The story of Hieroglyphics Imperium, West Coast hip-hop history, and the Oakland music scene

Welcome to the New Hieroglyphics.com

Thirty years in, and the Hieroglyphics Imperium is building something new at hieroglyphics.com — a real home for the crew, the catalog, and the community. We started this label in 1995 with a radical idea: artist ownership. No major label middlemen. No compromising on creative control. No getting locked out of your own masters.…

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30 Years of Hiero: What’s Coming in 2025–2027

In 1995, Hieroglyphics Imperium became one of the first artist-owned independent hip-hop labels. In 2027, we turn 32 years old as a crew. And we're planning to make the next two years count. Here's what's on the horizon: Red Rocks 2026 October 29, 2026. One of the most iconic venues on earth. Hiero headlining…

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’93 ’til Infinity Turns 33: The Album That Started It All

September 14, 1993. Souls of Mischief — Tajai, A-Plus, Opio, and Phesto — released '93 'til Infinity on Jive Records. Thirty-three years later, it's still one of the most recognized records in hip-hop history. The title track — built on a looped Joe Zawinul sample from "Young and Fine" — is one of those…

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