East Oakland native Tajai began rhyming with future bandmate A-Plus at age 8, while both were in elementary school. Tajai and Phesto met later in junior high school. Tajai recruited his best friend Phesto in middle school and A-Plus brought Opio into the budding act in high school before making its major-label debut on Jive Records with the group's well-received album 93 'til Infinity, in 1993.
The group is part of the hip-hop collective Hieroglyphics, along with emcees Del tha Funkee Homosapien, Casual, Pep Love, Jaybiz, and producer Domino. The group participated as full members in all three of Hieroglyphics' studio albums: 1998's 3rd Eye Vision, 2003's Full Circle, and 2013's The Kitchen.
93 ’til Infinity is the group's highest charting album to date (#17 Top R&B/Hip Hop Albums; #85 Billboard 200) and, in January, 1998, was named one of the Top 100 Rap albums by The Source magazine.
The group stayed with Jive for one more album, 1995's No Man's Land, before being released from the label during the same year.
The group released two albums on Hiero's self-owned independent label, Hieroglyphics Imperium Recordings: 1999's Focus, and 2000's Trilogy: Conflict, Climax, Resolution.
On October 30, 2006, Hierocast (Hieroglyphics' official podcast), Del tha Funkee Homosapien reported that the Souls of Mischief was currently working on its next studio album with Prince Paul (De La Soul, Gravediggaz, Handsome Boy Modeling School). On January 6, 2009, Souls of Mischief released the Tour Stories EP produced by Domino and co-produced by Prince Paul. The song is taken from the group's fifth studio album, Montezuma's Revenge, released on Hieroglyphics Imperium.
In 2013, a documentary about the band was released entitled Til Infinity: The Souls of Mischief. Produced and directed by Shomari Smith, it reflected on the 20 year anniversary of the band's debut album 93 'Til Infinity and includes over 50 interviews with prominent MCs, DJs, and producers of the era.
During the 2017 NBA Playoffs, Gatorade released a television commercial promoting Gatorade Flow, which featured Indiana Pacers star forward Paul George and the instrumental music of Souls of Mischief' 93 'Til Infinity.
Hiero HQ
Souls of Mischief Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
If ya attitude pissy and ya gratitude iffy
instead of rappin' too bitchy I would rather you diss me
You for play frontin' man you won't say nothin'
look real gay or somethin' while you pushin' A's buttons
someone shoulda told you, if you was the man
then why you talkin' like a ho dude your mama need to hold you
I'll drop you with these vocals, yeah your papa need to scold you
My mic handled like Kanobi gamble like Ginobili
the average night for 'sto D man I'll shine with trophies
you pantominin' and I'm linin' up your whole team
lookin' like some dope fiends signin' up for codine
cocaine amphetamine qualude and anesthetic
suicide in a letter contrived and synthetic
nice with the rose plyers cold killer fo' hire
go til your ho's wired chinchilla's on fire...
When we say high what? It's natural baby...
reefer... slowly gettin' in there gettin' through to you
what this hip hop thang is about
you're listenin' to the sounds incredible S.O.M.
smooth.. put your antennae up...
So honor how the Souls do we bombin' on your whole crew
insomniacs we don't snooze we dominate your Pro-Tools
your broad be takin' photos with no clothes
for Ope only infatuated fascinated hold up - wait up
that's the natural vapor most doze
I activate the master mega ruckus when I blow holes
through the Hollywood choke hold the plastic backwards
manufactured no soul I won't go it's diabolic
call it what you want...
Is it a gift?... is it a myth?...
well if you don't know...
we'll be glad to clue you in...
right about now...
Niggas know I'm official definitive rhyme inventor
I hit or supply the listner with vivid and vibrant visions
givin' you guys the business is pimpin' in my dimension
you livin' in our dominion so give up that homage bitches
we masters at this mashin' who mastermind classics
get past the rhyme basics 'fore you clash with my massive
with them asinine tactics tattered line patterns
get splattered when I spat it, I let you maggots have it
Choose another angle...
fuck around and knock the kangaroo up off your kangol
you fruity like a mango (fruity like a mango?)
your crew be like a rainbow
you and me not the same bro see I be where you cain't go...
