Hieroglyphics (band)

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Hieroglyphics
Image:Full Circle Hieroglyphics Album Cover.jpg
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 Recordings
Associated
acts 		A Band Called Pain, Beeda Weeda, Encore, Goapele, Handsome Boy Modeling School, Knobody, Musab, O.C., Prince Ali, SupremeEx
Website Hieroglyphics.com
Members
Casual
Del
Domino
Pep Love
A-Plus
Opio
Taji
Phesto
Former members
Snupe
Mike G
Jay-Biz

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, Souls of Mischief (A-Plus, Tajai, Opio, and Phesto), DJ/producer Jay-Biz, DJ Toure, 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, R&B/soul music singer, Goapele, as well as heavy metal band, A Band Called Pain.

[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, Jay-Biz), 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] Relationship with fans

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. The site became the cornerstone of Hieroglyphics' independent birth, uniting fans with members of the group; a pioneering idea in 1995. The site would go on to win numerous awards and received high praises and press, in tandem spurring the creation of the Hieroglyphics Imperium record label.[citation needed]

[edit] Logo

Image:Hiero logo.JPG
Hieroglyphics' 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. 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] ”

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 and has had his live art shows compared to hip hop musicians. In an interview with halftimeonline 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.[6] ”

[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 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 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 information
3rd Eye Vision
  • Released: May 24, 1998
  • Chart positions: #26 Heatseekers, #88 Top R&B/Hip-Hop Albums
  • RIAA certification:
  • Singles: "You Never Knew", "The Who", "Oakland Blackouts", "After Dark", "Last One","At the Helm"
Full Circle
  • Released: October 7, 2003
  • Chart positions: #7 Heatseekers, #10 Top Independent Albums, #53 Top R&B/Hip-Hop Albums,
    #155 The Billboard 200
  • RIAA certification: 65,472 copies sold [7]
  • Singles: "Make Your Move", "Powers That Be", "Love Flowin'", "Let It Roll"

[edit] Live albums

Album information
Full Circle Tour

[edit] Compilation albums

Album information
Hieroglyphics B-Sides
Hieroglyphics Oldies, Vol. I
Hieroglyphics Oldies, Vol. II
  • Released: 1998
  • Chart positions:
  • RIAA certification:
  • Singles: "Break A Leg", "Pistol Whippers", "Cab Fare", "Fear No Evil", "Everyday Of The Week"
The Corner
Over Time

[edit] References

  1. ^ a b One Line (2005-05-24). Hieroglyphics: Full Circle Tour - RapReviews DVD Review. RapReviews.com. Retrieved on 2007-01-27.
  2. ^ Maniaci, Paul (2006-09-03). Domino Profile. The Career Cookbook. Retrieved on 2007-01-27.
  3. ^ 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.
  4. ^ a b Jones, Todd E. (2002). Interview: Casual. Hip-Hop Interviews. Retrieved on 2007-01-27.
  5. ^ a b Rodriguez, Kenny (2006). Casual - Been Around the World. NobodySmiling.com. Retrieved on 2007-01-27.
  6. ^ halftime (2004-01-15). Hip Hop and Comics Vol.2: Jim Mahfood (Grrl Scouts). HalftimeOnline.com. Retrieved on 2007-08-28.
  7. ^ http://www.ukmix.org/forums/viewtopic.php?t=22680&postdays=0&postorder=asc&start=275

[edit] External links

 v • d • e 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) 
Compilation Albums
Hieroglyphics B-Sides (1997) | Hieroglyphics Oldies, Vol. I (1997) | Hieroglyphics Oldies, Vol. II (1998) | The Corner (2005) | Over Time (2007) 
Hiero related artists
A Band Called Pain | Beeda Weeda | Encore | Goapele | Handsome Boy Modeling School | Knobody | Musab
O.C. | Prince Ali | SupremeEx | Z-Man
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