hieroglyphics ArchivesAmbrosia For Heads

Del The Funky Homosapien & Living Legends Shine On A New Song

Life is too short to listen to bad music. So…let Ambrosia For Heads sift through it for you and only supply you with that great stuff. Despite the reports, Hip-Hop is alive and well and, in many ways, it’s better than it’s ever been. Not only can we go back... Read more

October 20, 2023 Audio, Trending Stories

Souls Of Mischief Freestyle New Verses To 93 Til Infinity

The Souls Of Mischief have been celebrating 30 years of Hip-Hop respect with the fans that provided it. Tajai, A-Plus, Phesto Dee, and Opio are in the midst of a tour with 93 stops (dates below) celebrating the 30th anniversary of 93 Til' Infinity, the quartet's acclaimed debut album—and its... Read more

August 2, 2023 Video

The Juice Crew Takes On Hieroglyphics In A War Of Lyricism (Audio)

Since the very beginning, Hip-Hop has been full of dope crews. While many of them are made up of solo artists, they still tend to come together for posse cuts or sometimes even entire albums. The Juice Crew is easily one of the most influential squads of all time. Members... Read more

March 3, 2019 Audio

Travel Back To The Early ’90s & Hear Casual Paint Hieroglyphics With Words On His Demo

A few years before there Mistah F.A.B. burst onto the scene, it was Casual who turned a Bay Area reputation for battling into a successful music career that has lasted ever since. "Smash Rockwell" continues to put in work with his Hieroglyphics crew, as Fear Itself approaches its 25th anniversary.... Read more

December 4, 2018 Throwback, Throwback

Black Thought, Talib Kweli, Mannie Fresh & More To Perform At 7th Annual Hiero Day

The 7th annual Hiero Day Music Festival & Block Party is taking place Labor Day, September 3. The event performers have officially been unveiled. Oakland, California's legendary Hieroglyphics crew will be performing at their festival, and joining them will be Black Thought, Talib Kweli, Freddie Gibbs, Mannie Fresh, Elzhi, Georgia... Read more

August 30, 2018 Fresh

Del The Funky Homosapien Released From Hospital After Concert Fall Injury

UPDATE: Del The Homosapien has been released from a Denmark hospital. Earlier this month, the breakout star out the Hieroglyphics crew was seriously injured during a Gorillaz concert performance. The MC/producer underwent surgery after fracturing seven ribs and puncturing his lung. Del updated his condition to HipHopDX. He added that... Read more

July 24, 2018 News

The Souls Of Mischief’s Tajai is Designing A Hotel To Chill From 18 ‘Til Infinity (Video)

One of the founding members of Souls Of Mischief, as well as the super-group Hieroglyphics, Tajai Massey is stretching his creative capacity beyond music in 2018. Heads may not know that the Oakland, California MC/producer is also an architectural designer, and his latest project comes in the form of a... Read more

July 12, 2018 Lifestyle, News

Del The Funky Homosapien Seriously Injured After Fall At Concert (Video)

Last night (July 8), the Gorillaz cut their Roskilde Festival appearance in Denmark short following an injury to longtime collaborator Del The Funky Homosapien. Del, who is a Rap veteran of nearly 30 years, fell off of the stage, halting the performance of the band's breakout 2001 single, "Clint Eastwood."... Read more

July 8, 2018 News, Video

Finding The GOAT Group: A Tribe Called Quest vs. Souls Of Mischief. Who Is Better?

“Finding the GOAT Group,” the fourth installment of Ambrosia For Heads’s annual battle series features Hip-Hop’s greatest collectives vying for the #1 spot. Sixty-two groups have been pre-selected by a panel of experts, and one slot will be reserved for a wild-card entry, including the possibility for write-in candidates, to... Read more

April 9, 2018 Best Hip-Hop Group, Finding the GOAT

Del The Funky Homosapien & Amp Live Form A Duo. They Did Not Come To Play. (Video)

