June 16th, 1997
I finally feel I've listened to my pre-mastered dub of "3rd Eye Vision" long enough to write an accurate report on my thoughts. So without further adieu, here goes what ya'll have all been asking for:
How do I start off such an editorial? The pressure has been backing up on the shoulder's off this album as well as Hieroglyphics for well over a year and a half. After the dismal effort of "No Man's Land", many Hiero fans questioned whether Hiero still had it in them, or was that magical sound lost forever?
Is "3rd Eye Vision" like "93 Til"? No. Is "3rd Eye Vision" like "No Need For Alarm"? No. What we have here, Hiero heads, is a completely original and breakthrough sound which I wasn't prepared for.
Hiero has very strategically been releasing songs from off this album over the past couple of months to usher in this new sound. For those who purchased "Live97" or have been keeping up on the sound clips, you have some idea of what this new sound I speak of is. But it is not until you hear this album in its entirety (soon, I promise) can you fully understand how far the Hieros have come.
Once again we see the emergence of Domino back on the production tip. Not since Casual's "Fear Itself" has he produced a track for the Crew on a commercial album. Undoubtedly for me, it was the Domino Sound which categorized what a "Hiero Beat" was back in the 91-93 era. A-Plus reprises his role as Super Producer as well, contributing the other half of the majority of production for "3rd Eye Vision". Other crew producers Opio, Casual, JBiz and even Del contribute beats as well, but not nearly as many as Domino and Plus, respectively. But let us not exclude the other force of the Hiero Crew Balance: The Mcees.
Finally! Finally we get to hear the power that is Pep Love! This cat has been down with the crew since the days of "Hiero Oldies", and he finally showers his skills upon the mic in a torrential downfall. One track with Del, "No Nuts", has Pep flexing his skills like we all knew he could ("I'm hot pepper/That you don't wanna phuck with, see?"). Other team-ups with Pep include a song with Opio called "All Things"; a track about some espionage-type, Babylon-shit, where Pep & Op. let us know, "All things ain't what they seem/You'll get washed/Even if you're way too clean". It's on some story-telling tip, and the beat is dope as phuck!
The next track on my tape is the much ballyhooed "You Never. . ."; a posse cut consisting of the entire crew, minus only Casual. One by one the crew delivers a steady stream of rapid-fire lyrics, all in praise of the Hiero Crew! Like Opio says in his verse, "We unstoppable/dropping flows in Toronto/Maneuvering-through-Vancouver-and-on-to-Japan/where they put major grands in my hand, follow?" Highly reminiscent of "Burnt", this track will most likely be the next single and first video. Once you hear it in its entirety, you'll have to agree that it's a good choice.
"Off the Record" is no doubt one of my favorite tracks on the tape. The beat is sick as SHIT, and has some of the tightest lyrics on the album. The song has former-member Snupe introducing each mcee as they step up to the plate (so to speak). Casual, A-plus, Del, and Tajai rip respectively, with Snupe concluding, "It's Hieroglyphics from here on out. . .You don't know what you're doing". Fairly ironic coming from Snupe, but tight regardless.
Next up is the infamous Pep Love solo track, "After Dark". Hiero made this song their first single, and it's plain to see why. Pep Love is such an ill mcee, and this track is pure testament to that statement. Not to mention the beat, which has one of the tightest bass-line and break combinations in Hiero history!
Souls of Mischief (minus Opio for some odd reason??) strike back with their fairy tale/story track "Mics of the Round Table". The Souls find themselves in a Medieval setting, going on a crusade to reclaim The Holy Mic. The crew rhymes about gearing up with chain mail and special rhyming powers before they "hob-knobbin' with Hob-Goblins". Again, fantastic rhyming skills coupled with an innovative and dope beat, equals another dope-ass track.
"At the Helm" is a track all to Del which was originally slated for "Future Development". This track is a perfect example to the diversity in Del's rhyming arsenal. His vocals mimic the up-and-down tempo of the beat perfectly. If music were visual, I could totally see Del jumping up and down on the beat, like Super Mario to mushrooms, as he states, "Life is a blast when you know whatcha doin'/besta know what cha doin'/'fo ya life gets ruined"! A brilliant track that would bring a gleeful tear to any Del fan's eye!
"Groove2Nite" is a fairly older track consisting of Tajai & Opio. I feel it's a bit dated, and they've done better (especially compared to their other tracks on this album). Last I heard, this track may be pulled from the album roster altogether. I'll keep you up on it.
We all know this next track from the "Live97" single, "The Who". Incidentally, this was the first original track I ever heard from off "3rd Eye Vision". With Del, Opio, Phesto and Pep Love ripping in the same song, and Del on production, can you really go wrong? Opio sums it up quite well with his statement, "My styles fluctuate like the Dow Jones average/while they stay savage/my cassette tape transforms like Ravage or Rumble/make the earth crumble/and separate/falling to the underground. . ." Straight dope.
Next up we have a track that blows my mind every time I hear it: "See Delight" featuring Opio and Pep Love. If there was ever a perfect match-up within the crew, it has to be this team. Pep & Op go so well together; this song is pure bliss. Opio with his opening verse always trips me out, "I'm at ease when I'm next to my keys/nothing narcotic/me and sonic/ASR-10 is my symphonic weapon". And Pep with that infamous verse from off "Live 97", "It go/Cancer the Crab is my Zodiac sign/FL is the crew/I'muh let my light shine/we/multi-/faceted/feel good pharmacist at this/now listen to the lyricist/cease/". Come on! If you've ever had doubts about this album, put em' to rest!.
Everyone's heard this track, right? "Oakland Blackouts" has been making it's way into everyone's ear drums for some time now. In case you haven't heard (anyone? anyone??) this track is tight as PHUCK! Originally produced by Opio for "Future Development" this song has Del & Op. just going off in a flurry of skills. What more can I say on this one?
And last on my tape is that track with Opio, Pep & Casual: "Dune Methane". Pep's only in the chorus, but DAMN does Cas go off! You know the crew is pondering whether this track should even go on the album or not?! What the hell's up with that? The beat is dope as hell, the hook is catchy as shit (". . .dee-dee-da-da-dee-dee-dang. . .") and Op & Cas just wreck shit! What do ya'll think??
There are 3 other tracks that weren't available on my copy because they still needed to be mixed. When I was inquiring about these three missing songs, Tajai informed me that they were his 3 favorite on the album! Go figure. There's also a bunch of skits and connectors that I'll leave for ya'll to peep once the album is released.
I don't know what to tell you other than this album is tight as phuck? Yes, I was worried for a little bit, but I've straight bumped this since it landed in my box!
The release is almost here, so stay tight. In the meantime just keep sticking with us and peep all the sound clips. LET HIERO KNOW WHAT YOU THINK on the Bulletin Board. They read that shit and take all your opinions to the most serious extent!
If any of ya'll have questions about the album, feel free to email me!
Let's hear what you have to say about some of the issues discussed in this editorial on the Bulletin Board or E.Mail me. Peace.
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Copyright ©1996 StinkE Productions
Because of the position I am in, I felt it not only helpful but necessary, to create a space online where I can piece together what's going on in the World of Hiero, and relate it to all of you. Being that I am the middle man between the Hiero Imperium and all ya'll online Hiero Heads, I saw no better than to start an editorial column where I answer many questions plaguing the viewers of Hiero Online, as well as shed some of the crew's insight and opinions onto their public.
-Yameen
