At last! West Coast hip-hop stalwarts Zion I & The Grouch return with their sophomore collaborative effort, Heroes in the Healing of the Nation. The long-awaited follow-up to the group’s 2006 critically acclaimed Heroes in the City of Dope could not arrive at a more fitting hour. This time around Z&G raise the stakes to expand the playing field from City to Nation, inviting listeners everywhere to join them on their quest in channeling their highest selves. Amp Live provides the bulk of the banging backdrops as Zumbi and The Grouch consciously kill it with a well versed ease.

Zion I & The Grouch have been leaders marching to the beat of their own 808′s for some time now but the group suggests that we’re all cut from the same cloth. “Anyone changing other peoples lives for the better is a hero to me” explains The Grouch of the album’s title. “People are going through a difficult transition these days,” adds Zumbi. “We want this album to aid in that process.”

Heroes features an array of musical brethren, including Freeway, Fashawn, Casual, Mystic, Eric Rachmany, Jacob Hemphill of Soja, Eligh, Codany Holiday, and the R.O.D. Heroes in the Healing of the Nation is due out March 22, 2011.

Zion I has just dropped a new video from their album The Take Over. This one is a club banger titled “Juicy Juice”. You can listen to the rest of the tracks from the album for free at zioni-thetakeover.com.

As usual Zion I come with a solid album that shows a wide variety of musical influences, from old school to future school without ditching pop sensibilities. The Take Over gets some guest support from Brother Ali, Devin the Dude, K.Flay, Ty and Jennifer Johns.