This month, Oakland, California's Del announced the collaborative project with renowned producer/musician, Amp Live (formerly of Zion I). It represents a merging of two very meaningful Hip-Hop artists, especially to the Bay Area. The duo's debut album, Gate 13 is due to drop on April 20, and they teased its... Read more

March 22, 2018 Exclusive, Video

Wu-Tang Clan To Perform 36 Chambers At 2018 Soundset Festival

Rhymesayers Entertainment's 11th annual Soundset lineup is announced. For 2018, the Minneapolis, Minnesota Hip-Hop festival will feature some of RSE's founders and quite active artists. Event co-organizers Atmosphere will perform on the heels of reissuing their 1997 debut Overcast!. Slug, Ant, and company will be joined by Evidence, following last... Read more

February 28, 2018 Fresh

Kool Keith, Dan The Automator & QBert Revive Dr. Octagon With A New Album & Single (Audio)

This past weekend, Yasiin Bey (fka Mos Def) revealed that he and Talib Kweli are reuniting for a sophomore Black Star album. Meanwhile, another late '90s Hip-Hop squad finally debuts new music with its founding lineup. Dr. Octagon returns with Kool Keith, Dan The Automator, and DJ QBert. Moosebumps: An... Read more

February 15, 2018 Audio, News

A Near 500-Song Mix Showcases The Magnificent History Of West Coast Hip-Hop (Audio)

West Coast Hip-Hop is incredible. So many of its pioneers are still making albums, doing shows, and adding to their legacy. As a tribute to the Left Coast immense contributions to Hip-Hop, Take It Personal Radio has compiled a four-part episode dedicated to gangsta and underground Rap classics from the... Read more

November 4, 2017 Audio, Mixes

Casual Is Tired Of Facing Lesser MCs, So He Battles Himself (Audio)

Casual stays busy. The Oakland, California veteran MC and co-founder of the Hieroglyphics crew recently released a project with Detroit, Michigan's Phat Kat as Ron Jon Bovi (Neaux Mursi). In late '16, he's back on his solo tear. Attacking Capone-N-Noreaga's famed 1997 "T.O.N.Y. (Top Of New York)" instrumental, "GodKilla" is... Read more

December 12, 2016 Audio

Members Of Souls Of Mischief & Freestyle Fellowship Tag Team With Battle Rhymes (Audio)

In the early 1990s, Los Angeles, California's Good Life Café played host to some legendary lyricists with its open mic Hip-Hop shows. From Jurassic 5 (Rebels of Rhythm and Unity Committee) to Freestyle Fellowship, Skee-Lo to Volume 10, many great MCs made pre-album impact on a community of music, poetry,... Read more

December 5, 2016 Audio

This Unreleased Early 90s Del Feature Shows He Was Funky From The Start (Audio)

Producer/DJ Rob Flow, formerly DJ Robski of revolutionary-minded early ’90s Bay Area Hip-Hop group Freedom T.R.O.O.P. 187, recently posted a previously unreleased song of theirs featuring Oakland legend Del The Funky Homosapien. Besides Rob, the trio consisted of Adisa “The Bishop” Banjoko and the late Hi-Low. Banjoko is currently an... Read more

December 3, 2016 Throwback

Sir Jinx Speaks About Keeping The Production On Ice Cube’s Death Certificate True To The Game

Present day Hip-Hop relies heavily on serial albums. From The Blueprint to Detox, there is momentum in many great artists' catalogs that keeps the listener engaged while threading a concept. Twenty five years ago this week, Ice Cube released Death Certificate. This platinum album followed 1990's AmeriKKKa's Most Wanted solo breakout,... Read more

November 2, 2016 Exclusive, Food for Thought

25 Years Ago, Del The Funky Homosapien Came Out Swingin’ Like ‘I WISH They Would’ (Audio)

Today, Del The Funky Homosapien may be thought of as an inventive, at times, experimental veteran MC from Oakland, California. D-E-L has worked with the Gorillaz, Handsome Boy Modeling School, and most recently BROOKZILL! to exercise his tremendous vocabulary, and display the range in his delivery. However, when it all... Read more

