The group consists of rappers from the hip-hop group Souls of Mischief including A-Plus, Tajai, Opio, and Phesto Dee as well as rappers such as Del Tha Funkee Homosapien, Casual, and Pep Love. Domino is their in-house producer with A-Plus performing production duties from time to time. As a group Hieroglyphics has released three albums, 3rd Eye Vision (1998), Full Circle (2003) and The Kitchen (2013). They have also been featured on numerous compilation albums and have collaborated with the likes of Planet Asia and 9th Wonder.
In 1996, Del was ready to release his Future Development album. However, just before its release, Del was released from his recording contract with Elektra Records. Around this same time, Souls of Mischief, Extra Prolific and Casual were all released from their recording contracts with Jive Records. Frustrated, Del and the rest of Hieroglyphics decided to start their own record label, called Hieroglyphics Imperium. The group has a spiritual down to earth mindset and smooth jazzy beats. They often rhyme about the third eye which is featured on their logo. For those who know and understand what the third eye is about will understand the underlying messages better than those who do not.
The mistreatment of Del & Hieroglyphics by their record labels became infamous in hip-hop circles, as a perfect example of "industry rule #4080" (record companies are shady). After Hieroglyphics' successful reemergence with their own independent label, Del & Hieroglyphics became an inspiration for some rap artists to start their own labels while keeping the lion's share of the money for themselves. Arguably the efforts of Del & Hieroglyphics paved the way for other famous independent rap labels known today, such as Roc-a-Fella Records or Rawkus Records.
Through their own independent label's (Hieroglyphics Imperium) website, http://www.hieroglyphics.com, the group releases singles, albums, and EPs from the group as well as its members and other artists who are signed to the label.
Hydra
Hieroglyphics Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
I stick a machete in the back of
Your engaged, trying to disengage the blade just to save
Your life, caught a knife, back stabbed again
Jealous, want your cabbaging, yelling out
How I break out the mack ten, fully automatic then
start spraying up shop like the crooked cops
squeezing the trigger like Ice T
Right before your eyes and then flash on 'em
I get cold sweat, every morning
Waking up from nightmares, about heaven being
This padded room, that god send, I'm never leaving
I wonder if I'm dead or breathing, I think he's punishing me
'cause I think people look better bleeding
I praise, for Prozac and Codeine
To keep my mind floating, hoping I don't hurt somebody for nothing
I praise, I remember brighter days,before I was abducted by the grace
And now my mind's a maze, understand
I be strong in the Berkeley streets
Searching for meat and trashcans with assorted leftovers
A face for closure, the home of mind roams is known
Amazes, thinking about the days I rhymed( I could of made it )
I can't accept panic swept, I'm an arsonist
Leaving the Oakland hills, smoke filled, I'm deadlier than arson it
Down at lake Merritt, setting ducks on fire, watch the fluttering flab
I'm on the run, fuck the priors
[Chorus: x2]
Five hands is better than one
Instead of just won, when you see me you better run
They try to say that I'm crazy, but I'm normal
y'all crazy
They say I'm bonafied, infantile talented
Not commended enough to be committed, but in balance
I lost my parents as a kid
Nobody's really certain if their deaths were an accident
That gets me laughing, you're all just victims for the assassin
Using drugs is suppressive, but I can't surpass 'em
The killa cats are catching, I want to see the whole world in ashes
Only then will I be happy
They got my attitude switching, conditions my brain
Moving fast and I'm twitching of this prescription drug, eviction
Trying to maintain the same
But everything 's against the grain
So it don't make sense to complain
I'm convinced that my brain is tensed from this strain of stress
Wanderin 'your town, with intense of pain, and yes
I like to do things until my mood swings
I'm like fuck that, y'all niggaz is strange!
[Chorus: x3]
The lyrics to Hieroglyphics's song Hydra depict the inner turmoil and struggles of a disturbed and potentially dangerous individual. The opening lines describe the violent tendencies of this person as they stick a machete in the back of someone who is trying to disengage from their attack. The lyrics then go on to describe the singer's twisted perspective on life and death, including nightmares about being trapped in a padded room and thoughts about how people look better bleeding. The chorus mentions the line "Five hands is better than one," which could suggest that the singer has multiple personalities or is struggling with a dissociative disorder.
As the song continues, the singer describes their past ambitions to become a successful rapper and their current reality of scavenging for food in trash cans. They also touch on the mysterious deaths of their parents and their feelings of being an outcast from society. The lyrics become more frenzied towards the end of the song as the singer's mental state deteriorates, culminating in the line "I want to see the whole world in ashes, only then will I be happy."
Overall, the lyrics to Hydra are a haunting and disturbing portrayal of a troubled mind, exploring themes of violence, mental illness, and societal rejection.
