Hieroglyphics

Hieroglyphics is a pioneering hip-hop collective hailing from Oakland, California, known for their intricate lyricism, underground ethos, and influential role in shaping alternative West Coast hip-hop. Formed in the early 1990s by Del the Funky Homosapien—a cousin of Ice Cube and former member of Da Lench Mob—the collective includes Souls of Mischief (A-Plus, Opio, Phesto, and Tajai), Pep Love, Casual, Domino (the group’s manager and producer), and Del himself. Each member contributes a distinct style, but collectively, Hieroglyphics is celebrated for their jazz-influenced beats, thought-provoking rhymes, and innovative approach to hip-hop, steering away from the commercial gangsta rap that dominated the West Coast scene at the time. Their iconic three-eyed logo and debut group album, 3rd Eye Vision (1998), became a hallmark of independent hip-hop culture.