Hieroglyphics (group)

Last updated

Hieroglyphics
Hiero logo.JPG
Hieroglyphics' logo
Background information
Also known asHieroglyphics Crew, Hiero
Origin Oakland, California, U.S.
Genres Hip hop
Years active1991–present
Labels Hieroglyphics Imperium
Members
Past members
  • Snupe
  • Mike G
  • Jay-Biz
Website hieroglyphics.com

Hieroglyphics, also known as the Hieroglyphics Crew and Hiero, is an American underground hip hop collective based in Oakland, California. It was founded in the early 1990s by rapper Del the Funky Homosapien. The collective is currently composed of rappers Del the Funky Homosapien, Casual, Pep Love, producer/manager Domino, DJ Toure, and the four individual members of the rap group Souls of Mischief: Phesto, A-Plus, Opio, and Tajai.

Contents

Since their inception, Hieroglyphics have found a following largely through their live concerts, podcasts ("Hierocasts"), and promotion through their website. [1]

The collective uses a three-eyed, straight-lipped face logo that figures prominently on their albums, website, stickers, and clothing. [2]

History

As a collective, the Hieroglyphics have released three studio albums: 3rd Eye Vision in 1998, Full Circle in 2003, and The Kitchen in 2013.

In 2005, the collective released a live DVD and accompanying CD of the Hiero's 2003 Full Circle Tour.

The collective has also released five compilation albums: Hiero B-Sides and Hiero Oldies Vol. I in 1997, Hiero Oldies Vol. II in 1998, The Building in 2004, The Corner in 2005, and most recently, Over Time , in March 2007.

Individual members of the collective have also released albums of their own, either through solo projects or outside group projects.

The collective's third eye logo is the Mayan numeral for 8. Created by Del the Funky Homosapien, the son of an abstract artist, it has been used to promote the collective on their album covers, website, stickers, clothing, and other promotional materials. [2]

In a 2000 interview with SF Weekly , Del commented:

When I invented that symbol, I never thought it would get this big. I've seen about 20 people with that tattoo. I saw a comic book -- like Clerks or something -- and one of the fools in there had a Hiero shirt on. I saw a Redman and Method Man video, and there's somebody in the crowd with a Hiero shirt on. I think slowly but surely people are starting to pay attention to us. [2]

The Clerks comic in question was drawn by underground comic artist Jim Mahfood who has worked various rap and hip hop items into his work over his career. In an interview with halftimeonline.net in 2004, Mahfood mentioned Del and the Hieroglyphics by name:

Working in comics, especially the way I do, is totally comparable to an underground emcee or rap crew because you can actually make a living off of it without selling out or compromising your vision. Some of my heroes are Del The Funkee Homosapien from the Hieroglyphics crew, Jurassic 5, or my homeboy Z-Trip are all people who have developed a following for doing something really specific. [3]

Discography

Studio albums

YearAlbumPeak chart positions [4]
U.S. U.S. R&B U.S. Heat
1998 3rd Eye Vision 8826
2003 Full Circle
  • Released: October 7, 2003
  • Label: Hieroglyphics Imperium
155537
2013 The Kitchen
  • Released: July 16, 2013 [5]
  • Label: Hieroglyphics Imperium
4514

Live albums

YearAlbum
2005Full Circle Tour
  • Released: April 19, 2005

Compilation albums

YearAlbum
1996Hiero Oldies Vol. I
  • Format: Cassette, CD (2001 reissue)
1997Hiero B Sides
Live.97
  • Format: Cassette
1998Hiero Oldies Vol. II
  • Released: June 29
  • Format: Cassette, CD (2001 reissue)
2002Hiero Classix Vol.1
  • Released: June 29
  • Format: CD
2004The Building
  • Format: CD
2005 The Corner
  • Released: September 20
2007 Over Time
  • Released: March 20
  • Format: CD

Singles

YearSongAlbum
1999"You Never Knew"3rd Eye Vision
2002"Hydra, G.U.O.M.D, Think Again"One Big Trip
2003"Make Your Move" (featuring Goapele)Full Circle
2013"Gun Fever"The Kitchen
YearSongAlbum
2012"40 & Hiero"
(E-40 featuring Hieroglyphics)
The Block Brochure: Welcome to the Soil 3

Related Research Articles

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Souls of Mischief</span> American hip hop group

Souls of Mischief is a hip hop group from Oakland, California, that is also part of the hip hop collective Hieroglyphics. The Souls of Mischief formed in 1991 and is composed of rappers A-Plus, Opio, Phesto, and Tajai.