I'm in the Winnebago twist the shit today go
then rock the show get all the dough you probably can't relate though
marijuana chain smoke wrangle mic's with Domino
we owners of the label your ho do me fellatio...
Man it's like that playa?
you better watch your baby... and that's no maybe
my homies have been sent by Hiero HQ to show y'all
just how we bring it.. straight from the trainin' barracks
upon further investigation...
we found this conclusive evidence
I turn pomegranite grenadine genitals for Genevive
Tennessee to Philippines grill her with the guillotine
ink jet to think tank data link to beat break
catalyst ability killer on a killin' spree
See Hiero drop a tune at times most opportune
no minds are stoppin' through to fire one off at you
them live dum dub rounds to rile them up now
live as fuck make sure the vibe don't come down...
Oh what might go down, must come up...
the fantastic four, the airborne rangers
no strangers to the arts of mic manipulation
and uncoverin' funky situations wherever they may be
you know where I stand on solid land
this is D-E-L bringin' it to you deluxe with Prince Paul
and the Souls of Mischief...
I said and the Souls of Mischief
The lyrics to "Hiero HQ" by Souls of Mischief are a mixture of braggadocious raps and pointed insults aimed at their detractors in the rap world. The first verse sets the tone, with the assertion that if someone's attitude is negative and ungrateful, rather than just rapping, it would be better to be dissed by them. The song continues with wordplay and boasts about their skills on the mic and their dominance over other rappers, as well as their love for marijuana. The song ends with a call to pay homage to the Hiero HQ crew and references to their desire to keep the party going and maintain a high energy level when they perform live.
The song is full of clever wordplay and references to pop culture figures, which is a hallmark of the Hieroglyphics crew to which Souls of Mischief belong. The song was released in 1993, during the height of the Golden Age of Hip Hop, a time when lyricism and wordplay were highly valued in the genre. Interestingly, the song was not part of any official album release by Souls of Mischief; instead, it was featured on a Hieroglyphics compilation album called "The Funky Hieroglyphics".
Line by Line Meaning
Ey, listen...
The singer is trying to grab the listener's attention.
If ya attitude pissy and ya gratitude iffy instead of rappin' too bitchy I would rather you diss me
Instead of having a negative attitude and being ungrateful, the singer would rather have the listener openly criticize them instead of hiding behind insults.
You for play frontin' man you won't say nothin' look real gay or somethin' while you pushin' A's buttons
The singer is calling someone out for putting on a front, not speaking up, and acting overly concerned with trivial matters.
someone shoulda told you, if you was the man then why you talkin' like a ho dude your mama need to hold you I'll drop you with these vocals, yeah your papa need to scold you I'll properly approach you and drama we can go through...
The artist is criticizing the listener for not acting like a man and being too emotional. The artist threatens to confront them to resolve this conflict.
My mic handled like Kanobi gamble like Ginobili the average night for 'sto D man I'll shine with trophies you pantominin' and I'm linin' up your whole team lookin' like some dope fiends signin' up for codine cocaine amphetamine qualude and anesthetic suicide in a letter contrived and synthetic nice with the rose plyers cold killer fo' hire go til your ho's wired chinchilla's on fire...
The artist is confident in their ability to perform on the mic and win awards. They criticize the listener's team for looking like drug addicts and promote their own drug use. The artist boasts about their skill as a killer and threatens to cause chaos.
When we say high what? It's natural baby... reefer... slowly gettin' in there gettin' through to you what this hip hop thang is about you're listenin' to the sounds incredible S.O.M. smooth.. put your antennae up...
The singer is promoting the use of marijuana as a natural high. They claim that their music will gradually help the listener understand hip hop and promote the sounds of their group.
So honor how the Souls do we bombin' on your whole crew insomniacs we don't snooze we dominate your Pro-Tools your broad be takin' photos with no clothes for Ope only infatuated fascinated hold up - wait up that's the natural vapor most doze I activate the master mega ruckus when I blow holes through the Hollywood choke hold the plastic backwards manufactured no soul I won't go it's diabolic call it what you want...
The singer is bragging about their group's dominance and criticizing others for their lack of sleep. They call out women for taking revealing photos only for their own use. The singer threatens to cause destruction in Hollywood and criticizes manufactured music for lacking soul.
