Hieroglyphics Imperium Recordings
Encyclopedia
Hieroglyphics Imperium Recordings is an Oakland, California
-based, independent
, primarily alternative hip hop
record label
founded and owned by underground hip hop collective
, the Hieroglyphics
. The label was created by the collective in 1995
to publish and market the collective's, and individual member, releases, as well as releases from other, affiliated artist's that major labels would deem not commercial enough for mass distribution.
The label's roster features the Hieroglyphics
entire catalog, as well as associated, alternative hip hop acts such as the Souls of Mischief
, Del tha Funkee Homosapien
, Casual
, Pep Love
, Domino
, and O.C.
The label is also home to soul music
songstress Goapele
, and the heavy metal
/hard rock
band, A Band Called Pain
.
Oakland, California
Oakland is a major West Coast port city on San Francisco Bay in the U.S. state of California. It is the eighth-largest city in the state with a 2010 population of 390,724...
-based, independent
Independent record label
An independent record label is a record label operating without the funding of or outside the organizations of the major record labels. A great number of bands and musical acts begin on independent labels.-Overview:...
, primarily alternative hip hop
Alternative hip hop
Alternative hip hop is a sub-genre of hip hop music. Allmusic defines it as follows: -Origin:...
record label
Record label
In the music industry, a record label is a brand and a trademark associated with the marketing of music recordings and music videos. Most commonly, a record label is the company that manages such brands and trademarks, coordinates the production, manufacture, distribution, marketing and promotion,...
founded and owned by underground hip hop collective
Musical collective
Musical collective is a phrase used to describe a group of musicians in which membership is flexible and creative control is shared. Such entities have transitioned from the traditional hierarchical configuration that features either a frontman , or a plurality of band members in tension for...
, the Hieroglyphics
Hieroglyphics (band)
Hieroglyphics, also known as the Hieroglyphics Crew and Hiero, are an American underground hip hop collective based in Oakland, California. The collective was founded in the early-1990s by rapper Del tha Funkee Homosapien...
. The label was created by the collective in 1995
1995 in music
This is a list of notable events in music that took place in the year 1995.- January–February :*January 18 – Jerry Garcia crashes his rented BMW into a guard rail near Mill Valley, California, USA, but is not injured in the accident....
to publish and market the collective's, and individual member, releases, as well as releases from other, affiliated artist's that major labels would deem not commercial enough for mass distribution.
The label's roster features the Hieroglyphics
Hieroglyphics (band)
Hieroglyphics, also known as the Hieroglyphics Crew and Hiero, are an American underground hip hop collective based in Oakland, California. The collective was founded in the early-1990s by rapper Del tha Funkee Homosapien...
entire catalog, as well as associated, alternative hip hop acts such as the Souls of Mischief
Souls of Mischief
-Studio albums:-Singles:-External links:* [ Allmusic Biography]* *...
, Del tha Funkee Homosapien
Del tha Funkee Homosapien
Teren Delvon Jones , better known as Del the Funky Homosapien or Del tha Funkee Homosapien, is an American MC.-Early life and beginnings: 1990-1997:...
, Casual
Casual (rapper)
Jon Owens , known by his stage name Casual, is an American rapper from Oakland, California and one of the founding members of the alternative hip hop collective Hieroglyphics...
, Pep Love
Pep Love
Paulo Peacock , better known by his stage name, Pep Love, is an American hip hop artist and motivational speaker. He is also one of the founding members of the Oakland, California-based underground hip hop collective Hieroglyphics....
, Domino
Domino (producer)
Not to be confused with Domino , a different American rapper.Damian Siguenza, known by his stage name, Domino , is an American record producer, manager, DJ, and one of the members of the Oakland, California-based underground hip hop collective, Hieroglyphics.-Biography:Born in San Francisco,...
, and O.C.
O.C. (rapper)
Omar Credle , known by his stage name, O.C., is an American rapper who has been involved with several renowned underground hip-hop groups and also released many solo albums.-Recording career:...
The label is also home to soul music
Soul music
Soul music is a music genre originating in the United States combining elements of gospel music and rhythm and blues. According to the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame, soul is "music that arose out of the black experience in America through the transmutation of gospel and rhythm & blues into a form of...
songstress Goapele
Goapele
-Early life:Goapele's South African father Douglas Mohlabane was an exiled political activist who struggled against the Apartheid System. Goapele's New York-born Israeli Jewish mother Noa had been attending protests since the age of 12. Noa attended Friends World College and was studying in...
, and the heavy metal
Heavy metal music
Heavy metal is a genre of rock music that developed in the late 1960s and early 1970s, largely in the Midlands of the United Kingdom and the United States...
/hard rock
Hard rock
Hard rock is a loosely defined genre of rock music which has its earliest roots in mid-1960s garage rock, blues rock and psychedelic rock...
band, A Band Called Pain
A Band Called Pain
A Band Called Pain is an American heavy metal band from Oakland, California.The band was formed by cousins Allen Richardson and Shaun Bivens who both hail from the San Francisco Bay Area...
.