Underground hip-hop is an umbrella term for hip hop music that is outside the general commercial canon. It is typically associated with independent artists, signed to independent labels or no label at all. Underground hip hop is often characterized by socially conscious, positive, or anti-commercial lyrics. However, there is no unifying or universal theme – AllMusic suggests that it "has no sonic signifiers". "The Underground" also refers to the community of musicians, fans and others that support non-commercial, or independent music. Music scenes with strong ties to underground hip hop include alternative hip hop and conscious hip hop. Many artists who are considered "underground" today were not always so, and may have previously broken the Billboard charts.

Deltron 3030 is an American hip hop trio composed of producer Dan the Automator, rapper Del the Funky Homosapien, and DJ Kid Koala. They also collaborate with a variety of other musicians under many futuristic pseudonyms.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Del the Funky Homosapien</span> American rapper

Teren Delvon Jones, better known by his stage name Del the Funky Homosapien or Sir DZL, is an American rapper.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Jim Mahfood</span>

Jim Mahfood, a.k.a. Food One, is an American comic book creator.

<i>93 til Infinity</i> 1993 studio album by Souls of Mischief

93 'til Infinity is the debut studio album by American hip-hop group Souls of Mischief. It was released on September 28, 1993, on the Jive label.

<i>Both Sides of the Brain</i> 2000 studio album by Del the Funky Homosapien

Both Sides of the Brain is the fourth solo studio album by American hip hop musician Del the Funky Homosapien. It was released by Hieroglyphics Imperium Recordings in 2000. It peaked at number 118 on the Billboard 200 chart.

<i>Future Development</i> 1997 studio album by Del the Funky Homosapien

Future Development is the third solo studio album by American hip hop musician Del the Funky Homosapien. It was released by Hieroglyphics Imperium Recordings in 1997. It was able to achieve decent success, selling over 400,000 copies worldwide.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Yameen</span> American rapper

Yameen is an American hip hop producer from Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, United States. His most recent album, "Diamond is Unfadable" was released in 2017 on Rumble Pack Records.

<i>No Need for Alarm</i> 1993 studio album by Del the Funky Homosapien

No Need for Alarm is the second solo studio album by American hip hop musician Del the Funky Homosapien. It was released in 1993 through Elektra Records. Recording sessions took place at Hyde Street Studios in San Francisco and at Chung King House of Metal in New York City. The album spawned the two singles "Catch A Bad One", and "Wrong Place" Production was handled by Del himself along with A-Plus, Casual, Domino, Jay-Biz, Snupe and Stimulated Dummies.

Damian Siguenza, known by his stage name, Domino, is an American record producer, manager, DJ, and one of the members of the Oakland, California-based underground hip hop collective, Hieroglyphics.

<i>3rd Eye Vision</i> 1998 studio album by Hieroglyphics

3rd Eye Vision is the first studio album by American hip hop collective Hieroglyphics. It was released by Hieroglyphics Imperium Recordings on March 24, 1998. It peaked at number 26 on the Billboard Heatseekers Albums chart, as well as number 88 on the Top R&B/Hip-Hop Albums chart. It has sold more than 100,000 copies.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Hieroglyphics Imperium Recordings</span>

Hieroglyphics Imperium Recordings is an Oakland, California-based, independent hip hop record label founded and owned by underground hip hop collective, the Hieroglyphics. The label was created by the collective in 1995 to publish and market the collective's, and individual member, releases, as well as releases from other, affiliated artist's that major labels would deem not commercial enough for mass distribution.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Phesto</span> American rapper