Is it a gift?... is it a myth?... well if you don't know... we'll be glad to clue you in... right about now...
The artist is questioning the listener's understanding of their abilities and offers to educate them.
N****s know I'm official definitive rhyme inventor I hit or supply the listner with vivid and vibrant visions givin' you guys the business is pimpin' in my dimension you livin' in our dominion so give up that homage bitches we masters at this mashin' who mastermind classics get past the rhyme basics 'fore you clash with my massive with them asinine tactics tattered line patterns get splattered when I spat it, I let you maggots have it
The artist claims to be the official creator of rhymes and offers to give the listener an imaginative experience. They criticize those who do not respect the artist's skills and boast about their mastery of music production. The artist threatens to embarrass those who try to compete with them.
Choose another angle... fuck around and knock the kangaroo up off your kangol you fruity like a mango (fruity like a mango?) your crew be like a rainbow you and me not the same bro see I be where you cain't go... I'm in the Winnebago twist the shit today go then rock the show get all the dough you probably can't relate though marijuana chain smoke wrangle mic's with Domino we owners of the label your ho do me fellatio...
The artist tells the listener to choose a different perspective and criticizes their style. They threaten to physically harm the listener and their team. The artist boasts about their money and drug use, and promotes their ownership of a record label. They also make a crude remark about receiving oral sex.
Man it's like that playa? you better watch your baby... and that's no maybe my homies have been sent by Hiero HQ to show y'all just how we bring it.. straight from the trainin' barracks upon further investigation... we found this conclusive evidence
The singer warns the listener to be careful and suggests that their group has been sent by Hiero HQ to demonstrate their abilities. They claim to have evidence to support their claims.
I turn pomegranite grenadine genitals for Genevive Tennessee to Philippines grill her with the guillotine ink jet to think tank data link to beat break catalyst ability killer on a killin' spree
The artist uses graphic language to boast about their abilities to create vivid imagery in their music. They also reference technology and violence to emphasize their power.
See Hiero drop a tune at times most opportune no minds are stoppin' through to fire one off at you them live dum dub rounds to rile them up now live as fuck make sure the vibe don't come down...
The singer promotes Hiero's music as timely and energizing. They also reference the use of live music to create a lively atmosphere.
Oh what might go down, must come up... the fantastic four, the airborne rangers no strangers to the arts of mic manipulation and uncoverin' funky situations wherever they may be you know where I stand on solid land this is D-E-L bringin' it to you deluxe with Prince Paul and the Souls of Mischief... I said and the Souls of Mischief
The singer suggests that what goes down must eventually come up. They reference their group's expertise in music production and their ability to create unique and funky sounds. They introduce the members of the group and their collaborators.
Contributed by Layla E. Suggest a correction in the comments below.
@hejda123
Montezuma's Revenge is such a sick album! Literally every song is top notch!!
@850iStyle
damn it just don't stop with these dudes...every release they step it up even more...it appears nothing is new they all bring it but Opio and Tajai stand out to me the most...Tajai is perhaps the smartest dude in rap (based on credentials) as he is a graduate of Stanford...big ups! these cats ain't no slouches!!
@tubemail79
Damn did you guys deliver with this album. The only thing it was missing is vinyl. I hope it shows up one day. Best Hiero album since 3rd Eye Vision.
@joshrobinson529
Reppin tha bay!!!!!!! SO FUCKING DOPE! I'm 43 years old and have been listening since 1990! Bought my first SOM tape when I was 14. Lyrics always fresh and off the chain. the swagger is so legit just focused lyrics and headbanger beats! Fave group forever! These guys don't take days off son!
@robertjudkins9430
Souls of mischief are true lyrist🎯💯👌🏿
@elevatormusicent
dope flows, chill beat... uh yeah.. you can't go wrong..
@MissJennjenn
Still bump this in my sounds...bangin!
@hectorrosales9752
Why are people ignoring these god like rappers and you got lik wayne and nicki minaj with like 11 mil views.. for the people that still listen to music like this I respect you
@MrTrampolineMaster
i agree
@nikolauscampbell3829
and i respect you