Hieroglyphics (group)

Hieroglyphics, also known as the Hieroglyphics Crew and Hiero, is an American underground hip hop collective based in Oakland, California. The collective 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.

Hieroglyphics
Hieroglyphics' logo
Background information
Also known asHieroglyphics Crew, Hiero
OriginOakland, California, US
GenresHip hop
Years active1991–present
LabelsHieroglyphics Imperium
Associated actsExtra Prolific, Souls of Mischief
WebsiteHieroglyphics.com
Members
Past members
  • Snupe
  • Mike G
  • Jay-Biz

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: Hieroglyphics B-Sides and Hieroglyphics Oldies, Vol. I in 1997, Hieroglyphics 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
Year Album Peak chart positions[4]
U.S. U.S. R&B U.S. Heat
1998 3rd Eye Vision N/A 88 26
2003 Full Circle
  • Released: October 7, 2003
  • Label: Hieroglyphics Imperium
 155 53 7
2013 The Kitchen
  • Released: July 16, 2013[5]
  • Label: Hieroglyphics Imperium
 N/A 45 14

Live albums
Year Album
2005 Full Circle Tour
  • Released: April 19, 2005

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

Singles
Year Song Album
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
Year Song Album
2012 "40 & Hiero"
(E-40 featuring Hieroglyphics)		 The Block Brochure: Welcome to the Soil 3

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. Keast, Darren (2000-03-01). "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 2005-02-27. Retrieved 2007-01-27.
  3. Halftimeonline.net (2004-01-15). "Hip Hop and Comics Vol.2: Jim Mahfood (Grrl Scouts)". HalftimeOnline.net. Retrieved 2007-08-28.
  4. Steve Huey. "Hieroglyphics § Awards". AllMusic. Retrieved 2015-04-03.
  5. Paul Martinez (2013-07-16). "Hieroglyphics "The Kitchen" Tracklist, Cover Art & Album Stream". Hiphopdx.com. Retrieved 2015-04-03.
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