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.
Phesto D
Hieroglyphics Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
tickets to my show for twenty dollars more than face value pays
Curse my vowels on you holdin kids, marvel and gaze
I strip the tarnish off the microphone, sharp as a spade
Bring my plans to fruition, with intuition known to witches
The Hieroglyphic argonauts bombard the spot
with sandblasting, grand eloquence eloquent talented
like balance beam medalists, the seismic
Bustin from the top like snipers, niggaz hyper
Ventilate at the sight of the arch nemesis
When Phesto D walks the premises
I leave em mumma-fied like Tutan-khamun
With premonitions like Hyrahnomeus, device is incisive
And still be rockin the mic with arthritis
And blow the sleeves off your shirt, cause you'll need a life vest
to survive this, any anonymous character
from Bay Area 51 to Copernicus
I'm turnin kids to concrete, or be impaled
on the stallic mic, with the slightest impulse
I'm hair trigger, explode and reconstitute but bigger
Put the mic in the death, crane like The Vigilante
Manhandling, your crime family like Stan Lee
Branding niggaz with the Hiero, symbol and
adrenalin is, hallucinogenic
By the time the ambulance rolled up, the pharmaceuticals entered
They won't be able to identify ya
dental records on laser disk, CD, tape or vinyl
The Hiero, glyphics play the Iron Curtain
Drop the gavel on your gangster babble and face the verdic
The lyrics to the song "Phesto D" by Hieroglyphics are full of intricate wordplay and complex metaphors. The opening lines describe the group's ability to ride soundwaves and manipulate their audience into paying extra for their shows. Phesto D then boasts about his lyrical prowess, comparing himself to a witch with a sharp tongue who can strip the tarnish off of a microphone. He references the rest of his crew as "argonauts" and describes their performance as a sandblasting of grand eloquence.
The second verse continues to showcase Phesto D's skills on the mic, with references to Egyptian mythology and premonitions. He claims to be able to rock the mic with arthritis and blow the sleeves off of a listener's shirt. He warns his enemies that they will be turned to concrete or impaled on a mic with the slightest impulse. Phesto D's confidence and abilities shine through in these lyrics, as he continues to assert his dominance and skill as an MC.
Overall, the song "Phesto D" is a showcase of the lyrical abilities of the Hieroglyphics crew, with intricate wordplay and metaphors that require close attention to fully understand.
Line by Line Meaning
We Silver Surfing over soundwaves, scalpin
tickets to my show for twenty dollars more than face value pays
We are smoothly and effortlessly riding over sound waves while also selling tickets to our show above their face value.
Curse my vowels on you holdin kids, marvel and gaze
I curse my vowels on you, holding kids, causing them to marvel and gaze at my expertise.
I strip the tarnish off the microphone, sharp as a spade
I clean the microphone thoroughly, making it sharp and clear as a spade.
Bring my plans to fruition, with intuition known to witches
I bring my plans to completion, using my highly intuitive skills that are known to witches.
The Hieroglyphic argonauts bombard the spot
with sandblasting, grand eloquence eloquent talented
like balance beam medalists, the seismic
The group Hieroglyphic argonauts vigorously attack the spot with amazing talent and eloquence, just like medalists on a balance beam, causing an earthquake-like effect.
Hi fidelity poltergeist in your amplifiers
Bustin from the top like snipers, niggaz hyper
We have a high-quality ghost-like sound in your amplifiers, dramatically bursting from the top like snipers, giving listeners a hyper feeling.
Ventilate at the sight of the arch nemesis
When Phesto D walks the premises
People breathe heavily at the sight of my arch nemesis, Phesto D, when he enters the premises.
I leave em mumma-fied like Tutan-khamun
With premonitions like Hyrahnomeus, device is incisive
I leave people mummified like Tutan-khamun while also having premonitions like Hyrahnomeus, and using an incisive device.
And still be rockin the mic with arthritis
And blow the sleeves off your shirt, cause you'll need a life vest
to survive this, any anonymous character
from Bay Area 51 to Copernicus
Even with arthritis, I can still rock the microphone and blow the sleeves off your shirt. You'll need a life vest to survive this, no matter who you are, whether an anonymous character from Bay Area 51 or Copernicus.
I'm turnin kids to concrete, or be impaled
on the stallic mic, with the slightest impulse
I'm hair trigger, explode and reconstitute but bigger
I can turn kids to stone, or impale them on the microphone stand with the slightest impulse. I'm a trigger-happy, explosive force that can reassemble into an even greater form.
Put the mic in the death, crane like The Vigilante
Manhandling, your crime family like Stan Lee
I put the microphone through hell, just like The Vigilante crane, manhandling your crime family like Stan Lee.
Branding niggaz with the Hiero, symbol and
adrenalin is, hallucinogenic
I brand people with the Hiero symbol, causing an adrenaline rush that feels almost hallucinogenic.
By the time the ambulance rolled up, the pharmaceuticals entered
They won't be able to identify ya
dental records on laser disk, CD, tape or vinyl
By the time the ambulance arrives, the pharmaceuticals enter, making it impossible to identify you, with only dental records left on laser disk, CD, tape, or vinyl to go by.
The Hiero, glyphics play the Iron Curtain
Drop the gavel on your gangster babble and face the verdic
The Hieroglyphics play the Iron Curtain, slamming down the gavel on your gangster babble, forcing you to face the verdict.
Contributed by Adrian O. Suggest a correction in the comments below.