Hieroglyphics

Rooted in the creative atmosphere of the Bay Area, Hieroglyphics has emerged as a powerful force within underground hip-hop culture. Comprised of Del the FunkyHomosapien, Casual, Pep Love, Domino, and the group Souls of Mischief, this crew is one of the first to successfully forge careers as a collective and as individual artists. Sales for the crew have sailed well beyond 3 million units-- and that?s not even including their various tapes and underground records released in the early days.

If you felt the Hieroglyphics camp for the first time when Del emerged on the scene in '91 with the classic, I Wish My Brother George Was Here (Elektra) you had to know that great things were ahead. And on and on, good things came from Hiero, including: Del?s 1993 release, No Need for Alarm (Elektra), Souls? debut in 1993, 93 til Infinity (Jive), Casual's 1994 release Fear Itself (Jive), and Souls? follow up in 1995, No Man?s Land (Jive).

In 1997, armed with experience and insight, Hieroglyphics formed their own independent company, Hiero Imperium, and soon released their first album as a collective unit, Third Eye Vision, followed by releases by each of the individual artists on the label. Hiero also built a strong online presence through their award-winning website ? hieroglyphics.com (9 years and running!) and a merchandise line prominently featuring their famous three-eyed logo.

The success of the Hieroglyphics Imperium label has enabled them to branch out beyond their own work to expand their musical legacy. In 2002 Hiero released one of Hip-Hop?s first CD/DVD hybrids, One Big Trip, which included a soundtrack on one side of the disc and a movie on the other. Artists within the collective also have collaborated with the likes of Dilated Peoples, Q-Tip, Xzibit, George Clinton, Jurassic 5, and Dan the Automator (Deltron 3030). The most notable of these collaborations was Del the Funky Homosapien?s lead vocal performance on "Clint Eastwood", the smash single off of the multi-platinum selling album from the Gorillaz.

2003 brought about the highest grossing fiscal year ever, along with the formation of a brand-new distribution wing of Hiero Imperium, which showcases the next wave of innovative independent artists. Releases included projects with soul singer Goapele, and hip-hop artists Z-Man and Encore.

In 2004, the expansion continued. The Hiero crew has followed up Third Eye Vision with a new release entitled Full Circle , as well as a solo album from Tajai (Souls of Mischief)-Power Movement, and V/A The Building, a budget compilation of things to come.

2005 will bring about forthcoming albums from: Opio (Triangulation Station) Casual (Smash Rockwell), Pep Love (Reconstruction) and Del (Eleventh Hour). Also included in this surge of creativity is the newly formed multi-media branch of Hiero Imperium, set to release a DVD of the recent Hieroglyphics "Full Circle" Tour. Keep your third eye open!