired music influenced by social & political woes, personal challenges & triumphs as well as family, spirituality and a raw perspective on the world at large.

Cited by A.V. Club as “remarkable”, Zumbi continues to showcase his talents as a unique, diverse and skilled MC while maintaining his place as one of the most recognizable voices in Hip-Hop. The 2016 release, The Labyrinth, was cited by PopMatters as a “timely new album of politically engaged hip-hop”. Fueled by his own personal losses as well as the current political and social climate of the world-at-large, Zumbi has created a record that, as the Huffington Post put it; “is as heartfelt as it is badass”.

Being one of the most energetic and engaging live acts out there, ZION I continues to bring the music to the masses at festivals, events and venues across the planet. With a sound and style that bends musical genres, ZION I is able to perform alongside a diverse range of artists ranging from rap, rock and reggae to jam band and EDM.

With the latest release of Ritual Mystik, ZION I continues to make music that while left-of-center is still relevant, fresh and exciting as ever. As Okayplayer put it; “At the end of the day, ZION I’s strength lies in the same areas where many artists falter – evolving without abandoning tried and tested methods.”

ZION I’s latest album Ritual Mystik, which includes the hit lead single Kali Yuga (featuring Ida the High Priestess of Bali & Boostive), is Available on All Streaming Platforms.

ZION I will be performing Kali Yuga at all the shows taking place during The Underground Railroad Tour.

The Underground Railroad Tour Dates:

6/19 The Hopmonk-Sebastopol, CA
6/20 Murphy's Drum-Anderson, CA
6/21 WildCraft Ciderworks-Eugene, OR
6/22 The Haul-Grants Pass, OR
6/23 Turbulence Festival-Hillsboro, OR*
6/24 Hawthorne Theatre-Portland, OR×
6/26 Nectar Lounge-Seattle, WA*
6/27 Wild Buffalo-Bellingman, WA+
6/27 Marcy's-Walla Walla, WA×
6/28 River City Saloon-Hood River, OR*
6/29 The Seasons-Yakima, WA*
6/30 The Filling Station-Bozeman, MT*
7/1 The Knotty Pine-Victor, ID*
7/2 The Gem-Idaho Falls, ID*
7/3 The Reef-Boise, ID*
7/4 The Cabin-Park City, UT
7/5 Moxi Theater-Greeley, CO
7/6 Tumbleroot Brewing-Santa Fe, NM
7/7 Trill Shop-Phoenix, AZ

*w/High Step Society
× Equipto & Vocab Slick ONLY
+ZION-I & High Step Society ONLY

ZION I on Social Media:

Twitter: http://www.twitter.com/zioni/

Instagram: http://www.instagram.com/zion_i_crew/

Facebook: http://www.facebook.com/zionicrew/

YouTube: http://www.youtube.com/user/zionitv/

Website: http://www.zionicrew.com