Zack de la Rocha: Keep It Zipped (2004, 2011)

The former Rage Against The Machine front-man Zack de la Rocha doesn't need a lot of introduction: After leaving the band in the year 2000 he went on to focus on a hip hop career. He appeared on a variety of projects. However, he never released a solo hip-hop record on his own. In 2004 de la Rocha started a collaboration with Trent Reznor of Nine Inch Nails, in which about 20 tracks were produced but never published (maybe if either one runs out of money one day). Thus, the rock oriented One Day As A Lion project together with Jon Theodore remains de la Rocha's only inter-RATM release.

In the absence of an official release I prepared this compilation back in 2004 and added some minor updates for this version. My favorites are the great Blackalicious' "Release (Part 1,2,3)" and the excellent collaboration with KRS One and the Last Emperor on the track "C.I.A.". Lyrically, most tracks deal with various aspects of politics: "Mumia 911" for instance is about the ill fate of Mumia Abu-Jamal who is on the death row right now and "March Of Death" is a strong anti Iraq war song.

Surprisingly, I discovered that someone else made a simple cover for this compilation and now, in the wake of the RATM reunion I don't think that an official release is highly likely so please enjoy the track listing after the break!

Preview | Buy! | Web
Tracklist:

1. -2000- Roni Size, Reprazent: Centre Of The Storm
Track 1 of "In The Mode" originally released on Talkin' Loud (UK) (5482002)
Zack's credits: Vocals, Written-By - Zack de La Rocha
2. -2000- The Roots: Burned Hollywood Burned
Track 11 of "Bamboozled - Original Motion Picture Soundtrack" originally released on Motown (US) (012 159687-2)
Zack's credits: Vocals - Zack de La Rocha
3. -1999- Aceyalone, Afu, Ra, Black Thought, Channel Live, Chuck D, Dead Prez, Divine Styler, Goldii Lokks, The Last Emperor, Sayeed, P.E.A.C.E., Pharoahe Monch, Slim Kid 3, Tragedy, What? What?, Wise Intelligent, Zack de La Rocha: Mumia 911 (Rocks Tha World Full Length Mix)
Track 3 of "Mumia 911" originally released on Ground Control Records (US) (GCR7008-2)
Zack's credits: Rap - Zack de La Rocha
4. -2000- Zion I, Planet Asia: Critical
Track 3 of "Mind Over Matter" originally released on Ground Control Records (US) (GCR7015-2)
Zack's credits: Composed By (Disputed) - Zack de La Rocha
5. -2002- Blackalicious: Release (Part 1,2,3)
Track 5 of "Blazing Arrow" originally released on MCA Records (US) (088 112 806-2)
Zack's credits: Vocals - Zack de La Rocha
6. -2004- Saul Williams: Act III Scene 2 (Shakespeare)
Track 4 of "Saul Williams" originally released on V2 Records, Inc. (Europe) (VVR1032822)
Zack's credits: Additional Vocals - Zack de La Rocha
7. -2005- DJ Shadow, Zack De La Rocha: March Of Death (Anti-Iraq War Song) (Unreleased)
Track 6 of "March Of Death / Karmacoma" originally released on Mo Wax (2) (UK) (MWO79DJ)
Zack's credits: Vocals - Zack de La Rocha
8. -1999- Aceyalone, Afu, Ra, Black Thought, Channel Live, Chuck D, Dead Prez, Divine Styler, Goldii Lokks, The Last Emperor, Sayeed, P.E.A.C.E., Pharoahe Monch, Slim Kid 3, Tragedy, What? What?, Wise Intelligent, Zack de La Rocha: Mumia 911 (Fatlip West Coast Mix)
Track 7 of "Mumia 911" originally released on Ground Control Records (US) (GCR7008-2)
Zack's credits: Rap - Zack de La Rocha
9. -1998- KRS One, The Last Emperor, Zack de La Rocha: C.I.A. (Criminals In Action)
Track 24 of "Lyricist Lounge Volume One" originally released on Rawkus (US) (RWK 1129-2)
Zack's credits: Vocals - Zack de La Rocha
10. -2004- OutKast: B.O.B. (Zack de la Rocha Remix)
Track 9 of "B.O.B. Remix" originally released on Arista (74321 824475 1)
Zack's credits: Remix (disputed) - Zack de La Rocha
11. -2001- Saul Williams: Om Nia Merican
Track 7 of "Amethyst Rock Star" originally released on American Recordings (US) (314 586 501-2)
Zack's credits: Additional Vocals - Zack de La Rocha
12. -2002- KRS One, Zack De La Rocha, The Last Emperor: CIA (Remix)
Track 1 of "CIA / Talking To You" originally released on Rawkus (US) (088 113 975-1)
Zack's credits: Vocals - Zack de La Rocha
13. -2004- Zack de La Rocha: We Want It All
Track 1 of "We Want It All" originally released on Epic (US) (SAMPCS 14505 1, SAMPCS 14505 1)
Zack's credits: Producer, Vocals - Zack De La Rocha
14. -1999- Aceyalone, Afu, Ra, Black Thought, Channel Live, Chuck D, Dead Prez, Divine Styler, Goldii Lokks, The Last Emperor, Sayeed, P.E.A.C.E., Pharoahe Monch, Slim Kid 3, Tragedy, What? What?, Wise Intelligent, Zack de La Rocha: Mumia 911 (Diamond D East Coast Mix)
Track 13 of "Mumia 911" originally released on Ground Control Records (US) (GCR7008-2)
Zack's credits: Rap - Zack de La Rocha
15. -2006- DJ Shadow: Artifact (Non-Instrumental)
Track 09 of "The Outsider" originally released on Universal Music K.K. (Japan) (UICI-1048)
Zack's credits: Vocals - Zack de La Rocha (The version was published on "Outsider" as instrumental and the version with lyrics remained unpublished.)
16. -1997- Rage Against The Machine: Memory Of The Dead (Land And Liberty)
Track 12 of "Rage Against The Machine" originally released on SMV Enterprises (Germany) (50160 2, XPCD 2223)
Zack's credits: Poem Written-by, Vocals - Zack de La Rocha
17. -1998- KRS One, The Last Emperor, Zack de La Rocha: C.I.A. (Criminals In Action) (Video)
Track 24 of "Lyricist Lounge Volume One" originally released on Rawkus (US) (RWK 1129-2)
Zack's credits: Vocals - Zack de La Rocha