Maybe you’ve got tickets to Red Rocks 2026 for Cypress Hill or Method Man, and Hieroglyphics is new to you. Or maybe you know “93 ’til Infinity” and want to go deeper. This is your crash course.
Who Is Hieroglyphics?
Hieroglyphics is a collective of MCs, producers, and DJs from Oakland, California — a 100% artist-owned independent hip-hop label that has been running since 1995. The core crew includes Del tha Funkee Homosapien, Souls of Mischief (Tajai, A-Plus, Opio, and Phesto), Casual, Pep Love, Domino, and DJ Toure.
They are underground legends — the kind of group that gets more respect from other MCs than from mainstream radio, because their technical skill and commitment to craft has always come before commercial appeal. That’s why they’re still here, still performing, still releasing music, and still selling out venues 30+ years into their career.
Start With These Five Songs
- “93 ’til Infinity” — Souls of Mischief (1993) — The entrance point. If this doesn’t grab you, nothing will. Piano loop, four teenage Oakland MCs trading bars like they’ve been doing it forever.
- “Clint Eastwood” — Gorillaz ft. Del tha Funkee Homosapien (2001) — Del’s verse on this global hit is a perfect sample of what makes him special: dense, abstract, uncompromising.
- “At the Helm” — Del tha Funkee Homosapien (from 3rd Eye Vision, 1998) — Del in full command, reminding everyone why Hiero formed around him.
- “Hiero Anthem” — Hieroglyphics (from 3rd Eye Vision, 1998) — The crew statement. All the MCs, one track, one message.
- “Visions” — Deltron 3030 (2000) — Del’s sci-fi concept album with Dan the Automator. This track opens the project and immediately establishes it as something unlike anything else in hip-hop.
The Three Albums to Own
- 93 ’til Infinity — Souls of Mischief (1993) — One of the 10 best hip-hop albums ever made. Full stop.
- Deltron 3030 — Deltron 3030 (2000) — Del’s sci-fi concept album with Dan the Automator. A landmark in experimental hip-hop.
- 3rd Eye Vision — Hieroglyphics (1998) — The full crew on one album. Start here if you want the complete picture.
Why Red Rocks Is Special for This Show
Red Rocks Amphitheatre near Denver, Colorado is one of the world’s great music venues — a naturally occurring geological formation that creates acoustics you can’t replicate anywhere else. When “93 ’til Infinity” plays under that open sky with those red sandstone walls behind the stage, it’s going to hit differently than any indoor show ever has.
The full bill — Hieroglyphics, Cypress Hill, Method Man & Redman, De La Soul — is a celebration of independent hip-hop from the Golden Era. Four crews that defined the 1990s and early 2000s, all of whom have maintained their independence and their integrity, performing together on one of the most spectacular stages on earth.
Before the Show: Join the Hiero Fam
If this show turns you into a Hiero fan — and it will — the best next step is joining the Hiero Fam membership. Presale ticket access, exclusive merch, early music, direct support for an independent label. Everything you need to go deeper.
See you at Red Rocks. Get show details and tickets here →