October 20, 2016 Do Remember

Del The Funky Homosapien Reveals Ice Cube Wrote One Of His Hits

Last month, veteran Compton, California MC King T revealed some of the once downplayed writing that Del The Funky Homosapien did for cousin Ice Cube's AmeriKKKa's Most Wanted album. Del, then a relative unknown, would pen "Gangsta's Fairytale" from the Priority Records solo debut. On the back of that album,... Read more

June 17, 2016 Throwback

Ice Cube Wrote For Great MCs, But King T Says He Had Some Help Too (Video)

As depicted in 2015's Straight Outta Compton film, Hip-Hop Heads know that Ice Cube was a prominent writer within the N.W.A. group. The youngest member of the Ruthless Records multi-platinum group penned rhymes such as "Boyz N' The Hood" for Eazy-E, with some reported penmanship for Dr. Dre as well.... Read more

May 15, 2016 Video

Imagine Souls Of Mischief’s “93 ‘Til Infinity” Remixed To Over 15 Amazing Beats From 1993 (Audio)

Souls Of Mischief's "93 'til Infinity" remains a pinnacle for the veteran Oakland, California quartet. From the Jive/Zomba Records album of the same name, the introductory work from the Hieroglyphics members would see their strongest chart traction for album and single, in showing the rest of the world how they... Read more

May 13, 2016 Throwback

Casual & Saafir Go From Legendary Battle Opponents To Key Collaborators (Audio Premiere)

Almost 22 years ago, Casual and Saafir went off the rails (and reels) in a 1994 Wake Up Show (Sway & King Tech) syndicated radio battle. At the time, Casual had just released his Jive Records debut, Fear Itself, which featured "the Saucee Nomad" on one particular track. Saafir, who had... Read more

February 16, 2016 Audio, Exclusive

Black Thought, Del, Murs & Fashawn Make An All-Star Collabo About The Fight Within (Video)

One of 2016's most exciting collaborations crosses the coastline. The Roots' Black Thought, Hieroglyphics' Del The Funky Homosapien, Felt's Murs, and Fashawn all come together for "Rise Up." The song is for Street Fighter V, the game, but it is by no means a simple marketing ploy. Instead, this visual—which... Read more

February 16, 2016 Video

Del The Funky Homosapien Announces US Tour Dates

2016 marks 25 years since Del Tha Funkee Homosapien (as it was spelled then) released I Wish My Brother George Was Here. Since then, the Oakland, California native and cousin of Ice Cube has released 10 studio albums, three Hieroglyphics LPs, two other collaborative efforts, and an assortment of other... Read more

February 11, 2016 Fresh

Del The Funky Homosapien & Souls Of Mischief’s 1997 Freestyle Is A Purist’s Paradise (Audio)

In 1997, the Hieroglyphics crew was embarking on the early stages of an independent Hip-Hop empire. Del The Funky Homosapien (or "Del Tha Funkee Homosapien" as it was at the time) had released two heralded albums with Elektra Records. The Oakland, California quarter of Souls of Mischief has been part... Read more

February 10, 2016 Throwback

Casual & Phat Kat Ride Through A Tunnel That Leads Straight To Pure Grimy Hip-Hop (Video)

Casual and Phat Kat have formed a new group called Ron Jon Bovi. The pair are gearing up to release an album titled Neaux Mursi, a homonym double entre from the French "Non Merci," or "no thank you," and No Mercy. That wordplay, alone gives an indication of how lyrically... Read more

January 20, 2016 Video

Souls Of Mischief’s Opio & Free The Robots Recorded An LP In A Redwoods Forest. Hear Some (Audio Premiere)

Earlier this year, Souls Of Mischief/Hieroglyphics MC Opio and producer Free The Robots teamed for The Subconscious Mind EP, including "Let The Bass Go." Moving forward, the Oakland, California veteran and the accomplished producer (Capital STEEZ, Nocando, Busdriver) merge towards Sempervirens (September 18). The duo recorded this full-length in a California... Read more

August 10, 2015 Audio, Exclusive, Fresh

Souls Of Mischief’s Opio Knows Something About Making Futuristic Jeep Music (Audio)

