Hip-Hop has suffered another loss. Zion I co-founder Zumbi, aka Steve Gaines, has died at age 49 on Friday (August 13). The veteran Oakland, California MC’s family confirmed the news yesterday.
“It is with utter disbelief and great sadness that the Gaines family shares the news of the passing of Steve “Zumbi” Gaines on Friday, August 13, 2021,” a statement from the family published at KQED announced. “Gaines, 49 and the MC of the critically acclaimed Hip Hop group Zion I, passed away at Alta Bates Hospital today in the early morning from unknown causes.” The statement continued, “The family requests privacy in this very challenging time while they await further details. Steve is survived by three sons, his mother, and his brother. He was working on a Zion I reunion tour with longtime producer and collaborator, Amp Live, to honor the legacy of their musical endeavors for their fans.”
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DJ True Justice told HipHopDX‘s Kyle Eustice, “[Zumbi] was recovering from COVID and had a severe asthma attack, and his heart stopped. He died in the hospital. They were unable to revive him.”
As the family’s statement suggested, Zumbi and Zion I co-founder Amp Live were in the process of a reunion. According to DX, the duo had booked concerts themed around the 20th anniversary of Mind Over Matter. Amp, a Texas native, joined Zumbi (fka MC Zion) to form Zion I during the mid-1990s. The duo separated, amicably, in February of 2015, as Amp further pursued a solo career in Electronic music, Reggae, and projects with Del The Funky Homosapien and another group, Unified Highway. Amp has yet to release a statement on Zumbi’s passing.
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Zumbi had maintained Zion I. Apart from a 2008 solo LP, the rapper released his music through the group name. The duo’s discography reaches back to the late 1990s with breakthrough singles, including “Critical” and “Venus.” Compiling several of the early singles, 2000’s Mind Over Matter was a strong Bay Area contribution to the independent/underground Hip-Hop boom. It featured both Cali Agents: Rasco and Planet Asia.
In the 20 years that followed, the group released a dozen more titles, working with Talib Kweli, Devin The Dude, Brother Ali, and a pre-fame Macklemore. As guests, they featured on Linkin Park’s platinum 2002 LP, Reanimation, on the remix to “Plc.4 Mie Hæd.” Zion I also partnered with Living Legends MC/producer The Grouch on multiple albums and had DJ Fresh produce an LP in Amp’s absence. The duo’s 2009 K-Flay assisted track “Coastin” from The Take Over has over 25 million Spotify streams.
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