Behind The Scenes A Look At The Creation Of "3rd Eye Vision"

Matt & Tajai On The Sound Stage Opio Preparing To Drop Vocals Matt Kelly Manipulating The Board

My main contact to Hiero has always been Domino, so when I crossed the Golden Gate to San Rafeal, and entered a studio to find Domino no where in sight, I wasn't sure what to expect. I was told by a shirtless, 40-in-hand Snupe that he was at a meeting. The studio was packed with people, many unfamiliar, but most I recognized: Del, Jay-Biz, Tajai, Opio, A-Plus, Casual, Toure, and Pep. I had met Del and Casual before for interviews, but given the buzz of weed smoke and alcohol, I decided to get some food and wait for Domino in the room outside the studio. It was obvious that certain group members weren't too hyped by the number of people packed in the studio making noise. Outside in the other room, I talked to Jay Biz for a bit. I had my camera equipment with me and he told me about his video editing classes at college in San Francisco. He made a short video for the group and has been going to school, working on video stuff, filming, editing, etc.. The crowd thinned out, notably Del and Casual left. I was bummed, cause I definitely not only wanted to hear their new shit, but I wanted to see them rip in the studio. I made my way into the studio to set up some cameras, and struck up conversation with Tajai. I had done an interview with him for a 'zine awhile back and after reminding him, he remembered. He told me to make myself comfortable, and then escaped to the sound stage to lay down some vocals. At that point, it was Opio, Jay Biz, Pep, Tajai, A.Plus and the studio engineer, Matt Kelley. Matt has been with the crew from day one and shows his support by consistently helping the group out and engineering their sessions. I bummed cigarettes off Matt and he told me how this was a "tax write off studio" that he finagled their way into, to do some in-expensive recording. He loves working with the group and can be found in Del's "No Need For Alarm" video as the white-guy bobbing his head behind the mixing board. That's Matt, bobbing his head to the beat, working 100 miles per hour, knowing exactly what the crew likes, and sharing a spliff as the crew often does. I set up the cameras on the mixing board and filmed Matt laying down Opio's vocals for the song "The O12". With Hiero, every word matters. If it was a slight slur, or a bad pitch, the song was done over until it was right. Pep stood in the mix room, offering comments to Opio and Tajai in the sound room. A-Plus sat on the couch smoking Newports and read a comic book. Plea can be quiet for a while, but at any given time, can be just as loud as anyone else. At a recent show, he got hella hyped and dove into the crowd! He was carried around and then placed back on stage. Hiero continued to lay down the vocals to the song, and I kept filming.