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.
Off the Record
Hieroglyphics Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
It's the ones you know about
The famous, magnificent hieroglyphics, mega
Always on the mic for mc's who really don't know what we doin'
It's time to do it up
We got cas, we got del, we got tajai, we got a-plus
See'mon y'all, please can we get busy?
Casual, the innovator, in a state of advancement
MC scolder, breakdancin' on the lake
When it freeze over so much game, I told her
I'm a disease holder and I still hit it
Bust a nut in her eye and made her deal with it
The straight bump, y'all, yeah you best agree
Whatever that sess do don't let you come next to me
Mentally, I'm compatible with Macintosh
And I can get a niggaz' bitch, in the sack with floss
Hop on the microphone, actin lost
Unaware, unprepared, then I bust off the top
And niggas get scared
Uh, now I told y'all I wasn't playin'
It's hieroglyphics in here
Now that's cas, now you know that's how it was, that's how it is
We bout to do it with my next man, a-plus
A to the, plus must do ya, bust through ya
Defenses with lyrics mentally muscular
Holdin' down like cement shoes, to make you drown right
This is what we do if we the crew you sound like
I can't stand a person bitin' someone's creativity
I have so many styles that you can take one as a gift from me
It's like deja vu whenever you pop they tape in
Lyin' more than satan, fallin' off like they was ice skatin'
Trying to get they mic taken, you get scolded
And chastized, my holy mic, is baptized
Givin flatlines to you rap guys and still send you
Back with black eyes, on the mic you tellin' fat lies
Now if I'm the teacher
I gotta give that a a-plus you kno what I'm sayin'?
Now let's make room for the man, the myth
The great great granddaddy of hieroglyphics, del
Hold up, stop the presses, this just came in
Del's done it again, you gotta get his name in
He's, infallible in battle flows and battle royals collects
All the spoils of soiled celebrities
Shape my fantasy as the form, lyrical oddessey
It's not modesty, I show my ass for all to see
Polishin wax with facts sharp like tacks
To stop your, heart like cracks rip, apart the tracks
Ah
Now you know that's self explanatory
Now we bout to get busy with my man tajai
Break out your notebooks and your pads
Listen real closely to what this brother has to say
I kick the, like dialect
It's sacrilege, steppin' in the sanctuary of the sacrosanct
Do not, desecrate acquiesce
Before I dessicate all your flows and leave you dry as, bones
It's awful how I decimate, but also awesome
People say that they saw somethin' they cherished they lives long
When I expectorate upon a song
To be honest number one's what I expect to rank
Not for just the crown jewels or scepter
Out for justice, and exposition of the rest as jesters
With they lackluster compositions
Suckers in estrus, thinkin' that hieroglyphics won't fuck you?
Oh my goodness, I told ya
Once again, it's hieroglyphics
We got the smooth lineup, tajai, a-plus, del, casual
They just to' it up, forget about it, leave it alone
It's hieroglyphics from here on out
You don't know what you're doin'
And me, I'm the extra prolific, whiz kid
y'all can't mess with this, leave it alone
Drop ya pen, it's time that we go on
Let us alone y'all, can't fade this
You know how we do it
The lyrics of Hieroglyphics's song Off the Record is a representation of the group's uniqueness and creativity. The song begins with a statement of confidence that the group has in their music, and the list of members immediately follows. The first verse by Casual shows how well he can express himself through his lyrics, and this extends to the other members as well. The song focuses on the group's incredible wordplay, flow, and storytelling capability. The second verse by A-Plus delves into biting in hip hop culture, and he reiterates the value of originality to the group. Del's verse comes next, and he talks about his lyrical prowess and ability to destroy other emcees in rap battles. Tajai's verse exposes his impeccable rhyme scheme, delivery, and storytelling ability.
The general theme in Off the Record is the lyrical superiority of Hieroglyphics. Through their verses, they showcase their individual skill and work together as a team. The song stresses the importance of creativity, originality, and setting oneself apart from other emcees. Hieroglyphics are confident and proud of their abilities, and they are ready to take on any challenger. Thus, Off the Record serves not only as a display of the talents of its members but also an announcement of their arrival in the rap scene.
Line by Line Meaning
I put my pencil to the paper and watch lighting strike
I am a talented rapper, and when I write my lyrics, they're so good that it feels almost like magic
MC scolder, breakdancin' on the lake
I am an MC, and even though my moves may not be refined, I am still powerful and in control like a scolder when I perform
When it freeze over so much game, I told her
Even when things get tough and difficult, I still have a lot to offer and can impress others with my skills
I'm a disease holder and I still hit it
Even though I may not be perfect or healthy in every way, I am still able to have sexual relationships with others
Bust a nut in her eye and made her deal with it
I am proud of my ability to sexually satisfy my partners, and I don't care about the consequences or reactions of others
Hop on the microphone, actin lost
When I start rapping, I may appear to be lost or unfocused, but in reality, I am just exploring different styles and ideas
Holdin' down like cement shoes, to make you drown right
When we rap, we are so good and powerful that it can feel like we're holding our listeners down and drowning them with our lyrical prowess
Trying to get they mic taken, you get scolded
If anyone tries to challenge us or take our microphone away, they will be scolded and put in their place
Del's done it again, you gotta get his name in
Del is an incredible rapper who always manages to impress us with his skills, and he deserves recognition and praise
I show my ass for all to see
I am not afraid to be bold and to show my true self to everyone, even if it's not always glamorous or perfect
To stop your, heart like cracks rip, apart the tracks
My music is so powerful and intense that it can literally stop your heart, and it can break apart any musical tracks that try to compete with me
It's awful how I decimate, but also awesome
My skills are so good that they can be devastating to others, but at the same time, it's also impressive and awesome to see how far I can go
Suckers in estrus, thinkin' that hieroglyphics won't fuck you?
People who doubt our abilities or try to challenge us will be quickly humiliated and shown that they were foolish to question us
And me, I'm the extra prolific, whiz kid
I am an incredibly productive and skilled rapper, who is like a whiz kid when it comes to making music
Let us alone y'all, can't fade this
Don't bother trying to compete with us or bring us down, because we are too powerful and unstoppable
You know how we do it
We have a well-established and incredibly impressive style and skillset when it comes to making music, and everyone knows it
Lyrics © Universal Music Publishing Group
Written by: ADAM RYAN CARTER, DAMIAN SIGUENZA, JONATHAN OWENS, TAJAI MASSEY, TEREN DELVON JONES
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind