Hieroglyphics (band)
From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
| Hieroglyphics | ||
|---|---|---|
 Hieroglyphics from the cover of their
2003 album, Full Circle |
||
| Background information | ||
| Also known as | Hieroglyphics Crew, Hiero | |
| Origin |  Oakland, California, USA |
|
| Genre(s) | Alternative hip hop West coast hip hop |
|
| Years active | 1991-Present | |
| Label(s) | Hieroglyphics Imperium | |
| Associated acts |
Beeda Weeda, Encore, Goapele, Handsome Boy Modeling School, O.C., Z-Man | |
| Website | Hieroglyphics.com | |
| Members | ||
| Casual Del tha Funkee Homosapien Domino Pep Love Souls of Mischief |
||
| Former members | ||
| Snupe Jaybiz |
||
The Hieroglyphics, also known as the Hieroglyphics Crew and Hiero, are an American underground hip hop collective based in Oakland, California. The collective was founded in the early-1990s by rapper Del tha Funkee Homosapien.
The Hieroglypics are considered by many to be hip hop visionaries, combining fundamentally sound deliveries and intelligent lyrical content with smooth, original and sometimes jazzy or funky beats and samples.[1] Since their inception, Hieroglyphics have amassed a dedicated following of die-hard fans largely through their live concerts, podcasts ("Hierocasts"), and promotion through the collective's own website.[2]
The collective is also known for its ubiquitous, three-eyed, straight-lipped face logo that figures prominently on their albums, website, stickers, and clothing (worn by both the collective's members, as well as fans).[3]
Contents |
[edit] Members
The founding members of the Hieroglyphics are rappers Del Tha Funkee Homosapien, Snupe (who left the group shortly before the release of the collective's debut album, 3rd Eye Vision), Casual, Pep Love, Jaybiz, Souls of Mischief (A-Plus, Tajai, Opio, and Phesto) and manager/producer Domino.
In 2005, New York-based underground rapper O.C. was officially signed to the collective's self-owned independent record label, Hieroglyphics Imperium Recordings, becoming the first, East coast rapper signed to the label.
Other "Hiero-affiliated" artists include the conceptual group, SupremeEx, rappers Beeda Weeda, Encore and Z-Man, as well as R&B/soul music songstress, Goapele.
[edit] History
Most of the members of the collective have known each other since childhood. Casual was in kindergarten with A-Plus, while Tajai, Del, and Casual all attended the same elementary school in Oakland.[4] Each of the individual members had their own solo rap careers, or had careers with smaller groups such as Souls of Mischief (A-Plus, Opio, Phesto, and Tajai) and The Prose (Pep Love, Jaybiz), and were signed to major labels.[4]
In 1995, after each individual member or group of the collective were dropped from their respective major label contracts, the collective officially came together, formed their own independent record label, Hieroglyphics Imperium Recordings, and began publishing and releasing music from both the collective, and other sub-groups and associated artists.[5]
In a 2006 interview, Casual discussed the founding of the collective's label:
| “ | It came about from us getting dropped from major labels, and instead of folding and succumbing to defeat, we hit the ground running. We took what we had and we ran with it, we landscaped and we built something. We had to be resourceful, creative, and clever to gain our niche but now we got a company which was established in ’95. It’s been ten years since we’ve busted out independent. We were one of the first groups to gain venue from the Internet. Period. Not first, but we were one of the first three, definitely. Hieroglyphics – it’s all in history, it’s all in the timeline. There’s not any other album you could’ve bought online in 1995 besides Chuck D, this one rock dude, and us. So we had to find creative ways to help build our company. We found our niche and now we got a catalogue of like 30, 31 albums strong. And my position right now I’m basically working at the office, as well as putting out records, because this company is all owned by the artist.[5] | ” |
The collective's live shows have been described as "high-octane," and contribute to the Hiero's cult following among a worldwide audience.[1]
[edit] Logo
The collective's ubiquitous, third eye logo was created by Del Tha Funkee Homosapien, the son of an abstract artist, and has been used to promote the collective through reproduction on the Hieroglyphic's album covers, website, promotional materials, stickers, and clothing.[3]
In a 2000 interview with the SF Weekly, Del commented:
| “ | When I invented that symbol, I never thought it would get this big," he says. "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.[3] | ” |
[edit] Discography
As a collective, the Hieroglyphics have released two studio albums: 3rd Eye Vision in 1998, and Full Circle in 2003.
In 2005, the collective released a live DVD and accompanying CD of the Hiero's 2003 Full Circle Tour.
The collective has also released three compilation albums: Hieroglyphics B-Sides and Hieroglyphics Oldies, Vol. I in 1997, and Hieroglyphics Oldies, Vol. II in 1998.
Individual Hiero members have released several albums of their own, either through solo projects or outside group projects, all released on the collective's own label, and available for purchase through the collective's website.
[edit] Studio albums
| Album cover | Album information |
|---|---|
 |
3rd Eye Vision
|
 |
Full Circle
|
[edit] Live albums
| Album cover | Album information |
|---|---|
 |
Full Circle Tour
|
[edit] Compilation albums
| Album cover | Album information |
|---|---|
 |
Hieroglyphics B-Sides
|
 |
Hieroglyphics Oldies, Vol. I
|
 |
Hieroglyphics Oldies, Vol. II
|
[edit] Trivia
- In 1995, Yameen Friedberg, also known by his alias, "StinkE", a 16 year old Hiero fan from Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, created a fan web site about the Hieroglyphics. Hiero member Tajai happened upon the website, contacted Stinke, and Stinke became the webmaster of the collective's website from 1995 to 2001.
- In 2006, the song "At The Helm" from the 3rd Eye Vision album, was featured on the Tony Hawk's Project 8 soundtrack.
[edit] References
- ^ a b One Line (2005-05-24). Hieroglyphics: Full Circle Tour - RapReviews DVD Review. RapReviews.com. Retrieved on 2007-01-27.
- ^ Maniaci, Paul (2006-09-03). Domino Profile. The Career Cookbook. Retrieved on 2007-01-27.
- ^ a b c 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. Retrieved on 2007-01-27.
- ^ a b Jones, Todd E. (2002). Interview: Casual. Hip-Hop Interviews. Retrieved on 2007-01-27.
- ^ a b Rodriguez, Kenny (2006). Casual - Been Around the World. NobodySmiling.com. Retrieved on 2007-01-27.
[edit] External links
| Hieroglyphics |
| Members |
|---|
| Casual | Del tha Funkee Homosapien | Domino | Pep Love | Souls of Mischief (A-Plus, Opio, Phesto, Tajai) |
| Albums |
| 3rd Eye Vision (1998) | Full Circle (2003) |
| Hiero related artists |
| Beeda Weeda | Encore | Goapele | Handsome Boy Modeling School | O.C. | Z-Man |