Damani Thompson, known by the stage names, Phesto and Phesto Dee, is an American rapper and producer. He is one of the founding four members of the Oakland, California-based underground hip hop group Souls of Mischief, and, with the Souls of Mischief, a part of the eight-person, alternative hip hop collective, the Hieroglyphics.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">A-Plus (rapper)</span> American rapper and producer (born 1975)

Adam Carter, known by the stage name, A-Plus, is an American rapper and producer. He is one of the founding four members of the Oakland, California-based underground hip hop group Souls of Mischief and, with Souls of Mischief, a part of the eight-person, alternative hip hop collective, the Hieroglyphics.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Tajai</span> American rapper

Tajai Massey, known by the stage name Tajai, is an American rapper and producer. He is one of the four founding members of the Oakland, California-based underground hip hop group Souls of Mischief and, with Souls of Mischief, a part of the eight-person, alternative hip hop collective Hieroglyphics. He is also one half of the hip hop duo Rap Noir. He is a vegetarian.

<i>Over Time</i> (album) 2007 compilation album by Hieroglyphics

Over Time is the fifth compilation album released by the Oakland, California-based, underground hip hop collective, Hieroglyphics. The album was released on March 20, 2007 by the group's own independent record label, Hieroglyphics Imperium Recordings.

"Mistadobalina" is a song by American hip hop musician Del tha Funky Homosapien. It was released as the second single from his 1991 debut album, I Wish My Brother George Was Here. The single peaked at number 6 on the Billboard Hot Rap Songs chart, as well as number 55 on the Hot R&B/Hip-Hop Songs chart. In 2011, Willy Staley of Complex placed it at number 19 on the "50 Greatest Bay Area Rap Songs" list.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Casual (rapper)</span> American rapper

Jonathan Owens, known by his stage name Casual, is an American rapper, producer, and one of the founding members of the alternative hip hop collective Hieroglyphics. He also reads and has been studying Egyptian Hieroglyphics for many years, makes videos on the subject on his youtube channel Smash Rockwell as well writing about it on his blog rap god. As a rapper Casual initially became known for his freestyle battle rhymes in the Bay Area hip hop scene and later developing into a solo artist. He is known for diverse lyrics, a complex multisyllabic East Coast influenced flow but with a distinctive Oakland accent. Casual's debut album Fear Itself released on Jive records in 1994 when he was 17 years old garnered both critical and commercial success. Along with Del tha Funkee Homosapien Casual went on to become one of the most prominent and recognizable faces of the Hieroglyphics crew, releasing three albums all on the Hieroglyphics crew's own label, Hiero Imperium. He has released thirteen solo albums as of 2023.

<i>The Kitchen</i> (album) 2013 studio album by Hieroglyphics

The Kitchen is the third studio album by American hip hop collective Hieroglyphics. It was released by Hieroglyphics Imperium Recordings on July 16, 2013. It peaked at number 14 on the Billboard Heatseekers Albums chart, as well as number 45 on the Top R&B/Hip-Hop Albums chart.

References

  1. Maniaci, Paul (September 3, 2006). "Domino Music Producer". The Career Cookbook. Archived from the original on November 14, 2017. Retrieved November 14, 2017.
  2. 1 2 3 Keast, Darren (March 1, 2000). "Having it Both Ways: Del the Funky Homosapien has moved out of the shadow of his famous cousin – and every musical cliché – to help lead Bay Area hip hop". SFWeekly.com. Archived from the original on February 27, 2005. Retrieved January 27, 2007.
  3. Halftimeonline.net (January 15, 2004). "Hip Hop and Comics Vol.2: Jim Mahfood (Grrl Scouts)". HalftimeOnline.net. Retrieved August 28, 2007.
  4. Steve Huey. "Hieroglyphics § Awards". AllMusic . Retrieved April 3, 2015.
  5. Paul Martinez (July 16, 2013). "Hieroglyphics "The Kitchen" Tracklist, Cover Art & Album Stream". Hiphopdx.com. Retrieved April 3, 2015.