Band, *1991
Hip-Hop/Rap
The East Oakland backpacker crew are members of the loose underground hip-hop consortium known as Hieroglyphics. The group consists of four erudite but hardcore MCs: A-Plus, Phesto, Opio and Tajai. Their debut album in 1993, '93 Til Infinity, produced an early-'90s anthem of the same name and spawned a movement towards bohemian yet rugged hip-hop. The crew drew comparisons to De La Soul and A Tribe Called Quest for their abstract, whimsical style of storytelling. '93 Til was a youthfully impressionistic album echoing jazz and funk influences combined with precocious lyrical gestures. Such tracks as "That's When Ya Lost" and "Never No More" were memorable for their lyrics and feel alike. Two years later, SOM shucked off their reputation for their sophomore release, No Man's Land, a derisive and brash departure from '93 Til. While the crew lost some fans who were looking for a '95 Til, they managed to cultivate a loyal fan base who respected their out on a limb artistic development. Rather than sticking to the formula that made them popular with the college hip-hop set, they chose to shatter their image similar to De La Soul's second album De La Soul Is Dead. Their Northern California mindset combines chaos, danger, and the avant-garde, all from a very intellectual B-Boy perspective. The crew dropped the virtually invisible Focus strictly for web heads in 1999, then returned with Trilogy: Conflict, Climax, Resolution, another dark, trippy, and brooding exploration in 2000. (c) Artist Biography by Michael DiBella
![]() | Tajai Massey |
![]() | Damani Thompson |
![]() | Adam Carter dr |
![]() | Opio Lindsey key *1974 |
Track list and 30sec audio provided by
Title | Artist | Year | Type |
---|---|---|---|
There Is Only Now | Adrian Younge Presents Souls Of Mischief | 2014 | Album |
There Is Only Now | Adrian Younge Presents Souls Of Mischief | 2014 | Single |
Montezuma's Revenge | Souls Of Mischief | 2009 | Album |
Spark | Souls Of Mischief | 2002 | Single |
Soundscience / Bad Business | Souls Of Mischief | 2001 | Album |
Trilogy: Conflict, Climax, Resolution | Souls Of Mischief | 2000 | Album |
Medication / Acupuncture | Souls Of Mischief | 2000 | Single |
Airborne Rangers / Groundbreaking | Souls Of Mischief / Swollen Members | 1999 | Album |
The Extravaganza / Looking Over A City | Quannum MC's & Souls Of Mischief / Latyrx | 1999 | Single |
Focus | Souls Of Mischief | 1999 | Album |
Focus (Shooting Stars/Step Off) | Souls Of Mischief | 1998 | Album |
Step Off | Souls Of Mischief | 1997 | Album |
The Extravaganza - The Rarities LP | Souls Of Mischief | 1996 | Compil. |
Unseen Hand | Souls Of Mischief | 1996 | Album |
Rock It Like That | Souls Of Mischief | 1995 | Album |
No Man's Land | Souls Of Mischief | 1995 | Album |
Never No More | Souls Of Mischief | 1994 | Album |
The Rarities EP | Souls Of Mischief | 1994 | Album |
Get The Girl, Grab The Money & Run / Later On / In Front Of The Kids | Souls Of Mischief / Casual / Extra Prolific | 1994 | Album |
That's When Ya Lost | Souls Of Mischief | 1993 | Album |
That's When Ya Lost | Souls Of Mischief | 1993 | Album |
93 'Til Infinity | Souls Of Mischief | 1993 | Album |
93 'Til Infinity | Souls Of Mischief | 1993 | Album |
DJ-013T | Beastie Boys, Father MC, Souls Of Mischief | Album | |
Get The Girl, Grab The Money & Run / Later On / In Front Of The Kids | Souls Of Mischief / Casual / Extra Prolific | Single | |
Remix EP | Souls Of Mischief | Album |