Hieroglyphics (group)

Infobox musical artist
Name = Hieroglyphics


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Background = group_or_band
Alias = Hieroglyphics Crew, Hiero
Origin = Oakland, California, USA
Genre = Alternative hip hop
West coast hip hop
Years_active = 1991-Present
Label = Hieroglyphics Imperium Recordings
Associated_acts = A Band Called Pain, Beeda Weeda, Encore, Goapele, Handsome Boy Modeling School, Knobody, Musab, O.C., Prince Ali, SupremeEx
URL = [http://www.hieroglyphics.com Hieroglyphics.com]
Current_members = Casual Del Domino Pep Love A+ Opio Tajai Phesto Toure
Past_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 Hieroglyphics combine fundamentally sound deliveries and lyrical content with original and sometimes jazzy or funky beats and samples.cite web | url = http://www.rapreviews.com/archive/2005_05D_fullcircletour.html | accessdate = 2007-01-27 | author = One Line | title = Hieroglyphics: Full Circle Tour - RapReviews DVD Review | publisher = "RapReviews.com" |date=2005-05-24 ] Since their inception, Hieroglyphics have found a following largely through their live concerts, podcasts ("Hierocasts"), and promotion through their website.cite web | url = http://thecareercookbook.com/article.php?article_id=45 | accessdate = 2007-01-27 | author = Maniaci, Paul | title = Domino Profile | publisher = "The Career Cookbook" |date=2006-09-03]

The collective uses a three-eyed, straight-lipped face logo that figures prominently on their albums, website, stickers, and clothing.cite web | url = http://www.sfweekly.com/issues/2000-03-01/music2.html | accessdate = 2007-01-27 | author = Keast, Darren | title = 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 | publisher = "SFWeekly.com" |date=2000-03-01]

History

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.

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.cite web | url = http://www.sfweekly.com/issues/2000-03-01/music2.html | accessdate = 2007-01-27 | author = Keast, Darren | title = 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 | publisher = "SFWeekly.com" | date = 2000-03-01]

In a 2000 interview with the "SF Weekly", Del commented: cquote|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.cite web | url = http://www.sfweekly.com/issues/2000-03-01/music2.html | accessdate = 2007-01-27 | author = Keast, Darren | title = 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 | publisher = "SFWeekly.com" | date = 2000-03-01] 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:cquote|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.cite web | url = http://www.halftimeonline.com/slick-talkin/hip-hop-and-comics-jim-mahfood-grrl-scouts/ | accessdate = 2007-08-28 | author = halftime | title = Hip Hop and Comics Vol.2: Jim Mahfood (Grrl Scouts) | publisher = "HalftimeOnline.com" | date = 2004-01-15]

Discography

tudio albums

References

External links

* [http://www.hieroglyphics.com/ Hieroglyphics.com Official Site]