Of all the members of Souls Of Mischief, it often seems like Opio keeps the lowest profile. The Oakland, California veteran may play the background, but he's laid down some critical verses for Souls as well as the Hieroglyphics releases. With a handful of projects, Ope' showcases a 2015 cut,... Read more

February 14, 2015 Audio

The Hieroglyphics Paint Pictures With Words In The Studio (Audio)

Following last year's The Kitchen LP, Del The Funky Homosapien and the Hieroglyphics crew are back in the lab again. Del, A-Plus, Opio and company freak a new concept at Red Bull Studios, their first new crew music (said to be the first of two tracks) from the session. "Heebie... Read more

October 31, 2014 Audio, Fresh

Souls Of Mischief Say There Is Only Now To Listen To The LP (Album Stream)

One of 2014's most-anticipated albums is Souls Of Mischief & Adrian Younge's There Is Only Now. The Oakland foursome's first LP in four years is their first with Adrian, who has garnered fame working with Ghostface Killah, The Dramatics, and others. With a strong response already to the group's star-studded... Read more

August 25, 2014 Audio, Featured-homepage, Fresh

Souls Of Mischief Are Finally Back, Sounding As Great As Ever (Audio)

Tomorrow (August 26), the mighty Souls Of Mischief crew is teaming with producer/musician Adrian Younge to release There Is Only Now. The Oakland, California quartet's first LP in four years finds the crew in their mid-1990s pocket that made them an instrumental element in re-defining West Coast Hip-Hop diversity during... Read more

August 25, 2014 Audio, Fresh

From Oakland To NYC, Hieroglyphics Perform At Tramps & Fat Beats In ’98 (Video)

From Kanye West to Common, DJ Eclipse unfolds yet another video from his archives featuring a video filled with freestyles from Oakland Hip-Hop collective Hieroglyphics. In this flashback to 1998, Hiero performs the Souls of Mischief cut, "Rock It Like That," at Tramps in New York City before the video... Read more

August 21, 2014 Fresh, Video

Souls Of Mischief’s Ghetto Superhero Causes Electric Company Flashbacks (Lyric Video)

Lyric videos are all fine and good, but not all of them are from artists who really hold lyrics in high honor. Souls Of Mischief have over 23 years playing with words, using them to move crowds and give Hip-Hop's perception of Oakland Hip-Hop a facelift. "Ghetto Superman" from next... Read more

August 20, 2014 Fresh, Video

Souls Of Mischief Leave Em Panic Struck + Ali Shaheed Slated To Remix Whole LP (Audio)

In just over two weeks, the Souls Of Mischief crew will release their album, There Is Only Now, produced by Adrian Younge. The looks keep coming though, from Tajai, Phesto, A-Plus, and Opio. Today (August 11), S.O.M drop "Panic Struck," which finds some hard, confident rapping over sparse percussion and... Read more

August 11, 2014 Audio, Fresh

Planet Asia’s Durag Dynasty & Casual Link Over Raphael Saadiq Co-Production (Audio)

Beyond 2013's 360 Waves, Planet Asia's Durag Dynasty lives on. The Fresno, California based group (featuring P.A., Tri-State, and Killer Ben) moves forward with a not-so friendly game of baseball. With rugged, sharp bars in their mission statement, Durag welcomes Hieroglyphics vet Casual to the cypher for "Baseball." The song... Read more

August 9, 2014 Audio, Fresh

Want Some Bugged Out Entertainment? Watch Deltron 3030 Go Record Shopping (Video)

Along with veteran Canadian turntablist Kid Koala, Del The Funky Homosapien and Dan The Automator complete the other-worldy trifecta known as Deltron 3030. The weirdest character concoction this side of Dr. Octagon (whom, Dan also helped "Frankenstein"), Deltron released their sophomore, highly-anticipated LP, Event II, less than one year ago.... Read more

July 23, 2014 Fresh, Video

Souls of Mischief & Snoop Dogg Tell A West Coast Love Story (Video)

