The Hierogylphics are an alternative hip hop collective from Oakland, California comprised of de facto leader Del the Funky Homosapien, Casual, Pep Love, the Souls of Mischief, DJ Toure & producer/manager Domino. Making their full-length studio debut in 1998 with 3rd Eye Vision independently through Hieroglyphics Imperium Recordings to widespread praise, their 2003 sophomore effort Full Circle was also welcomed positively although their follow-up a decade later The Kitchen generally left audiences divided. 13 years later & they’re warming up for the crew’s annual Hiero Day festival this weekend with their 4th studio LP.
“Mosaico: Suite 1” by Casual, Del the Funky Homosapien, Opio & Tajai produced by Domino talks about hip hop respecting liars in 2026 & having no expecting of their albums becoming fire whereas “Eyes Wide Shut” by A-Plus, Del & Pep Love finds the trio confronting all the fraudulent hate over an A-Plus instrumental. “Hieroglyphics Faction” by A-Plus, Del & Opio representing their crew over a boom bap beat from DJ Toure while “Hard Numbers” by Casual, Del, Opio, Pep Love & Phesto expresses hope of having their numbers correctly.
A-Plus & Pep Love team up for the summery “Something in the Air” talking about wanting their legacies to reflect integrity when the time comes for them to hang it up leading into “Drum Talk” by Casual, Del the Funky Homosapien, Phesto & Tajai discusses letting the drums do the speaking in preparation for their slick rhymes being laid out. “The Way That It Be” by Casual, Phesto & Tajai talks about being stuck in their ways that pay ‘em leading into “Gods & Goats” by A-Plus, Opio & Pep Love ending the 1st leg likening themselves to bishops making proclamations.
The title track kicks off the 2nd half uniting A-Plus, Pep Love & Phesto expressing that they’d rather have a small piece of something in the end instead of absolutely nothing while “Uplifted” by A-Plus, Casual, Del the Funky Homosapien, Opio & Tajai tackles the subject of optimism. “Helicopter Barrel Roll” by A-Plus, Opio & Pep Love regroups so they can explain themselves as hip hop’s gasoline & every mic being a matchstick while “3rd Eye Robot (Kill ‘Em All)” by A-Plus, Pep Love, Phesto & Tajai talks about the rise of AI within the past couple years.
“Hiero on the Scrolls” by Casual, Del the Funky Homosapien & Tajai opens the 4th quarter suggests seeing past the streets & the meager mouths while the groovy “Mosaico: Suite 2” by A-Plus, Pep Love & Phesto dismisses all theatrics coming around them. “Everyday Shit” by Casual, Opio, Pep Love & Tajai talks about kickin’ it with each other all the way back to their childhood whole “Crescent Moon, Velvet Sky” by Casual & the Souls of Mischief sends off All Said & Done taking their play amongst hip hop excellence.
It’s not very often where all 9 members of the Hieroglyphics get together in the studio for an entire project but if I had to rank the 4 LPs in their catalog, All Said & Done would be placed above The Kitchen & Full Circle as my 2nd favorite of theirs collectively behind none other than 3rd Eye Vision. The boom bap production’s less receptive than The Kitchen’s was back when I had finished my sophomore year of high school & the consciously abstract bars from the Bay Area’s finest MCs feel more memorable, pretty much looking back at the legacy they’ve left behind.
Score: 4/5
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