Released in September 1993, 93 ’til Infinity by Souls of Mischief is the kind of album that makes you feel like summer forever. More than three decades later, it remains one of the most effortlessly cool, technically brilliant, and emotionally resonant albums in hip-hop history.
The Album’s Context: 1993 Hip-Hop
1993 was a monumental year for rap. Enter the Wu-Tang, Midnight Marauders, Reachin’ by Digable Planets, Doggystyle — the genre was exploding in every direction. In Oakland, four teenagers — Tajai, A-Plus, Opio, and Phesto — released a debut album that sounded unlike anything on either coast.
Where East Coast rap was getting grittier and West Coast was perfecting G-Funk, 93 ’til Infinity was jazz-soaked, laid-back, and radiating pure summer energy. It didn’t fit any template. That was the point.
The Title Track
“93 ’til Infinity” — the song — is built on a sample of the Crusaders’ “Put It Where You Want It” and a Souls of Mischief original hook that sounds like it was always meant to exist. The verses are a showcase of four distinct styles flowing in perfect sync:
- A-Plus — punchy, confident, technical
- Tajai — commanding, full of personality
- Opio — smooth, introspective, image-rich
- Phesto — lyrical, dense, rewarding repeat listens
There’s a reason this song gets played at every Hiero Day, every time — it’s simply one of the best posse cuts in hip-hop history.
The Production
The album was produced primarily by A-Plus and Del tha Funkee Homosapien, drawing heavily from jazz samples — Freddie Hubbard, Ahmad Jamal, Eddie Harris. The production is warm and live-feeling, built on loops that breathe rather than punch. It predates the cinematic boom-bap approach that would define mid-90s New York rap and sits in its own lane entirely.
Standout Tracks Beyond the Title Song
- “That’s When Ya Lost” — a meditation on loyalty and change; one of the album’s most emotionally complex tracks
- “A Name I Call Myself” — lyrical showcase with the crew firing on all cylinders
- “Make Your Mind Up” — hard-hitting and focused, proves the crew can bang when they want to
- “Disseshowedo” — one of the tightest posse cuts on the album
- “Live and Let Live” — a patient, meditative closer that cements the album’s emotional tone
The Legacy
In 2004, 93 ’til Infinity was ranked in Rolling Stone’s 500 Greatest Albums list. In 2006, it was preserved in the Library of Congress National Recording Registry. Those honors validated what hip-hop heads already knew: this album is a cornerstone of the art form.
Beyond the critical recognition, its legacy lives in the artists it influenced. The Bay Area’s approach to rap — independent, jazz-informed, lyrically rich — runs directly through this album. Artists from Kendrick Lamar to Joey Bada$$ have cited Souls of Mischief as foundational.
Souls of Mischief Today
Tajai, A-Plus, Opio, and Phesto are still active as part of the Hieroglyphics collective, still independently owned, still performing. They’ll be at Red Rocks in 2026 alongside Cypress Hill, Method Man, and De La Soul — one of the biggest shows in Hiero history.
If 93 ’til Infinity brought you here, explore the full catalog. And if you want presale access to the Red Rocks show and future Hiero performances, join the Hiero Family.