Line by Line Meaning
I'm a shady ass fool
I am dishonest and untrustworthy
I stick a machete in the back of
I sneakily attack
Your engaged, trying to disengage the blade just to save
You are trying to escape from me after I have attacked you with a machete, and I want to keep hurting you
Your life, caught a knife, back stabbed again
I have betrayed and hurt you repeatedly
Jealous, want your cabbaging, yelling out
I am envious of your success and am expressing it angrily
How I break out the mack ten, fully automatic then
I am boasting about having a powerful gun
start spraying up shop like the crooked cops
I shoot up and vandalize buildings and stores, victimizing innocent people
squeezing the trigger like Ice T
I am rapid-firing bullets, like how the musician Ice T portrays in his song Cop Killer
It's magical, how the shiesty ones gradually metamorphosis
It's surprising and shocking how some people can slowly and slyly change into something much more dangerous and harmful than they were before
Right before your eyes and then flash on 'em
I will take advantage of others while they are unaware and then reveal my true malicious intentions
I get cold sweat, every morning
I wake up in a state of fear and anxiety every day
Waking up from nightmares, about heaven being
I am experiencing traumatic dreams about heaven
This padded room, that god send, I'm never leaving
I have been placed in a psychiatric ward and feel as though it is divine punishment, never to escape
I wonder if I'm dead or breathing, I think he's punishing me
I question if I am alive or dead, and I believe that a higher power is punishing me
'cause I think people look better bleeding
I have disturbing thoughts about hurting others
I praise, for Prozac and Codeine
I am grateful for the medication that helps me escape my dark thoughts
To keep my mind floating, hoping I don't hurt somebody for nothing
I am taking medication to ease the pain but am still afraid of hurting others without a reason
I praise, I remember brighter days,before I was abducted by the grace
I used to cherish better times before my mental health struggles took over my life
And now my mind's a maze, understand
My thoughts are confusing and overwhelming
I be strong in the Berkeley streets
I am brave and confident in my actions in Berkeley
Searching for meat and trashcans with assorted leftovers
I am literally scavenging for food and other items in garbage cans
A face for closure, the home of mind roams is known
I am lost and unsettled, searching for peace for my troubled mind
Amazes, thinking about the days I rhymed( I could of made it )
I reflect on my past in music, wondering if I missed my chance at success
I can't accept panic swept, I'm an arsonist
I cannot deal with anxiety and instead am destructive
Leaving the Oakland hills, smoke filled, I'm deadlier than arson it
I set fires and leave destruction in my wake
Down at lake Merritt, setting ducks on fire, watch the fluttering flab
I am harming innocent animals for my own twisted enjoyment
I'm on the run, fuck the priors
I am running away from my previous actions and don't care about the consequences
Five hands is better than one
Working together is more efficient and effective than working alone
Instead of just won, when you see me you better run
When you encounter me, you should run away as fast as possible
They try to say that I'm crazy, but I'm normal
People label me as insane, but I believe I am just like everyone else
y'all crazy
In fact, it is everyone else who is crazy, not me
They say I'm bonafied, infantile talented
People recognize my skills and abilities, but also see me as childish
Not commended enough to be committed, but in balance
I have not received enough praise for my actions, but I am still proud of what I have achieved
I lost my parents as a kid
I experienced the tragedy of losing my parents when I was young
Nobody's really certain if their deaths were an accident
There is speculation about whether or not my parents' deaths were intentional
That gets me laughing, you're all just victims for the assassin
The idea that others may have caused my parents' deaths amuses me, as I see myself as the true perpetrator
Using drugs is suppressive, but I can't surpass 'em
I recognize that my drug use is harmful, but I cannot stop
The killa cats are catching, I want to see the whole world in ashes
I am surrounded by dangerous people, and I have a desire to destroy everything around me
Only then will I be happy
I believe that achieving destruction will bring me true happiness
They got my attitude switching, conditions my brain
External factors are causing my mood and behavior to change
Moving fast and I'm twitching of this prescription drug, eviction
I am experiencing negative side effects of the medication I am taking, causing me to move quickly and have muscle twitches
Trying to maintain the same
I am attempting to keep things consistent, despite the medication's effects
But everything 's against the grain
Life is difficult and challenging for me
So it don't make sense to complain
I have accepted my situation and choose not to complain about it
I'm convinced that my brain is tensed from this strain of stress
I believe that the stress I am experiencing is causing physical tension in my brain
Wanderin 'your town, with intense of pain, and yes
I am aimlessly wandering in pain throughout your town
I like to do things until my mood swings
I enjoy engaging in activities until my mood suddenly changes
I'm like fuck that, y'all niggaz is strange!
I have a negative view of others and do not understand them
Lyrics © Universal Music Publishing Group
Written by: ADAM RYAN CARTER, JONATHAN OWENS, OPIO LINDSEY, TAJAI MASSEY, TEREN DELVON JONES
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind