If you grew up listening to ’93 ’til Infinity or 3rd Eye Vision, you’ve probably wondered at some point: what happened to Hieroglyphics? Did they break up? Did Del disappear? Are Souls of Mischief still making music?
The short answer: they never left. The longer answer is actually a better story.
The Short Version: They’re Still Here in 2026
Hieroglyphics Imperium is a fully operational, artist-owned independent hip-hop label based in Oakland, California. Del tha Funkee Homosapien, Souls of Mischief (Tajai, A-Plus, Opio, Phesto), Casual, Pep Love, Domino, and DJ Toure are all still active. In October 2026, Hieroglyphics headlines Red Rocks Amphitheatre with Cypress Hill, Method Man, and De La Soul — one of the most significant shows in the label’s history.
So: they did not disappear. They just kept doing it their way, without the mainstream attention that would have made them easier to find.
Why It Felt Like They Disappeared
The honest answer: after the mid-2000s, Hieroglyphics stopped chasing mainstream visibility. They’d spent the early 2000s watching major label hip-hop shift toward commercial pop-rap, and they had no interest in following. Full Circle (2003), the label’s second collective album, was a strong record that got little mainstream coverage. After that, the artists focused on solo work, live shows, and building direct relationships with their fanbase.
What looked like absence was actually independence. While other artists from that era faded or reinvented themselves for radio, Hieroglyphics kept making music for the people who cared about it.
What the Label Has Been Doing Since 2003
Del tha Funkee Homosapien
Del has released multiple solo projects since the Hieroglyphics catalog boom of the early 2000s. He’s been a consistent live presence, collaborated with producers across the underground, and remained a favorite of listeners who discovered him through the Gorillaz connection (Del rapped on “Clint Eastwood” for Gorillaz in 2001 — still one of the most recognized verses of that decade). He’s also the creative architect of Deltron 3030 with Dan the Automator and Kid Koala, whose sequel Event II arrived in 2013 with guests including Damon Albarn and Joseph Gordon-Levitt.
→ Full Del discography and bio
Souls of Mischief
The four members of Souls of Mischief have remained active both as a group and individually. Their most recent album, There Is Only Now (2014, Linear Labs), got strong reviews from listeners who still care about lyrical hip-hop. Tajai has been particularly active as both a rapper and as a business voice for the label’s independence model. All four are headlining Red Rocks in October 2026.
→ Souls of Mischief biography and full discography
Casual
One of the most underrated lyricists in the Hieroglyphics crew, Casual has continued releasing music consistently. His 2026 album Black Magic is his most recent statement — available now.
→ Casual biography and discography
Pep Love
Pep Love released Acres of Diamonds in 2024 — vinyl and cassette only, a deliberate choice for an artist who’s always prioritized format over convenience. His catalog is available through Bandcamp for fans who want to go deep.
Hiero Day Festival
Since 2011, Hieroglyphics Imperium has produced Hiero Day, an annual free hip-hop festival in Oakland. The festival draws roughly 8,500 people each year and has become one of the Bay Area’s signature cultural events. It’s a direct expression of the label’s founding values: hip-hop as community, not commodity.
The Red Rocks Show in October 2026
The clearest evidence that Hieroglyphics is not just surviving but thriving: in October 2026, the label headlines Red Rocks Amphitheatre alongside Cypress Hill, Method Man, and De La Soul. Red Rocks is one of the most iconic venues in the world. This lineup represents the groups that built the alternative hip-hop tradition in the 1990s — all of them still making music, still touring, still relevant to the fans who matter.
If you haven’t been to a Hieroglyphics live show, this is the one to see. Get full Red Rocks 2026 info here.
How to Stay Connected
The best way to follow Hieroglyphics in 2026 is their mailing list — direct communication, no algorithm. Sign up here. You can also find the full catalog at hieroglyphics.com/discography and browse the shop at shophiero.com.
They never left. They just stayed underground — which is exactly where this music belongs.