Genres Hip Hop | Years active 1991–present Genre Hip hop music | |
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Also known as Hieroglyphics Crew, Hiero Albums Profiles | ||
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.
Contents
Hieroglyphics combine fundamental sound deliveries and lyrical content with original and sometimes jazzy or funky beats and samples. Since their inception, Hieroglyphics have found a following largely through their live concerts, podcasts ("Hierocasts"), and promotion through their website.
The collective uses a three-eyed, straight-lipped face logo that figures prominently on their albums, website, stickers, and clothing.
Hieroglyphics - You Never Knew
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.
Logo
The collective's ubiquitous, third eye logo is the Mayan numerical for 8, also used as a symbol for infinite. Created by Del the Funky 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.
In a 2000 interview with the SF Weekly, Del commented:
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.net in 2004, Mahfood mentioned Del and the Hieroglyphics by name:
The logo also appeared in Robert Kirkman's The Walking Dead #5 on a T-shirt worn by Glenn, who also wears the shirt in the first episode of the Walking Dead video game series.
Songs
You Never Knew3rd Eye Vision · 1998
Make Your MoveFull Circle · 2003
At the Helm3rd Eye Vision · 1998