Time travel through musical backdrops influenced by the past and fostered in the present with the Souls of Mischief and fellow West Coast native Snoop Dogg in visuals to their latest cut, "There Is Only Now." The title track to their upcoming album, There Is Only Now, boasts buttery, ambient... Read more

July 1, 2014 Fresh, Video

Souls Of Mischief Let Off Their First There Is Now Look & Snoop Dogg’s Down (Audio)

One of 2014's more anticipated albums appears to be Souls Of Mischief's There Is Only Now. Opio, Tajai, A-Plus, and Phesto spent last year celebrating 20 years of 93 'Til Infinity, with a tour, a box set, and a lot of much-deserved attention from the former Jive Records sensations. While... Read more

June 24, 2014 Audio, Fresh

Deltron 3030 Is Always On Some Next Ish, Including A Wheelchair Rocketship (Video)

Approaching 25 years of making albums, Del The Funky Homosapien is constantly evolving down his many corridors of music. The Hieroglyphics' most recognizable member was always different, even when he was a charting MC on Elektra Records. However, in 2000, teaming with Dan The Automator, who had already made a... Read more

May 8, 2014 Fresh, Video

Domino Breaks Down Where He Gets His Sounds & His Father’s Punk Roots In Crate Diggers (Video)

Hieroglyphics fans are up on Domino. Not to be confused with the Los Angeles rapper of the same name, San Francisco's Dom produced early joints for Del Tha Funkee Homosapien (when it was still spelled as such), as well as Souls Of Mischief and Casual. Dom, who has been a... Read more

March 23, 2014 Fresh, Video

Souls Of Mischief’s 93 ‘Til Infinity Deluxe Reissues, With A Light Box, Bonus CD & Music Book

In a month that's already announced a deluxe reissue of Mobb Deep's 1995 album, The Infamous, as well fellow Queens native/collaborator Nas' 1994 debut, Illmatic, next up is the Souls Of Mischief's debut, 93 'til Infinity. The Jive Records album by Tajai, Phesto, Opio, and A-Plus featured the breakthrough single... Read more

February 5, 2014 Fresh, Throwback

Del The Funky Homosapien Drops A Surprise Album, Iller Than Most (Album Stream)

Beyonce's doing it, so why not Del? Today (January 2), Del The Funky Homosapien set off the new year Hiero style with his eleventh solo album. Called Iller Than Most, the LP has 11 tracks and was released with a curious Soundcloud title, as Zartan Dreadnaught Cobra. Gotta love Del...... Read more

January 2, 2014 Audio, Fresh

Souls Of Mischief’s 93 ’til Infinity 20 Years Later (Food For Thought)

By: Bandini My biggest gripe with the cliché-use of the word “classic” is the freshness in which it’s pulled out. In order to be a classic, you must endure the tendency to forget, overlook, and turn the page. The 1959 Cadillac Eldorado Baritz is classic—with its long lines, razor-sharp edges... Read more

September 7, 2013 Featured-homepage, Food for Thought, Fresh

Souls Of Mischief & Gummy Soul – 93 Still (Mixtape)

With permission (and some acapellas) from the heralded Oakland collective Souls Of Mischief (on tour now), Gummy Soul's Wally Clark was able to re-craft his own spin on the famed 1993 Jive Records album—93 Still. The original (read: classic) released 20 years ago this month. In a statement, Wally said,... Read more

September 4, 2013 Fresh, Mixes

Hieroglyphics – The Kitchen (Full Album Stream)

It's official...The 90's are back! Specifically, the mighty Hieroglyphics return with a new project that hit stores yesterday. You can stream their entire album The Kitchen here and buy it on iTunes. Related: Hieroglyphics – Gun Fever (Video)... Read more

July 17, 2013 Audio

Hieroglyphics – Gun Fever (Video)

The Hieroglyphics crew addresses gun violence in their latest video. The song is head-nodding food for your mental. You can watch Gun Fever below. Related: Casual & J Rawls – Hier-O-Dot ft Souls of Mischief and MHz (Audio)... Read more

April 30, 2013 Video