The news of Zumbi of Zion I passing away hit the hip-hop community hard, myself included. An extremely talented and passionate brother, the culture feels this loss as a whole and my heartfelt condolences go out to his family, friends and loved ones. I don't believe rumors and I'm not tapped in well enough to discern fact from fiction on the matter, but no matter how you slice it, this comes as a great shock and all I know how to do is celebrate his life and music, so I'm very thankful that J.Period stepped to the plate with this excellent tribute mix, Celebrate The Life of Zumbi. The mix pays tribute to Steve "Zumbi" Gaines, aka Zion of ZION I, an amazing MC and towering figure of the Bay Area Hip Hop scene, who passed away on Friday, August 6. Originally recorded at Zumbi's memorial tribute in Oakland on August 22, this mix celebrates the musical legacy of Zumbi, remixing ZION I classics with some of Zumbi's favorite beats. J. Period adds, "For those of us who knew him well, it's been a great comfort to hear so many stories of how his music and energy lifted spirits and left such a profound mark on fans everywhere. While we continue to process the grief of losing such a bright light in our lives, we remember Zumbi's incredible contributions as an artist and MC. My own journey as a DJ would not have been possible without Zumbi and ZION I, who took me on my first tour, gave me my first "shot," and encouraged me to pursue my dreams before anyone else. I hope this mix - a collection of my favorites remixed with some of his - can become a window of discovery for a new generation of fans, and the beginning of an ongoing effort to hold this man's name up high, and continue to honor his musical legacy. As Zumbi would say: Jah bless!" R.I.P., Zumbi.