Hieroglyphics | |
|---|---|
 Performing in 2025 | |
| Background information | |
| Also known as | Hieroglyphics Crew, Hiero |
| Origin | Oakland, California, U.S. |
| Genres | Hip hop |
| Years active | 1991–present |
| Labels | Hieroglyphics Imperium |
| Members | |
| Past members |
|
| Website | hieroglyphics |
Hieroglyphics, also known as theHieroglyphics Crew andHiero, is an Americanunderground hip hopcollective based inOakland, California. The group includes founderDel the Funky Homosapien, fellow rappersCasual,Pep Love, and all four members of the groupSouls of Mischief—Phesto,A-Plus,Opio, andTajai—as well asDJ Toure and producer/managerDomino.
Since their inception, Hieroglyphics have found a following largely through their members, 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]
As a collective, the Hieroglyphics have released three studio albums:3rd Eye Vision in 1998,Full Circle in 2003, andThe Kitchen in 2013.
In 2005, the collective released a live DVD and accompanying CD of the Hiero's 2003Full Circle Tour.
The collective has also released five compilation albums:Hiero B-Sides andHiero 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 theMayan numeral for 8. Created byDel the Funky Homosapien, the son of anabstract 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 withSF 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 -- likeClerks or something -- and one of the fools in there had a Hiero shirt on. I saw aRedman andMethod 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]
TheClerks comic in question was drawn byunderground comic artistJim Mahfood who has worked various rap and hip hop items into his work over his career. In an interview withhalftimeonline.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 homeboyZ-Trip are all people who have developed a following for doing something really specific.[3]
| Year | Album | Peak chart positions[4] | |||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| U.S. | U.S. R&B | U.S. Heat | |||
| 1998 | 3rd Eye Vision
| — | 88 | 26 | |
| 2003 | Full Circle
| 155 | 53 | 7 | |
| 2013 | The Kitchen
| — | 45 | 14 | |
| Year | Album |
|---|---|
| 2005 | Full Circle Tour
|
| Year | Album |
|---|---|
| 1996 | Hiero Oldies Vol. I
|
| 1997 | Hiero B Sides
|
Live.97
| |
| 1998 | Hiero Oldies Vol. II
|
| 2002 | Hiero Classix Vol.1
|
| 2004 | The Building
|
| 2005 | The Corner
|
| 2007 | Over Time
|
| 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"(featuringGoapele) | 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 |
| International | |
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| National | |
| Artists | |
