San Francisco Chronicle - (Sunday)
Integral voice of rap in Bay Area duo Zion I
Stephen Gaines, better known by the stage name Baba Zumbi of the Oakland duo Zion I, was an integral, uplifting voice in Bay Area hip-hop for more than 20 years. With Zion I, Gaines morphed styles, showcasing his mastery in rapping in songs spanning hip-hop, dancehall, drum and bass, hyphy and more. The rapper was known throughout his career for inspiring fans with a distinct energy and encouraging them to “let your inner light shine.” But his own light flickered out Aug. 13, when he died at Alta Bates Summit Medical Center in Berkeley. Gaines was 49. “Zumbi was a man of many talents and was blessed to be able to share his gifts and love of music, most importantly hiphop, with the world,” read a statement from Gaines’ representatives released last Sunday. “A prolific vocalist, emcee, performer, poet, and community activist, Zumbi was dedicated to the betterment of his community in every way through his words and actions. Sharing his light was a gift from the most high that showered us with stillness, tranquility, and harmony.”
While initial reports said he had asthma and was being treated for COVID-19, the cause of death is under investigation by Berkeley police. Gaines’ family announced Thursday it has started its own investigation, hiring lawyers Elizabeth Grossman and Lyn Agre.
In a statement released Thursday, Gaines’ partner, Millaray Rodriguez Avila, “asks that fans embrace Steve’s approach to life during this process: ‘Breathe and be still as we gather the necessary facts surrounding Steve’s departure.’ ”
In the meantime, a GoFundMe campaign was started by friends and family in Gaines’ honor, with proceeds to go toward a scholarship for his three young sons. Zion I formed when Gaines met producer Amp Live at Morehouse College in Atlanta in the 1990s. In 2000, they released Zion I’s debut, “Mind Over Matter,” which many consider to be one of the Bay Area’s most dynamic hip-hop contributions. Songs such as “Koncrete Jungle,” “Metropolis” and “Trippin’” paint a vivid picture of life in the city and the positive outlook needed to thrive creatively. “Silly Puddy,” featuring Living Legends rapper the Grouch, was the first of many widely praised tracks Gaines fronted.
Gaines went on to release more than a dozen albums with Zion I, including 2002’s meditative “Deep Waterslang” and 2009’s celebratory “The Takeover.” The latter included the hit single “Coastin’,” featuring rapper K.Flay and Gaines delivering the lyric: “When those hard times come, love will bring you right back.”
He split with Amp Live in 2015, at which point Zion I became his solo project. He continued releasing albums, including “The Tonite Show With Zion I” in 2018 with Oakland’s DJ Fresh.
The 2006 collaboration album with the Grouch, “Heroes in the City of Dope,” celebrated both the beauty and imperfections of Oakland with nuance and wisdom. It cemented Gaines and Zion I as keepers of the culture and voices for the community.
Gaines’ social activism peaked with the 2016 song “Tech $,” in which he not only dissected the perils of gentrification and the growing displacement of people of color in Oakland, including himself, but also offered possible solutions. He preached the importance of establishing programs in technology and entrepreneurship for local youths of color, to empower their future and shape the city in a positive way.
“I’m all about business getting built and infrastructure getting built,” he said in the track’s spoken word bridge. “But why not tap the people who have been here for generations? We’re all living through this process. Why not empower the people here already?”
Gaines toured and collaborated with Linkin Park, Rebelution, Stephen Marley, Bassnectar, Matisyahu and Guru — a testament to how his lyricism transcended cultures.
In the last years of his life, Gaines found fulfillment in fatherhood and tai chi as he continued to create community-minded music. He released the single “Try & Try,” alongside Grammy winner Fantastic Negrito, with a video filmed in Oakland at the height of the pandemic. A “Mind Over Matter” 20th anniversary reunion tour with Amp Live was in the works at the time of his death.
“I would not be who I am today without my brother,” Amp Live posted on Instagram. “Steve was an excellent father, out of this world vocalist, and the most sincere, real, loving friend anyone could have. He was something special.”
Gaines is survived by his three sons, his mother, a brother and his partner, Rodriguez Avila.
A musical tribute and celebration of Gaines’ life is scheduled for 1 p.m. Sunday at the Township Commons at Brooklyn Basin, 288 Ninth Ave. in Oakland. For additional details and updates, fans are encouraged to follow Zion I’s Instagram account at @zion_i_crew.